I didn’t know how I made it through the next ten minutes.My body moved on autopilot, shake this hand, smile at that face, nod along to words I couldn’t hear. My mother’s arm was looped through mine, a warm and steady presence, but even she couldn’t anchor me. Not when the room was spinning. Not when I could still feel his eyes on my back.Damon.I’d seen him. Across the room, on that worn leather couch, with her draped over him like a trophy. For one perfect second, our eyes had met, and I’d felt the bond roar to life between us, electric and undeniable and cruel.The bathroom. I just had to make it to the bathroom. Then I could fall apart but the pack house was a labyrinth of old memories and new tortures, and every person who stopped me was another nail in the coffin of my composure.“Amara! Look at you, all grown up!”“Dr. Chen now, I heard! Your mother must be so proud.”“Five years is a long time. Did you miss us?”Did I miss you? I wanted to laugh. I’d missed one person
Last Updated : 2026-04-10 Read more