Kimi felt her throat tighten as the weight of her deception pressed down on her shoulders. The lie she had carefully constructed over the years was crumbling, and there was nowhere left to hide. Her only option now was to try one last desperate attempt to keep the truth buried.
Her mother's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Answer him, Kimi."
Kimi's mind raced as she searched for words that might salvage the situation. "I was staying at the City Moon Pack territory. Alvin went looking for me while I was away on other business. When he couldn't locate me there, that's why he's asking these questions now."
Alvin's expression darkened, and he shook his head with obvious frustration. "That explanation doesn't add up at all."
Before he could continue his questioning, Kimi lunged forward and wrapped her fingers around his wrist, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Mom and Dad, I need to speak with Alvin privately. There are some things we need to discuss."
