Chapter 172

Caroline's POV I was sitting next to my mother when Ryan came in. The moment I saw his face, I knew something had happened. My heart sank as he told us everything—about the call from that deranged woman, my son crying for me, the impossible demands she'd made. With each word, tears streamed down my face, my wolf Rory whimpering in shared agony. After Ryan left, Eleanor's mother explained to my mom who Ella Howard was. I'd already told them about her obsession with Draven, but hearing the detailed history of her unstable behavior made my blood run cold.The room felt too small, too suffocating with all this information. My phone rang unexpectedly, and I quickly answered without checking the caller ID, desperate for any news about Liam. "Don't say anything," came Dennis's voice, sending a chill down my spine. "If there's anyone near you, leave and only let me know when you're alone." I felt my wolf bristle with suspicion, but the thought that he might have information about Liam overrode