Chapter 57. Crisis

Elena's POV.

My father's piercing gaze shifted to Mercy, whose hand instinctively tightened around mine. "Mercy," he growled in a low, authoritative voice.

"Yes, Alpha," she replied, her head bowing in submission, her eyes cast downward.

My father's words dripped with disdain. "What kind of friend are you? You stand by and watch Elena endanger the pack, and you couldn't even stop her?"

Mercy's hesitation was palpable. "Uh... sorry, sir," she stammered, her apology sending a surge of irritation through me.

Why was she apologizing to him? My mind raced with questions. He didn't even bother to ask her what was going on or listen to our side of the story.

He simply concluded that I was endangering the pack. How was beating Anna endangerment? The question echoed in my mind, but I remained silent, frozen in frustration.

"I fear I might have to cut the friendship between the