their faces marked by exhaustion and something deeper: uncertainty. Kaden , standing aside, staring into the darkness of the woods, h

vents of the night. She had known Kaden long enough to read in his rigid posture what he refused to a

ders, and approached the Alpha. At his side, her presence was pe

st another battle," she said cal

move. "They attacked, and we pushe

it's getting harder and harder. These Hunters, they don't

d his question was more

always done," he final

lem. You believe that your brute strength will be enough, but you are fighting against an enemy

mixture of defiance and exasperation. "So what, Elira? Do you want me

der. I'm talking about adapting. Look at the pack, Kaden . Some still follow you, bu

than he would admit. He look

ntion. Darian , who was listening to their exchange from a shaded corner, approached

ght, we could have stayed there. You lead like it's still the old days,

g on the young wolf with an icy intensi

k down. " For what ? Because you're the Alpha? T

t, but before it could erupt, Eli

is not the time to tear you apart. We have

mained full of defiance. Kaden , for his part, turned

sighing softly. She turned to Darian , w

said seriously. "This is not ho

has to tell him the truth. He re

Maybe. But that doesn't mean you're read

but his clenched jaw b

im. The solitude of the forest offered an illusion of calm

very loss suffered, every look of doubt he had intercepted. When had he become a conteste

stiffen. He turned his head q

to leave me,

of his hostility. "And I told y

ms crossed. His gaze was firm, but i

alone, Kaden . And

. "Every decision I make is for this pack. Every blow I g

nd their fear comes from uncertainty. They look at you to see if you have a solution, a

you see? » he

hods that have proven themselves, but which are no longer enough. I see someon

"Change, huh? What if it weakens u

he eyes. "If you keep this up, you won't even ha

unsaid words. Kaden looked away, but El

admitting that meant ques

ood still as the night wore on, his thoughts spinning around a single