rp and deliberate, like someone who

the door with

sence filling the narrow space. The bond stirred weakly, confused, aching

the hall,"

es

s inside. There was none. The room was neat. To

to talk,"

de. "You already

ot sit. He rarely did in her

le. Outside, the pack grounds were still quiet, the c

idn't expect you t

lightly. "You didn't ex

ed. "This isn't

st smile

is it about

g her for the first time in years. Her stillness unse

" he said. "Lyra offered al

her," Elara

e the f

ords. Elara folded her arms loosely, mor

?" she

ust a fraction of

part of that eq

No cruelty. No softness.

So the bond was

dened. "The bon

e it

. Just spoken like a fact

mewhere inside her, something

ke," she

es

elieved to h

he did not remind him of nights spent guarding his sleep, of

he asked o

," she said, "would you

ot answer

s answe

at last. "Po

into a small, sad

standing,"

Alpha she had lived quietly for too long.

"You don't h

ear the window, where a single bag sa

ned this,

intment," she replied.

ow, warning. "Leaving without

bag. "Then call

being em

aze. "I am be

, as if sensing what was coming. Elara pre

will be Luna. But you can s

ided

a lia

ara said

have anyw

l," sh

't survi

er chin. "I

surprised

g unreadable flashing across his fa

y is," Ela

door. Kael reached out, stoppi

will hurt,

ready

ened t

Dawn light filtered in throug

ael said b

on the doorframe,

never weak

gers ti

chosen better," she

ds, past familiar paths and silent trees. A few guards noti

the outer boundary, the

, into her bones. Elara stumbled, catching herself against a

ered, more to her

ind. Kael's presence. His

ned and took

ithin the pack ter

a sharp breath, one hand gripping the stone railing of th

uttered, his

d not

e etched with runes older than the pack itself

one foot

nd scr

re she could stop it. She dropped to her knees, hands pre

rent this time. Sh

hed thr

" she whispered

ng breath, Elara cr

hed thin, and then dull

Silver Fang Pack

inty, danger, and a futu

d into the growing light, carrying a