Ryan’s POV
Diana stood in the middle of the hall like a statue, her face pale and her hands trembling. I could see her breaking apart inside, torn between her duty as a healer and her love as a mother. The pack leaders surrounded her with their desperate pleas, but her eyes kept darting toward the door where her son's trail led into the forest.
"Diana," Alpha Marcus said gently, "we need an answer. My pack can't wait much longer."
She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. When she opened them again, I saw the exact moment her heart shattered.
"I can't do this," she whispered. "I can't choose between my son and your wolves. I can't abandon Damian, but I can't let hundreds die either."
Lucian moved closer to her, his voice soft but urgent. "Diana, you're the only one with the po
