Thinking out loud

Carolina’s POV

The moon poured its silver light through my bedroom window, casting long shadows across the floor as I sat curled up on my bed, lost in thought. The world outside was quiet, but within me, a storm raged. It had been three long, agonizing days since I had seen Craig, and the ache of his absence was a constant reminder of the stakes we faced. I could almost hear his laughter, the way it filled a room, magnetic and comforting, but now it was silenced, swallowed by the monstrous shadow of Alpha Zane and Avery’s tyranny.

I pulled my knees to my chest, the fabric of my blankets bunched tightly against me, as if they could shield me from my simmering anger. They acted like Craig had never existed, like he was nothing more than a shadow flitting through their self-obsessed lives. I could see them together, laughing at their newfound power—Zane’s arrogance was a palpable force, and Avery’s approval of his cruelty only stoked the fire of my resentment. The two of them made a per