Nasya's POV
Thump-thump—thump-thump—
My heart hammered violently against my ribs like a terrified fawn fleeing blindly from hunters. For the first time in years, I was drowning in guilt-ridden panic—Harper, who had shown me nothing but kindness when the rest of the world turned its back, now stood before me with tears streaming down her face, and I was the cause.
"What do you mean by this?" The pallor of Harper's skin made her look almost translucent in the dim candlelight, her normally rosy lips now bloodless and trembling. "You... you love her? Not as family, but as a mate?"
"Harper, it's not what you think. Let me explain—" I released Austin's hand and moved toward her, reaching out, but she shoved me away.
"Don't touch me!"
