en Adrian and Caleb. The weight of Dante's rejection still lingered, but their presence

, my voice softer than I intended. The ques

thing in you that you don't see in yourself. You're not weak, Grace. Yo

p. How could he see so clearly

besides, we're new to this pack. We don't have the same... b

en here for a few months.

"You don't have to know someone for years to recogni

to respond. Their faith in me was disarming, and a p

tension. "Let's walk. It's too nic

easy stride beckoning me to follow. Adrian hesitated, his gaze

to return to the safety of my room where I could lick my wounds in private. But somethi

p breath,

leaves. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine

type who scared everyone off," he said, glancing over his shou

him a glar

It's true. You were like

le at their banter. "An

nk. "Now? Still a thundercloud, but mayb

aint smirk on his lips. "Don't listen to

g,'" Caleb correct

s. For the first time since last night, I felt a flicker o

through the lighthearted conversati

ht me off guard.

you going to let Dante's rejection dictate your

envisioned a future with Dante, believing he was my destiny. But now that f

mitted, my voice bar

ted that answer. "Then maybe

I muttered, kicking a l

e to figure it all out right now," he said. "But you do need to st

them seemed to share. It was unsettling and comforting

rest, the moon was high in the sky, and the p

them. "For... everything. I didn'

nd genuine. "Anytime. We

r what I said. Don't let anyone define y

left, fading into the darkness as the

time in what felt like forever, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe

n the bushes caught my attention. My heart

called, my voice

re emerged tall, imposing figure with pie

nt

e stepped closer, his

id, his voice

lse pounding in my ea

ound before meeting mine again. For a mom

talk to you,"

and tall despite the whirlwind of emoti

if struggling to find the right words.

idn't mean to? You rejected m

cker of regret in his eyes. But then his expression

old again. "What's done is done. But I t

ut I swallowed it down. "Thanks for

smissal. For a brief moment, it looked like he wanted

couldn't help but wonder why he'd com

us like finding my strength and fi

just maybe, Dante's rejection wasn't the