Heather’s POV

Janice glanced at the empty seat beside her—a silent command to sit. My heart pounded, and every instinct screamed for me to run. But I sat.

“Relax,” she murmured, sipping her coffee, her eyes never leaving mine. “I’m not your enemy.”

I scoffed. “Hard to believe.”

She sighed, a flicker of pain shadowing her face. “I don’t blame you. I rejected my mate bond with Colt the moment I saw what he was becoming.”

“What exactly happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I was blind,” she replied bitterly. “I followed Colt’s orders without question.”

“I didn’t even know you had a mate.”

“You never asked...