Diana's POV
I watched Ryan leave, his shoulders rigid with tension, his steps carrying the weight of everything Lucian had said—and everything he hadn't. Part of me pitied him, while another part felt a savage satisfaction at seeing him confronted with the consequences of his choices.
Five years ago, I never would have imagined finding strength in the ruins of my life. Yet here I stood, surrounded by the very pack that had cast me out, no longer a broken shell but a healer whose power they now desperately needed.
Lucian moved to stand beside me at the window, his familiar presence steady and reassuring. "You're too kind to him," he remarked quietly.
"Am I?" I turned from the view to face my friend. "I'm helping his pack, not him."
A skeptical smile played across Lucian's face. "Keep t
