Chapter 28. Family

Poppy's POV

The sound of our breaths mingles with the whispers of the forest as I stand before Ally, her gaze piercing through the veil of darkness that shrouds us. The moonlight glints off her silver eyes, a reflection of her inner wolf, Dawn- a creature of both beauty and strength.

"Poppy," she starts, her voice wavering between suspicion and a desperate need for answers, "why are you here? What do you want from me?"

The question hangs heavy in the air, and I feel the weight of my deceit press down on my shoulders. I can't let her know the true extent of my guilt, not when there's a chance to win her over. My family... they need me to be strong now. To be convincing.

"Ally," I say, letting the name roll off my tongue like a sacred incantation, "it's about our families. Nathan has them- my parents, your brother, all of them." A lump forms in my throat as I paint the lie with shades of truth. "T