WEAK.

Chapter: 17

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TALON:

My heart sank, the weight of their hatred crashing down on me like a tidal wave. I stood frozen, bile rising in my throat as I heard words that cut deeper than any blade. Memories of the world I had tried to escape flooded back, filled with the pain of rejection and the fear of being hunted. I felt utterly alone, surrounded by a sea of hostility that seemed to engulf me.

“Silence!” Knight’s voice boomed, but it was drowned out by the jeers and shouts. “You all need to listen!”

The crowd continued to shout, their emotions raw and furious, and my chest tightened. I could feel the weight of their disdain— a palpable force that made it hard to breathe. I had hoped for acceptance, for a chance to prove myself, but instead, I stood as a target, the embodiment of their worst fears and prejudices.

Then, as if summoned by the chaos, Knight shifted. In an instant, the Beta transformed into his massive wolf form, his fur rippling like shadows beneath the mornin