Atticus's POV
Meryl's words had haunted me for days. Every quiet moment brought her question back to the surface, gnawing at my thoughts like a persistent ache.
"You were too focused on dodging them to see the bigger picture," Dmitri, my Lycan, muttered in my mind.
My wolf spoke the truth. Collin and I had spent years perfecting the art of avoiding our meddling mother's schemes. Distance had become our defense mechanism, but it had also blinded us to the patterns hiding in plain sight.
"Ted, we need to discuss something privately after dinner," I said, catching his attention across the room. He nodded, understanding the gravity behind my request.
Walking into the dining room felt like stepping into a battlefield. Our mother had claimed her usual spot at our table again, with Evangeline positioned beside her like a chess piece. The sight made my jaw clench.
