Anne paced the length of her room, her frustration building with every passing second. She felt like a caged animal, her movements restless and jerky. The council members had agreed to Liana's demands to keep her in the pack, but it felt like a hollow victory. She was still trapped, still isolated. A prisoner within her own home.
Ryan, who had been playing quietly in the corner with his wooden blocks, suddenly looked up. His little eyes, so bright and perceptive for his age, flickered with concern. He might only be a child, but he could sense his mother's agitation as clearly as if it were his own.
"Mommy," he said softly, abandoning his toys and padding over to her side. His small hand reached up and tugged gently at her sleeve. "Don't worry, Mommy. I'll get Daddy. He'll fix it."
Anne's heart ached at his words. She forced a smile and knelt down besides him, brushing a lock of dark hair from his forehead.
