Chapter 012

The mansion felt quieter than usual. The usual hum of activity seemed subdued, replaced by an oppressive stillness that settled over the house like a heavy fog. I had spent most of the day dealing with business matters, trying to ignore the gnawing worry that had been eating away at me for weeks. The lingering tension between Hayley and my family, particularly Selene, was a constant weight on my shoulders. I had hoped that my mother’s disdain and Selene’s harsh words would not create a rift between us, but reality had been far less forgiving.

My day had started with a barrage of phone calls, urgent emails, and meetings that seemed to drag on endlessly. The stress of managing the pack’s affairs was wearing on me, and it was hard not to let it affect my personal life. My thoughts kept drifting back to Hayley. I had seen the hurt in her eyes after Selene’s latest outburst, and it was eating away at me.

As I finally made my way to the study, I found myself dreading the evening ahead. It w