He didn't reach for her this time, sensing the delicate tension between them. Instead, he clasped his hands in front of him, his gaze fixed on the floor.
"When you left, it didn't just affect you," he began, his voice low. "You know the laws of our world, Annie. When someone is declared rogue, it's not just them who bears the consequences. The people who helped them, knowingly or not, are branded as traitors."
Annie's heart sank, already dreading what was coming.
"Aaron and Nicky... They were questioned, accused of helping you escape." He paused, his jaw tightening. "Different packs handle traitors differently. Some are more lenient; others, not so much."
"Because they helped you," Damien continued, his voice strained, "they were demoted to omegas."
