CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE - The Hidden Agenda

"I was scared," Rowan admitted. "I didn't want to get her hopes up in case... in case I couldn't find a safe place for us. And I didn't want to ask too much of you all at once." Anna studied his face, searching for any sign of deceit. "We need to tell Erik about this. All of it." Rowan nodded, resignation clear in his posture. "I understand. I'm sorry for not being fully honest from the start." As they made their way to Erik's study, Anna's mind raced. Was Rowan telling the truth? Or was this just another layer of deception? The weight of the decision pressed down on her – trust her instincts about Rowan, or prioritize the safety of the pack above all else? The night air was thick with tension as Anna patrolled the dimly lit corridors of the Fairchild mansion. The events of the past few days had left everyone on edge, and the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her shoulders. She paused at a window, gazing out at the moonlit grounds, when a flicker of movement caught her ey