Rachel’s P.O.V.
The air in the conference room was heavy with tension even after we’d uncovered the link between Veronica and a witch in her family. It wasn’t much, but it was the first real lead we had since Mason disappeared. I closed the file slowly and looked at my parents.
“I have to head back,” I said. “Bella’s pack needs to know what we’ve found.”
I started to rise, but my mom's voice cut through sharply.
“Wait—what did you mean earlier when you said Mason slept with Veronica?”
I froze.
She stood, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed in disbelief. “He cheated on Bella? With Veronica?”
My mother’s voice cracked with a mix of anger and heartbreak.
“I never liked that girl,” she snapped. “Always hanging around, always so desperate for attention. Power-hungry from the day she could
