She carried a tray with a small bowl of soup, steam curling faintly in the air. “I thought you’d be hungry,” she said sweetly, setting it down beside me. “You must be weak.”
Her voice was sugar and poison all at once. I stared at her, too tired to mask the hatred in my eyes.
“I wanted to help,” she continued, crouching down, her perfect curls framing her delicate face. “I told Alpha Jeremiah you didn’t deserve to die in here. We used to be friends, Zera.”
“Used to,” I said quietly.
She smiled—cold and knowing. “You know,” she whispered, her tone changing, “I was wondering when you’d find out that I know you’re already aware of the truth.”
My stomach twisted. “What do you mean?”
Her eyes glittered with triumph. “The Alpha’s office. You were there, weren’t you?” She leaned closer, her scent—roses and deception—burning in my nose. “You know the truth now. That it was my safety Alpha Jeremiah prioritized that night… and because of that, your daughter died.”
I felt the air leave my lungs. My wolf snarled inside me, furious and wild, but my body refused to move. Hannah smiled wider, lowering her voice.