The night was impossibly still as Althea approached the packhouse, the weight of her father's words pressing down on her like a physical force. The familiar structure loomed ahead, its tall windows glowing faintly in the moonlight. Each step she took felt heavier than the last, her stomach twisting with a mixture of guilt and dread. The cool night air bit at her skin, and her palms were clammy despite the chill.
The estate was quiet, the rest of the pack long since retired for the night. Althea clutched the edges of her cloak tighter around her shoulders, hoping to slip inside unnoticed. If she could just make it to her room, she could avoid Kaden,at least for tonight.
She wasn’t ready to face him, not when her mind was still reeling from everything her father had said.
Her hand hovered
