Their second meeting happened under the full moon. Dolphus was sixteen then. His wolf had already awakened. Elena was only eleven and her scent was still untouched by the shift. Yet that night, she bled for the pack.
Elena had thrown herself forward, shielded Drake from the attack, and took two blade strikes meant for him. The silver sliced through her skin, yet she didn’t say a word. Blood wept from her wounds, yet she held her ground.
Dolphus recalled the way she swayed, panting softly. He felt his wolf lurch forward, desperate to ease her suffering, but her eyes warned him away.
He had said then, “If you let me, my family can protect you. We can arrange a different life for you.”
Her reply was cold. “Those who are unwanted should keep a distance and walk their own path. That way, th
