Chapter 77
VANESSA
As I woke up to the warm sunlight peeking through my window, a knot in my stomach twisted tighter with every passing moment.
The day of the picnic had finally arrived, and with it, the weight of my secret decision pressed down on me like a physical force.
I felt trapped in a web of my own making, unable to confide in my closest friends, Mary and Laria. The thought of becoming Alpha Stan's puppet, of surrendering my autonomy to his whims, made my skin crawl. Yet, I had convinced myself it was the only way to ensure our pack's survival.
“Hey, girl!” Mary exclaimed as she burst through my door with all smiles, she had numerous shopping bags in her hand, and beside her was a tired-looking Laria. “She woke up so early so we could go shopping and we didn't even find any
