Damien
The laughter around me felt hollow, like static in the background, irritating and grating against my senses. As soon as the words left my mouth—sharp and callous—I tasted bile. It was bitter
and vile, and it churned in my gut like poison.
Scarlet? She’s just a bit of fun.
The moment I said it, I wanted to take it back. The mocking lilt in my voice wasn’t real, but the act had to be convincing. I had no choice. If the pack caught even a hint of how much she truly meant to me, they’d tear her apart before I even had the chance to protect her.
I forced out a smirk, playing along with the laughter echoing around me. Every chuckle felt like a needle piercing my skin. My wolf growled in protest, raging beneath my surface, but I buried it down. I had to.
Liam clapped me on the back,
