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The afternoon sun was bright, almost too bright for how heavy the air felt around me. I sat on the balcony, knees tucked to my chest, staring blankly at the forest beyond the pack house. My mind was a storm I couldn’t calm, my heart still raw from the fight with Tristan.
The hurt in his eyes haunted me. The way his voice cracked under all that fury. But beneath all the shouting and accusations, I knew the truth. He was scared — terrified — and so was I. We were both clawing at control in a situation where we had none.
I should’ve gone after him. Should’ve tried to fix it.
But instead, I stayed here — drowning in my own guilt and fear.
Movement caught my eye below, two women walking briskly across the grounds, their steps sharp with urgency. They were whispering, their heads bent c
