Chapter 31

Mel's POV

As we begin eating, Elinda clears her throat. “Another meeting with Alpha Damon?” she asks quietly.

“Yep.” He doesn’t say anything else, and she doesn’t pry any further. The tension in the room is palpable, and I regret like hell I didn’t bolt before he got here. Why won’t he look at me? And why does it make my chest ache?

I glance at him, trying to read his mood. His eyes seem distant, like he’s miles away trapped in his own head, and that doesn’t sit right with me. I want to know what his meetings with my dad are really about, and if he won’t talk to his mom, he should be able to talk to me.

Moon tries to lighten the mood with stories about her adventures on the playground, her cute laughter breaking through the heavy atmosphere. Elinda smiles at her, and even Jaxon manages a small grin. But when his gaze drifts toward me, it’s like a wall goes up again. He looks away, pretending to focus on the food he’s barely touched.

What the fuck is his problem? I know I’ve been avoidi