22: MOONLIT TURMOIL: NAVIGATING ALPHA INSTINCTS AND FRIENDSHIP BONDS

Julie, my friend!" I stammered, trying to maintain composure despite the chaos around me. "I called her for help. She's on her way." Bob's eyes narrowed, and I could feel the anger building within him. "Why did you call her?" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "I thought she could help with the situation. You need someone, right? I can't handle this alone." He released his grip slightly, giving me a moment to breathe. "You should have told me first." "I didn't know how you'd react," I replied, still caught in the web of his intense gaze. "I just wanted things to calm down." He scoffed, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Calm down? You think calling someone else is going to calm me down?" "Please, Bob," I pleaded. "I don't want any trouble. I just want things to be normal again." "Normal?" His voice rose with frustration. "Do you even understand what's happening? This isn't about normalcy. This is about us, about our connection." The room felt suffocating, and I could s