Chapter 132

And then, through the trees, I saw him: Silas. He stood alone, his form dark and imposing, his eyes fixed on me with a hatred that was raw and unfiltered. His own wolves had fallen back, his plan to overwhelm us shattered by our unity, our resilience. But Silas wasn’t here to retreat or surrender. He had come for me.

I felt the weight of the moment settle over me, the knowledge that this was the confrontation we had both known was inevitable. It wasn’t enough for Silas to break our defenses, to shatter our unity. He wanted to face me, to prove his dominance, to show the pack that his strength was unmatched.

Dante moved to my side, his stance protective, but I held up a hand, signaling him to stay back. This fight was mine.

“Are you sure, Elara?” he asked, his voice low, concern etched in his eyes.

I nodded, my gaze never leaving Silas.

“This ends with us, Dante. I have to do this.”

He gave me a look filled with both pride and trepidation, a silent acknowledgment of the choice I had made. With a final nod, he stepped back, joining the circle of wolves who had gathered to watch, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear, hope, and respect.