VIKTOR'S POV

My fists clenched so hard my nails nearly pierced through my skin.

An uproar exploded. Murmurs turned into frantic debates. The entire house spoke at once, each person fighting to be heard.

I could only stare, too lost for words, too stunned for a defense. My body wouldn’t move. Some of those close to me began shifting to the back, like they thought I might lunge at them.

My heart thumped too loud, drowning their voices, yet their words still echoed in my head. The noise pressed into my skull, driving my mind into a state of chaos. I couldn’t form a single clear thought. Everything inside me...