I had been looking at the photographs Marcus left behind for what felt like hours, trying to understand the smiling woman in them compared to the mother I grew up with. Elena seemed genuinely happy in those pictures, unlike the rare times I had seen her smile during my childhood.
This raised a tough question: Did her decision to run from this “pack” make her unhappy? Had the effort to protect me taken away the life she truly wanted?
Suddenly, I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of footsteps approaching. Several men were coming, their movements purposeful, and I could hear keys jangling along with low voices.
“The boss wants her moved to the north wing. The Tribunal representatives arrive tomorrow, and they want her looking presentable.”
Tribunal. The word felt heavy, like it hel
