Tanner stands frozen, unable to feel his legs beneath him. His body is there, but his mind is miles away, tangled in the turmoil he can't shake.
The words repeat in his head like a mantra, his only anchor in a storm of self-doubt and overwhelming panic.
"They need time to think of what they really want, instead of rushing and hurting each other. Even Jess needs time to think about it. They rushed him into it. It's best when Kyle goes, but of course, not completely, they will see each other because he still has a duty to the wolf world. But if he stays with him now, he's only hurting. They'll find a way to fix this. Right now, this is for the best."
But the words do nothing to ease the storm. They're just a mask, a weak attempt to control the chaos.
His heart pounds in his chest, every beat like a drum that threatens to suffocate him. This is for the best. He repeats it again and again, trying to ground himself, trying to convince his racing thoughts that he's right.
