Chapter 26

　　Serena 　　Lia chuckled. “Wait, I’m confused. Is this some kind of a joke?” 　　I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and my thoughts raced. I knew I had to explain myself, even though I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for deceiving everyone in Wolf Valley. Still, deep down, I understood it was the right thing to do. 　　"No, it's not," I declared, my voice trembling slightly. I could feel my palms becoming moist, and I couldn't help but look down at my fidgeting fingers, a physical manifestation of my inner turmoil. 　　“But why would you do that?” As Lia's disappointed and hurt voice reached my ears, I couldn't help but flinch. Her reaction was precisely what I feared the most – letting down someone I had come to care about deeply. Ollie's quick comforting gesture didn't go unnoticed, and I appreciated his support, even though it couldn't fully alleviate the weight of my confession. 　　My voice quivered as I continued, the words coming out in a rush, “Because…Because I wa