Chapter 72:
The words struck me harder than I expected.
“You never seemed like the nostalgic type,” I said, trying to keep my voice light.
He smirked faintly.
“Don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation.”
Despite everything, I found myself smiling. It was brief, but it was real.
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
He nodded, the humor fading from his expression as his gaze returned to the horizon.
“Elara, you’re not just holding the pack together. You’re giving them hope. And that’s more powerful than you realize.”
The sincerity in his words left me momentarily speechless. When I finally spoke, my voice was quiet but steady.
“Thank you, Dante. For everything.”
He inclined his head slightly, the faintest of bows that felt more genuine than formal.
“Always.”
As he turned to leave, I watched him go, the weight on my shoulders feeling just a little lighter. The storm wasn’t over, but I wasn’t facing it alone. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like that might just be enough.
POV: Elara
The days after my time with the young wolves brought a rare sense of peace, but I knew it couldn’t last. Tensions in the pack still simmered beneath the surface, and I was all too aware that one spark could send everything crashing into chaos. So when word reached me that one of the senior wolves—one who had once been loyal to Dante—wanted a private meeting, I felt both apprehension and curiosity stir within me.
Leoric had been a staunch follower of Dante before his banishment. Known for his strength and tactical mind, Leoric was respected among the warriors and looked up to by many of the younger wolves. In the days since Dante’s return, I’d sensed a certain distance from him, a lingering loyalty to the past that set him apart from the rest. I couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted him to reach out now.
The meeting took place in the old war room—a dimly lit space with walls covered in faded maps and weapons from past battles. I arrived early, the weight of the room’s history pressing down on me as I waited, wondering what Leoric had to say. When he entered, his demeanor was as imposing as ever, his gaze steady and unyielding. But there was a flicker of something in his eyes—uncertainty, perhaps, or even reluctance.
“Leoric,” I greeted, keeping my voice steady.
“You asked to speak with me.”
He nodded, standing with a formality that felt almost like a challenge.
“Yes, Alpha. I thought it was time we spoke… honestly.”
I gestured for him to sit, choosing to remain standing. I wanted to convey strength, to remind him that, while he was valued, I was still the Alpha.
“What is it you want to discuss?”
He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if gauging my resolve.
“I’ll be direct, Elara. When Dante returned, I… had my doubts about your leadership. I wasn’t alone in that. There are those who remember what the pack was like under him, who wonder if his experience is what we need now, especially with the threat of Silas.”
I forced myself to remain calm, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“I’m aware of those doubts, Leoric. And I won’t deny that Dante has experience. But he is not the Alpha of this pack. I am.”
He held up a hand, his expression softening.
“I know that. And… I believe it now, more than I did when he first arrived. Watching you during the trials, seeing how you’ve handled the division in the pack—I see a strength in you that I hadn’t fully appreciated.”
I blinked, taken aback by the admission. Leoric wasn’t one to offer praise lightly.
“I appreciate that. But if you’re telling me this, I assume there’s more.”
