Chapter 89:
Silas had tried to tear us apart from within, but he had underestimated the strength of our loyalty, the unity that now held us together. This betrayal had been a test—a painful one—but we had survived it, and we would emerge stronger.
And when Silas came, he would face a pack that could not be broken, a pack bound not by fear but by an unbreakable trust.
The weight of Finn’s betrayal still lingered in the air, an ache that hadn’t yet faded despite the pack’s collective resolve to move forward. With each day, however, I sensed the growing certainty in my wolves’ eyes—a determination to face whatever Silas threw at us. Finn’s treachery, while painful, had strengthened our bond, cementing our loyalty and trust in each other. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
So, when a scout delivered a message the next morning—a message from Silas, requesting a meeting to discuss terms of peace—I felt the chill of disbelief ripple through me.
“Silas wants peace?”
The council gathered quickly to discuss it, each member visibly wary. Celia and Osric, as always, sat closest to me, their expressions mirroring the concern I felt. Dante was quiet, though his presence next to me was steadying, grounding me as I wrestled with the implications of Silas’s sudden overture.
Osric was the first to speak.
“It’s not like Silas to talk of peace, especially not after sending scouts to spy on us and turn our own wolves against us. This feels like a trap.”
I nodded, my mind racing through possibilities.
“He’s testing us, perhaps. Or worse, he’s setting a lure—one he expects us to walk into willingly.”
Celia’s gaze was cautious.
“But what if he’s serious, Elara? What if he’s offering peace because he realizes he’s at a disadvantage?”
Dante scoffed softly, the bitterness clear in his voice.
“Silas would never admit a disadvantage. And if he’s offering peace, it’s because he thinks it’s the easiest way to win. He knows he can’t break us from the outside, so he’s hoping to weaken us from within, by sowing doubt and mistrust.”
I knew Dante was right, and yet… part of me wondered if a meeting with Silas, even under the guise of peace, could reveal something useful, some insight into his plans or his weakness.
After a long silence, I made my decision.
“I’ll go. If Silas wants to talk, I’ll hear what he has to say. But I’ll go prepared, and I’ll go alone.”
Dante immediately shook his head.
“No. I don’t trust him, and I don’t trust this meeting. If you’re going, I’m coming with you.”
I looked at him, understanding his concern but knowing that my presence alone was necessary.
“Silas won’t take us seriously if I arrive with backup. He’ll think I’m afraid, that Talon Pack can’t stand alone. I need to show him I’m strong enough to face him alone, even if he does have ulterior motives.”
Dante’s jaw clenched, his eyes filled with frustration. But finally, he nodded, his voice low.
“Then at least let me follow from a distance. I’ll stay out of sight, but I won’t be far.”
I met his gaze, grateful for his loyalty.
“All right. Just… stay close.”
The decision made, we prepared quickly. I instructed the council to remain vigilant in my absence, reassuring them that this was a calculated risk. I sensed their anxiety, felt the weight of their worry as I prepared to meet Silas face-to-face, but I knew I had to go. If nothing else, it would show Silas that I wasn’t intimidated by him, that Talon Pack was prepared to stand firm.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, I made my way to the designated meeting place—a neutral clearing just beyond the edge of our territory, close enough to Talon lands to make a quick escape if needed, but far enough that I wouldn’t risk leading Silas into the heart of our defenses. Dante trailed silently behind, keeping a distance, his presence a reassurance even if I couldn’t see him.
