My brother clenched his jaw, eyes flashing with anger. “We never stole anything. That claim is false.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Someone is framing us… or bending the truth.”
Jace took a breath, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll prepare. We’re not a weak pack, Elira. We will defend our home.”
I nodded shakily. “I just… I didn’t want you all to be caught off guard.”
“You did the right thing.” He paused. “But what about you? Why did you come alone? What’s going on?”
The moment he asked, my tears fell.
“Jace…” My voice cracked. “I’ve been suffering there… for years.”
My brother froze, then stepped closer. “Elira…”
I told him everything. The bullying. The isolation. The fake marriage. The cruelty. The humiliation. The mistress. The lies. Everything Adrian hid behind my back. Every reason why I lost myself.
Jace’s hands curled into fists. “I should’ve taken you home the first time I saw your eyes change. I should’ve known.”
“No,” I whispered. “It was my choice. I thought… I thought enduring made me strong. I thought being patient would make him love me.”
My voice trembled. “I was wrong.”
Jace sighed and pulled me into a hug. “You’re leaving him, right?”