Chapter 52:
The look in his eyes made my chest tighten.
“Go on.”
He took a deep breath, his gaze darting to the other wolves around us.
“Some of the pack… they’ve been talking. About Dante.”
I stiffened, my mind racing.
“What about him?”
“They’re saying… that maybe he should be Alpha,” Lyle said, his words hesitant but heavy.
“That he’s stronger, more experienced. That he’s the one who should lead us, not—” He stopped, his face flushing.
“Not you.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut, my breath catching as I struggled to maintain my composure.
“And what do you think, Lyle?” My voice was calm, but the effort it took to keep it steady was monumental.
Lyle’s eyes widened, and he shook his head quickly.
“I don’t think that, Alpha. I swear. But others do, and… they’re starting to talk more openly about it.”
“Thank you for telling me,” I said, my voice clipped.
“You’ve done the right thing.”
He nodded, relief flickering across his face before he stepped back, leaving me alone with the weight of his words. My mind whirled as I looked across the training grounds, my gaze landing on Dante at the far end. He stood with a group of younger wolves, his voice steady as he instructed them. They hung on his every word, their admiration clear.
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The sight stirred something sharp and bitter inside me. Dante had been here for only a short time, and already he had become a point of contention, a question mark over my leadership. I clenched my fists, forcing the anger down. This wasn’t about him, I reminded myself. It was about the pack and their inability to let go of the past.
But as I approached him, each step felt heavier, the weight of the growing rift pressing harder against me.
“Dante,” I said, my voice cutting through the air as I reached him.
He looked up, his expression shifting from calm to cautious.
“Elara. What’s wrong?”
“Walk with me,” I said, not waiting for his response. The younger wolves exchanged glances as we walked away, their curiosity a tangible presence at my back.
We stopped at the edge of the compound, the forest stretching out before us. I turned to face him, unable to keep the frustration from spilling over.
“Do you know what they’re saying about you?”
His brow furrowed.
“I’ve heard whispers. But I didn’t think you’d give much weight to gossip.”
“This isn’t just gossip,” I snapped.
“They’re saying you should be Alpha. That you’re stronger, more capable. That you’d be a better leader than me.”
He stiffened, the muscles in his jaw tightening.
“I didn’t ask for that.”
“Didn’t you?” I demanded, my voice rising.
“You’ve been here for barely a week, and already they’re questioning my leadership because of you. Do you have any idea what that does to this pack? To me?”
“I didn’t come here to challenge you, Elara,” he said, his voice firm but calm.
“I came to help.”
“Then why does it feel like you’re doing the opposite?” My voice trembled with anger, and something deeper—fear.
