“No! Not them!” I screamed with every ounce of strength I had left, my voice cracking under the pressure of my anguish.
“I’ll go. I’ll leave the pack. Just—just leave my parents out of this,” I pleaded, finally giving in to the crushing weight of defeat.
“No, sweetheart,” my mom whispered through sobs, her face already streaked with tears.
I tried to stand, my legs trembling beneath me, and reached out to my father’s arm for support. Disoriented, I clung to him as though he were the only thing tethering me to this world. **Nathan’s expression softened, and although he had released Dave, his son stood stiff and silent, watching me with cold detachment. There wasn’t even a flicker of empathy in his eyes.
“I’m going to find a way to come back. I won’t stay away from my family forever,” I
