Chapter 38. A Glimmer of Hope

Alison’s POV

The whispers had become a chorus in my head, even though I couldn’t hear the exact words most of the time. Every step I took outside my room felt like walking into a raging storm, invisible but overwhelming. I’d spent hours caged in my own misery, avoiding the pack, avoiding Xander like. He had requested, he not make any attempt to find me. But today, I couldn’t take it anymore. The walls of my room had started closing in, suffocating me with memories of that horrible night.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a hooded sweater, something casual and nothing special, just enough to pass by unnoticed. Or so I hoped. As I stepped out into the hallway, the air shifted. The faint buzz of conversation among the staff immediately quieted, replaced by awkward greetings and sidelong glances. It felt almost like when I had first arrived here, Their eyes followed me like shadows, heavy with judgment. My stomach churned, but I kept walking, refusing to let them see how