Chapter 89

Aisha's POV The Golden Pack hospital had never felt so alive. The sterile halls, usually echoing with clipped footsteps and muted conversations, were now filled with music, laughter, and the scent of warm pastries and sweet cider. Gold and silver streamers curled from the ceiling tiles. Bouquets of sunflowers, Emma's favorite, brightened the reception area, and a long table was set with finger foods, fresh fruit, and a beautifully frosted cake that read: "To New Beginnings, Emma." I stood near the doorway, trying to smile as pack members trickled in, congratulating Emma, clapping her on the back, marveling at her regained voice. She glowed beneath their attention, cheeks flushed, eyes brighter than I'd ever seen them. After everything she had endured, seeing her laugh and talk again was a gift—one we didn't think we'd receive. Still, beneath the cheers and clinking glasses, I couldn't shake the weight in my chest. The truth Thomas had given me at the neutral hospital hadn't left my min