Varg's Pov

I followed Bethany down the hallway, her steps unusually slow. Her hesitation made me uneasy, especially considering how urgent her earlier message had seemed. We walked a bit farther before she suddenly stopped and turned to face me. Her face crumpled with emotion, and tears spilled down her cheeks. She wiped them away with trembling hands, avoiding my gaze.

"I’m sorry, Varg," she sniffed, her voice cracking. "I didn’t want to do this, but Lucian… he threatened my mother. He said he’d hurt her if I didn’t help him."

My heart sank as her words registered. “What did he ask you to do?” I asked sharply, my voice...