89

I stood in the middle of the room, shoving clothes into the duffel bag. The walls felt like they were closing in, my decision squeezing the air from my lungs. This house had been my home for such a short time, but it now felt like a cage I was desperate to escape.

Teddy walked up behind me. "I don't understand why you're doing this, love. Je ne comprends pas."

I kept packing, unable to look at him. "Because it's what's best for the pack. You offered Phin your support. I thought you were accepting this?"

"For the pack? Or for you?" He stepped closer.

I spun around, the bag half-packed. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're running, Cassy." His green eyes burned with anger. "You're scared of what the pack needs from you, so you're backing down."

"Backing down?" I threw the bag aside. "I've been carrying this pack since I took over! You think I don't feel the pressure? You think it's easy?"

"You're not the only one who feels it," he spat. "But this pack needs