Chapter 102:
Dante had found his redemption, and Talon Pack had found its unity. We were ready for whatever lay ahead, bound by loyalty, trust, and the belief that even in the face of darkness, there was always a path back to the light.
POV: Elara
The days that followed Dante’s revelation were some of the most harmonious I had ever witnessed within Talon Pack. His story, his honesty, had brought a sense of closure, a palpable healing among the wolves. The pack moved with renewed unity, each wolf focused and dedicated, no longer weighed down by questions about loyalty or trust. But even as we grew stronger from within, the shadow of Silas’s threat loomed ever closer, pressing against our borders like a storm waiting to break.
One evening, as the last rays of sunlight faded, a scout rushed into the compound. His face was tense, his breath short, and I could see the urgency in his eyes before he even spoke.
“Alpha,” he said, quickly dipping his head.
“There’s… something you need to see. We’ve found a group of rogues near the southern border. They’re not part of Silas’s pack, but they’ve requested an urgent meeting with you.”
I exchanged a glance with Dante, who had been beside me, sharpening weapons for the upcoming conflict. He straightened, his gaze immediately focused.
“Rogues requesting a meeting? That’s unusual.”
“It could be a trap,” I replied, my mind already calculating the risks. Rogues were unpredictable, wolves who had rejected pack life, living on the fringes and surviving by their own rules. But if they had information, or if they posed a potential threat to Talon, I couldn’t ignore it.
“I’ll go,” I decided, looking back at the scout.
“But we go prepared. Dante, bring a small group—trusted wolves who can move quietly. If this is an ambush, we won’t be caught off guard.”
Within minutes, we had gathered a small group and set out toward the southern border. The forest was quiet as we moved, the only sounds being the soft crunch of leaves beneath our feet and the distant calls of night birds. My senses were heightened, every shadow, every rustle in the underbrush setting my nerves on edge. I could feel Dante’s steady presence beside me, a grounding force as we moved deeper into the dense trees.
As we approached the meeting point, the scout held up his hand, signaling for us to stop. Just ahead, in a small clearing illuminated by the dim glow of the rising moon, stood a group of three rogues. They were lean and wary, their postures tense, their eyes flickered with caution as they watched us approach. I signaled for my wolves to hold back, stepping forward with Dante close beside me.
The rogue who seemed to be their leader—a tall, silver-furred wolf with a scar across his muzzle—met my gaze, inclining his head in what I took as a gesture of respect.
“Alpha Elara,” he said, his voice rough but steady.
“Thank you for meeting with us.”
I kept my tone neutral, my gaze steady.
“You requested this meeting. I assume you have a reason.”
The rogue nodded, his expression grim.
“We do. We’ve been watching from the edges, keeping out of sight, but… we’ve seen Silas’s scouts moving through the borderlands. They’ve been searching for something—or someone. And we overheard something that might be important to you.”
I felt a flicker of interest.
“Go on.”
The rogue glanced at his companions, then back at me, his expression unreadable.
“They’re looking for wolves within your ranks, Elara. Silas suspects there’s dissent in your pack, that there are wolves who would betray you to save themselves or gain his favor. He’s already made contact with someone on the inside.”
The words sent a chill through me, though I forced myself to remain composed.
“We found one spy, and we’ve rooted out disloyalty. There’s no one left within Talon Pack who would betray us.”
