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I take Emily’s hand—cold, too light, trembling faintly in mine—and glance at Mum. Without needing a word, she nods and follows.
We lead Emily into the TV room. The door clicks shut behind us, quiet but final. She sinks onto the couch like someone folding in on herself, and her breath stutters before the first sob breaks free.
Mum sits beside her gently. I kneel in front, hands on her knees. Emily shakes her head, hiding behind her hair.
“Oh, Emily, love…” Mum murmurs.
That’s all it takes. The damn breaks.
“I don’t want to go back,” she whispers, her voice shredded. “He doesn’t treat me right. Everything Jacob said was true. I let my wolf… I let her speak to him. It felt like breathing again. But Henry—” her breath catches. “I’ve known him my whole life. And I don’t want him to di
