Chapter 82:
“Prepare the wolves,” I commanded, my voice cold, unyielding.
“We’re moving soon. Talon Pack thinks they’re ready, but they have no idea what’s coming for them. They’re about to face the reality they’ve ignored for too long.”
Tyrell nodded, his expression fierce, and moved to relay my orders to the others. As he disappeared into the shadows, I turned my gaze back to the distant line of trees, to the territory that had once been mine.
This was more than just a battle. It was retribution, a reckoning for the years I’d spent in exile, for the loyalty that had been wasted on a pack too blind to see their own weakness. Talon Pack would fall, and I would be the one to bring them to their knees.
And when the dust settled, when the wolves who followed me stood victorious, I would be the one to reshape Talon Pack, to lead them into a future defined by strength, by power. No more illusions of loyalty, no more weakness disguised as unity.
Only strength. Only dominance. Only me.
A tense quiet had settled over the compound in the days since our intensified training began. Even the younger wolves, usually quick to laugh and chatter, had grown serious, their focus unbroken as they went through the relentless drills Dante and I had set for them. Every member of Talon Pack seemed to sense it—the ominous weight of something lurking just beyond the borders, waiting for the right moment to strike.
And that moment came sooner than we’d hoped.
It was late afternoon when a messenger arrived from the border. I was in the Alpha’s house, going over the latest patrol reports, when Lyle burst in, his face pale and eyes wide.
“Alpha,” he gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
“There… there’s a message. From Silas.”
The words sent a chill through me, but I kept my face steady, nodding for him to continue.
“He’s… he’s here, Alpha,” Lyle stammered, his gaze darting to the door as though expecting Silas himself to burst in at any moment.
“He’s just beyond the border. He said he wants to meet you. Alone.”
I felt my heartbeat quicken, the weight of the challenge clear. Silas wasn’t just testing our defenses this time; he was issuing a direct challenge to me as Alpha. My mind raced through the implications. A meeting on the border was dangerous, especially if he came with more than just a message. But ignoring his call could be seen as a weakness—a sign that I wasn’t prepared to confront him directly.
I took a steadying breath, standing from my chair.
“Tell the messenger I’m coming.”
Lyle hesitated, his eyes filled with concern.
“Alpha… are you sure? He could be trying to lure you into a trap.”
“I’m aware,” I replied, keeping my tone calm.
“But this is a risk I have to take. If he wants a meeting, then I’ll meet him. We need to know what he’s planning, and I won’t let him see me as someone who hides behind my pack.”
He nodded reluctantly, then left to relay my answer. I gathered myself, preparing for whatever lay ahead. As I left the Alpha’s house, I saw Dante waiting just outside, his expression grim.
“You heard?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t let me face Silas alone without a fight.
Dante nodded, his gaze hard.
“You don’t have to do this alone, Elara. I don’t trust him, and neither should you. He could be planning anything.”
“I know,” I replied, meeting his gaze.
“But if I bring you or any other pack member, he’ll take it as a sign that I don’t have the strength to stand on my own. And that’s exactly what he’s looking for—any weakness he can exploit. I need to face him alone, Dante.”
He clenched his jaw, clearly struggling against the impulse to argue. Finally, he nodded.
“Then I’ll be close. Watching from the shadows. If anything goes wrong…”
