Chapter 535: The Weight of a Decision
One Month Before
Nathan stared at Annabeth as if he had finally lost all patience.
For a moment he simply looked at her.
Then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It doesn't matter if you're stepping in for Benny," he said.
Annabeth frowned at his words. "It does matter," she argued.
Nathan shook his head. "No, it doesn't."
He gestured vaguely toward the door, toward the pack outside.
"Everyone looks up to you now."
Annabeth scoffed at that. "They look up to me because Benny isn't here."
Nathan's expression hardened slightly. "They don't just look up to you because Benny isn't here. They look up to you because you know what you are doing. You know how to lead. And you are going on about Benny this, Benny that, but have you ever thought for a moment, what if he isn't alive anymore?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Annabeth stiffened.
