Chapter 73:
He nodded, his expression growing serious.
“Yes. Silas’s pack has been stirring up trouble along our borders. Scouts have been spotted, leaving signs that they’re monitoring our movements, assessing our defenses. The younger wolves are restless, and even some of our senior warriors are uneasy.”
My chest tightened, the threat of Silas looming closer than I’d expected.
“Are you saying we’re unprepared?”
“Not unprepared,” he replied.
“But vulnerable. Silas is cunning, Elara. He’ll look for any crack in our defenses, any weakness in your leadership. And I know that he won’t hesitate to use Dante’s presence to fuel discord, to make your wolves doubt you.”
I could feel the weight of his words, the truth of them settling over me like a cold shadow. Silas was precisely the type to exploit such vulnerabilities, to use any division in the pack to his advantage. And he would have no problem manipulating the wolves’ memories of Dante as a former Alpha to cast doubt on my leadership.
“Then what do you suggest?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
Leoric leaned forward, his gaze intense.
“Dante knows Silas better than any of us. He’s faced him before, knows his tactics. If you want to keep the pack safe, you’re going to need Dante’s insight into how Silas thinks. His strategies. You’ll need him by your side, not just as an ally, but as your advisor.”
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to let frustration show. It was one thing to bring Dante back into the pack; it was another to elevate him to such a visible position of power. But deep down, I knew Leoric was right. Dante’s knowledge of Silas and his tactics could make the difference between survival and defeat. If Silas truly intended to test our borders, to push us into a confrontation, then I would need every advantage I could get.
“Dante is already advising me in certain ways,” I said cautiously, “but the pack needs to see me as their leader. If I give him too much visibility, it could sow even more discord.”
Leoric nodded, acknowledging the truth in my words.
“I understand. But I also know this: If you face Silas unprepared, that will cause more harm to the pack than any rumors about Dante’s role. You have to weigh the risks, Elara.”
I took a deep breath, letting his words settle. This was the crux of leadership, wasn’t it? Balancing loyalty and pragmatism, the image of strength with the practical need for survival. If I wanted the pack to survive the trials that lay ahead, I would have to make sacrifices—inclusive of the way others perceived my alliance with Dante.
“I’ll consider your advice,” I said finally, my voice steady.
“And, Leoric… thank you for coming to me. It means a great deal.”
He inclined his head, a flicker of respect in his gaze.
“I only want what’s best for Talon Pack, Elara. And I believe you do too.”
With that, he rose and left, his footsteps echoing through the quiet room. I remained behind, staring at the maps on the wall, my mind racing with the implications of his words. Dante knew Silas’s tactics, his weaknesses, in ways that no one else in the pack could. If we were truly going to defend ourselves against Silas’s threat, I would have to find a way to integrate Dante’s knowledge without undermining my authority.
Later that evening, I sought out Dante in the training grounds, where he was once again sparring with a group of younger wolves. He moved with fluid precision, his focus unwavering. I waited until he dismissed the group before approaching, catching his attention.
“Leoric spoke to me today,” I began without preamble.
Dante raised an eyebrow, curious.
“Did he? That’s unusual.”
“He thinks I should lean on you more. Use your knowledge of Silas’s tactics. He believes that we’ll need it if Silas decides to make a move.”
Dante crossed his arms, studying me intently.
“And what do you think, Elara?”
