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CHAPTER 365
~Valerie's POV~
That hit somewhere deep—an ache I couldn't quite name.
I don't know. It was maybe guilt or empathy. Everyone thought I was lucky. Six mates, bonded to me by the Moon Goddess's will.
But they didn't see the chaos underneath—the constant pull, the fear of hurting one to protect another, sometimes being too overwhelmed to not know what to do.
It felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells.
I reached for her before she could turn away, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, bestie. I really am. I should've made more time for you."
She sniffled, then laughed weakly. "I thought if I spent more time with Isla, you'd notice and get jealous. But you didn't."
I grinned and pinched her cheek. "Actually, I did. But I thought you just wanted to hang out with her."
"Well, that too," she admitted, rolling her eyes. "But still."
We both laughed then—real laughter, the kind that felt like home.