Chapter 2

Her words struck harder than any accusation from the elders. As she turned and walked away, her absence left a gaping void in the clearing. For a moment, I almost called out to her, almost begged her to stay. But I didn’t. The damage was already done.

I left that night, each step heavy with the weight of everything I was giving up: the pack I’d grown up with, the home I’d known, and the future I’d dreamed of. And Elara…

Elara, who had been my constant, my anchor—the one wolf who had seen me for who I truly was and believed in me anyway.

I told myself I would be fine on my own, that leaving Talon Pack was a chance to find a new path. But deep down, a part of me knew that something had been left behind, something I could never truly recover. Talon Pack had been more than just a home—it had been my purpose, my future. And Elara… she had been my anchor, my constant. Even now, years later, her face haunted my memories, a reminder of everything I’d given up, everything I’d failed to protect.

(Elara’s POV)

After Dante left, Talon Pack was never quite the same. The pack felt quieter, the routines we’d once followed so naturally now feeling hollow. I told myself I didn’t miss him, that his absence was a blessing—that we were better off without the chaos he brought, without the constant tension of his ambitions clashing with the elders’ traditions. But that was a lie, and I knew it.

I missed him every day.