Chapter 44:
The tension within the pack had been building since Dante’s return. It hung in the air like an unspoken challenge, simmering just below the surface. Every day, I felt it in the wary glances cast his way, in the careful silences that followed when he entered a room. It wasn’t outright rebellion—at least, not yet—but it was enough to make it clear: Dante’s presence was a disruption the pack wasn’t prepared for.
I knew this would happen. Trust, once broken, wasn’t easily mended, especially in a pack that had endured as much division as ours. Yet, I had made my choice. Dante had proven himself to me, and I would not waver in my decision to keep him here. The pack might question him, might question me, but I wasn’t about to let that shake my authority.
The morning sun barely touched the frost-laden ground as I made my way toward the council’s meeting room. The weight of what lay ahead pressed on my shoulders, but I carried it as I always had—with strength, or at least the appearance of it. Today, we would discuss Dante’s place in the coming battle, and I knew not everyone would agree with my stance. But I wasn’t walking into that room to justify myself. I was walking in as their Alpha.
When I entered, the atmosphere was already tense. Osric stood by the window, his arms crossed, his gaze distant. Celia sat at the table, her hands folded neatly in front of her, a picture of calm amidst the brewing storm. The other council members trickled in shortly after, each bringing with them a distinct energy—some neutral, others charged with skepticism.
“Elara,” Osric began as I took my seat at the head of the table.
“Before we start discussing strategy, we need to address the elephant in the room: Dante’s presence.” I held his gaze, my expression steady.
“Go on.”
He didn’t hesitate.
“His return has unsettled some of the pack. You’ve seen it—the whispers, the tension. While I respect the work he’s done since he’s come back, there are wolves who question his intentions. They wonder if his loyalty lies with Talon Pack or only with you.”
The words hit their mark, not because they were unexpected, but because I had anticipated them for days. This was the moment I had been preparing for, the…
The challenge I knew would come from the wolves who still doubted me as much as they doubted Dante.
One of the older council members, Miriam, leaned forward, her brow furrowed in concern.
“Elara, you’ve always led with wisdom and strength, but this decision—keeping Dante here—it feels like a gamble. He was banished for a reason, and while I don’t doubt his abilities, his past can’t be ignored.”
“Dante’s presence has divided attention,” added Marcus, another elder, his voice calm but firm.
“It’s a distraction, one we can’t afford with Silas looming.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, and I felt the weight of their collective doubt pressing against me. But I didn’t falter.
“Enough.”
My voice was calm but firm, cutting through the murmurs. All eyes turned to me, and the room fell silent.
“I understand your concerns. Dante’s history with Talon Pack isn’t simple, and his return has stirred up memories and fears we’ve long buried. But let me make one thing clear: the decision to allow him back was mine, and mine alone. I did not make it lightly.”
Osric opened his mouth to respond, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“This isn’t about Dante’s past. This is about his actions now. Since his return, he has worked tirelessly to strengthen our defenses, to train our younger wolves, and to prepare us for what’s coming. He has proven his loyalty through his actions, and I will not allow rumors and doubts to undermine the work he’s done.”
As I spoke, memories of my father’s leadership surfaced. His presence had always commanded immediate obedience. His decisions were absolute, unquestionable, even when they stung. I could still hear his voice echoing in the council chambers, sharp and unyielding:
