Octavia had forced a deep breath as soon as she's heard the door open, but it didn't seem to be helping. She told herself to straighten up, to pull herself together, to push this aside.

But instead her brain was now looping around one particular moment.

That was never part of the plan.

That was never part of the plan.

That was never part of the plan.

And she stood there, gripping the edge of the counter in silence, shoulders hunched and tense.