#Chapter 144: Pretender

Amber’s POV When I walked into work that morning, I was determined to have a normal day. After the fight the day before, I was emotionally exhausted. So my plan for today was simple. Focus on work. Continue to make strides to help the pack. Then go home. Eat, spend time with Alice, sleep. Repeat. The morning started well enough. I was able to accomplish a lot. But, around midmorning, I was paged to the reception area, where Rafael was standing beside a woman who was slightly older, thin with severe features. This woman looked me up and down, with a growing unimpressed look on her face. “This is Healer Amber?” she scoffed. Rafael ignored her. “Amber, hello. Please meet our cousin Mary.” “I’m Rafael’s cousin,” she said. “Right,” I replied. I held out my hand to shake hers. She looked at my hand like I had something contagious. I let it linger there for a moment, waiting, until it became abundantly clear she wasn’t going to shake my hand. Embarrassed then, I let my hand dro