As she walked into the camp, she was immediately met with the sight of her father, Jerome, deep in conversation with the Crescent Park Beta, Thomas. Their expressions were grim, and she could see the strain in her father’s posture, a sign that the pressure of the coming battle was weighing heavily on him.
“Aria,” Jerome called out as he spotted her, his tone gruff. “We need to talk.”
She braced herself as she approached, knowing that the conversation would be anything but pleasant. Jerome’s suspicions had been growing, and she could sense the distance that had formed between them, a rift caused by her defiance and his refusal to back down.
“Father,” she said, inclining her head in respect. “What is it?”
Jerome exchanged a glance with Thomas before turning his gaze back to Aria. “I’ve b
