Chapter 31: Apologize
(Charlotte's POV)
Margaret sighed, her hands gripping a silver wolf-shaped paperweight tightly, as if it held all the answers.
"Charlotte," she began slowly, keeping her voice gentle but firm, "I hope you know… this wasn’t my decision."
I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. I wanted to respond, to say it was okay, but my words felt stuck behind the ache building in my chest. Weakness wasn’t an option here, not in front of her.
She pressed on, her expression softening. “You’ve done extraordinary work here. Your ability to connect with the pups during even their hardest transitions—Charlotte, it’s a gift. One not everyone has.”
Her words pushed a faint sting of pride into my heart, but it was smothered by the heavier weight of what came next.
“But…” A b
