My heart clenched. “Hannah,” I said, sharper this time, “don’t touch that.”
But she lifted it anyway, turning it in her hands. “It’s so pretty…”
“That’s Annie’s ashes,” I hissed. “Put it down.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. For a moment, I thought she’d obey.
Then she gasped, pretending to lose grip. “Oh—”
The jar slipped from her fingers.
It hit the floor with a dull crack before splitting open, spilling pale ash across the carpet.
I froze. Time seemed to stop. The air left my lungs in one painful rush.
Zera’s POV
The crash of the moonstone jar echoed through the room like thunder. I stood frozen, staring at the pale ashes scattered across the floor, Annie’s ashes. My baby’s remains.
Hannah’s eyes widened, and she stumbled back a step, clutching her chest. “Z-Zera, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t you dare!” I screamed, my voice breaking as the tears finally spilled. “Don’t you dare lie to me!”
My wolf roared in my chest, clawing to get out, to tear her apart for what she’d done. I lunged forward, my hand moving before my mind could catch up. The sharp crack of my palm against her cheek silenced everything.