Charis
The rooftop access was through a small door at the end of the top-floor hallway. I climbed the narrow stairs and pushed open the door.
Alpha Raymond stood at the edge of the roof, staring out at the horizon. The sun was getting low in the sky, painting everything in shades of gold and orange. It would have been beautiful if I weren't so scared of what he was about to say.
He turned when he heard me. "Come here."
I walked over slowly, maintaining a careful distance between us. Close enough to talk, far enough to run if I needed to.
"There's a reason," he said, still looking at the horizon, "why I was against your bond with Slater from the beginning."
My stomach twisted. "What reason?"
"Because I don't think you love my son."
The words hit like a slap. "That's not true—"
"It's the truth," he said. "You distracted him, Charis and made him reckless. Before you, Slater was a young, promising, disciplined boy. Then you had to drag him into your mess."
