LUCIAN’S POV…
The echo of her voice still lingered long after I left the greenhouse.
“You’re all… werewolves?”
She had said it with disbelief, not fear — and somehow, that hurt worse. Because I wanted her to understand, to see that this wasn’t a curse I wore proudly. It was a burden that clung to every breath I took.
I kept my steps measured, though my chest felt heavier with each one. The air outside was colder, sharp enough to bite. Behind me, the greenhouse lights flickered faintly, casting fractured gold through the glass — her silhouette still visible inside. She didn’t chase after me, and I didn’t turn back. Because if I did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk away again.
I told myself she needed time. That I’d explain the rest later — the real truth. But part of me feared that w
