CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE - SECRETS AND LIES

That evening, as the pack gathered for dinner, Vanessa put her plan into motion. She waited until everyone was seated, then cleared her throat dramatically. "Erik, darling," she said, her voice dripping with false concern, "I think there's something you should know. I saw something rather... concerning this afternoon." Erik raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering briefly to Anna before returning to Vanessa. "Oh? And what might that be?" Vanessa leaned in, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "I saw Anna and Marcus together on the patio. They seemed... quite intimate. There was hand-holding, intense conversation. I didn't want to eavesdrop, but... well, it looked rather serious." Anna felt the blood drain from her face as all eyes turned to her. "That's not... Vanessa, you're twisting things. Erik, it wasn't like that at all." But Erik's face had already hardened, his jaw clenching visibly. "Is this true, Anna? Were you with Marcus this afternoon?" "Yes, but--" "And you didn't thi