Chapter 20

• Rose's POV
• My mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts—no, not thoughts. Burdens. Heavy, unwelcome weights sitting on my chest. Three of them in particular refused to leave me alone, no matter how much I tried to distract myself.
• First was the absurd and suffocating pressure the elders were placing on me—to choose a mate, to tie my life and future to someone simply for the sake of strengthening the pack. Like I was some bargaining chip in a political game. Their urgency wrapped around me like a noose, tightening with every breath I took.