Chapter 43

“You left this pack, Dante. You left me. And now you show up, expecting what? Forgiveness? A place among us?”

Her accusation stung, but I held her gaze.

“I don’t expect anything, Elara. I came because I can help. I know how Silas thinks. I know his tactics, his weaknesses. If I can give you even the smallest advantage, it’s worth being here.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the battle waging inside her—the conflict between distrust and the bond that had always existed between us. It was a bond I’d never truly been able to sever, no matter how far I’d wandered.

“You’ll have to prove it,” she said finally.

“Not to me, but to the pack. They won’t follow someone they don’t trust.”

Later that afternoon, I found myself standing on the edge of the training grounds, watching as younger wolves sparred under the watchful eyes of their mentors. Their energy was infectious, their determination reminding me of the days when I’d been one of them—eager, ambitious, hungry for approval.