Collin's POV
Atticus stood outside my bedroom door, his expression grim as he delivered the news that Garcia had already headed downstairs to gather with her Squad members.
Herbert's arrival on our floor didn't catch me off guard, but the tension radiating from him made my stomach clench. Whatever he'd discovered, it wasn't good news.
"Garcia isn't buying any of it, but you need to hear this," Herbert began, his voice tight with controlled anger. "Your mother is spreading stories about you attempting to rape and force-mark a young woman."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Nothing made sense about this situation. Atticus and I had never breathed a word to our mother about what happened with Chadwick. Given how quickly Chadwick vanished from our territory, I seriously doubted she would have confided in anyone about her accusations.
