The wind rustled through the trees as I sat alone at the edge of the clearing, the cool night air grounding me as I let my thoughts drift. It was quiet now, the weight of the conversation with Maeve still heavy in my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling of shame, but for the first time, there was a flicker of something else—acceptance.
My wolf was restless, pacing inside me, urging me to return to my mate. But I wasn’t ready yet. Not entirely. I needed to confront myself first before I could face him again.
The bond hummed faintly in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the connection that tethered me to him. It wasn’t going away, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. And maybe Maeve was right—maybe strength wasn’t about fighting this, but about accepting it.
The forest around m
