#Chapter 76: The Battle Within

Beryl: I knew that Nicholas didn’t know about my little library escape area, so that’s where I headed. I had to gather myself and think. Was that really my mate? How could he hurt me like that? There were so many thoughts running through my mind. As I settled myself into the comfort of my tiny secret corner of the library, weeks of habit took over and I began to drift off to sleep. It was as though the moon goddess was beckoning me to her. “Beryl, my dear...” She spoke to me gently. “Your distress is taking you over. You need to release some of it. Tell me what happened.” As I told her my tale, she nodded knowingly. “I suspected that something of this nature would occur. Think back on all the times you’ve seen your mate lately. Has he seemed himself?” I pondered this for a moment, temporarily relieved from the pain. “No, he really hasn’t. He’s been cold and aloof, completely unlike himself.” “Consider this then: your mate becomes distant, a dissenting pack is presumably i