Chapter 9:
I turned to her, my jaw tightening.
“No. Elara’s earned this, Celia. She may be young, but she’s steady, reliable. She listens, even when she doesn’t agree. That’s what makes a good Alpha.”
“And yet,” Celia said softly, “you worry.”
I let out a slow breath, my gaze returning to Elara.
“Because I’ve seen this before. Divided loyalties tear packs apart. And it’s not just the young ones looking to Dante. Some of the older wolves—they remember him as the Alpha we could’ve had. They don’t see him as a threat yet, but give it time.”
Celia was quiet for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she stepped closer, lowering her voice.
“Do you think he’s here for her?”
The question struck a chord, one I wasn’t sure how to answer. Elara and Dante had a connection, one that had been clear even before his banishment. They understood each other in ways I could never quite grasp, and I knew that bond hadn’t disappeared with time. But whether he was here for Elara or for the pack—or for himself—I couldn’t say.
“I don’t know,” I admitted finally.
“But it doesn’t matter. He’s a disruption, intentional or not. Elara’s trying to hold this pack together, and his presence makes that harder.”
Celia frowned, her gaze softening as it drifted toward Elara.
“She’s stronger than you give her credit for, Osric. The others will see it in time.”
“Maybe,” I muttered.
“But we don’t have time. Silas is watching, waiting. If he sees us divided, he’ll strike.”
The silence between us grew heavy, the weight of our shared worries pressing down like a lead blanket. Finally, Celia spoke again, her tone firmer this time.
“Then we help her. Quietly. Dante’s return might stir things up, but it’s Elara who leads this pack. If anyone questions that, we remind them why.”
I nodded, grateful for her steady presence even as doubt gnawed at the edges of my resolve.
“You’re right. For now, we watch. And if Dante steps out of line—”
“—we deal with it,” Celia finished, her voice hard.
“For the good of the pack.”
Her words settled something within me, a reminder of where my loyalty truly lay. Elara was Alpha, whether the others believed it or not. And as much as I respected Dante’s strength, I wouldn’t let his return threaten the fragile unity we’d fought to build.
Later, as Elara passed me near the council chambers, I called out to her. She stopped, tilting her head slightly as she regarded me with a calm that belied the strain I knew she felt.
“Osric,” she said, her voice steady.
“Something on your mind?”
I hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“Dante’s presence—it’s stirring things up.”
Her gaze sharpened, though her tone remained neutral.
“I’m aware. Do you think he’s a threat?”
“Not intentionally,” I said slowly.
“But he’s… polarizing. The younger wolves look at him like a hero, and the older ones remember the tension he caused before.”
Elara’s shoulders squared, her expression firm.
“I won’t let him divide us, Osric. I’ll handle it.”
I nodded, though the doubt lingered.
“If you need support, you have it. Always.”
Her faint smile was both reassuring and bittersweet.
“I know. Thank you.”
