The aftermath of the battle left a weight I couldn’t shake. The pack was quiet, but the tension lingered. As I walked through the halls of the packhouse, I felt like an outsider, despite my bond with Maeve. Being a part of this world still felt foreign sometimes, like I was always a step behind.
I passed by some of the warriors, their heads low, their shoulders tense. The air was thick with unspoken concerns. The battle had been brutal, and the pack was feeling the cost. Even though we’d won, the price we paid was heavy.
I headed toward Maeve’s office, my thoughts still swirling. She had carried the burden of leadership through the fight with grace, but I knew her well enough to see the cracks beneath. Maeve was strong—stronger than anyone I’d ever met—but no one could shoulder that weig
