Lily walked alongside Talia toward the infirmary, her shoulders hunched as she avoided meeting the eyes of passing pack members. Since Zayn’s disappearance three days ago, whispers followed her everywhere, growing louder with each passing day.
“Hold your head up,” Talia murmured, noticing Lily’s discomfort. “Don’t let them see your fear.”
Lily nodded, forcing her spine straighter despite the weight of accusatory glares. A group of women gossiped near the well, their conversation halting abruptly as Lily approached. One of them—a blonde with fierce eyes—stepped forward deliberately.
“How convenient that our Alpha disappears right after being alone with you in the forest,” she spat.
Lily’s hands trembled as she reached for her notebook, but Talia stepped between them.
“That’s enough,” Talia warned. “Spreading rumors helps no one.”
The blonde sneered. “It’s not a rumor when Victoria saw it herself.”
