Chapter 20: The Weight of the Past

**Thelma Zane’s POV** Aldrich studied me carefully, his gaze probing as though trying to measure the depth of my pain. His concern was genuine, and for a moment, I felt seen, as though someone cared enough to understand my scars. He set his drink down with deliberate care and asked, “Why? You’re a Lycan. Who in their right mind would reject you?” I sighed and looked away, tracing invisible patterns on the table. “He thought I was human, so... It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve moved on. Or at least, I think I have. It’s not the rejection that stings now—it’s the words he used. He didn’t just reject me; he broke me in ways I didn’t know were possible.” Aldrich bit into his sandwich with an exaggerated ferocity that made me smile despite myself. It was as if he could fight my battles simply by consuming his food. “Before a Lycan transforms,” he began, his voice tinged with frustration, “we look human. He couldn’t tell? Or did you not tell him who you were?” I shook my head. “