It was now quiet in the camp, the tension from the earlier battle lingering like a faint mist. I stepped out of the cabin where Elara rested, the scent of herbs and blood still clinging to me.
She was brave to fight even knowing she wasn't skilled nonetheless. Her wounds would heal, but the strain on her body was evident.
I didn't want to stay there any longer. The sight of her so vulnerable stirred something in me, something I couldn’t afford to feel. She was also the pack’s responsibility, not mine alone, she would be fine.
The cool night air greeted me as I walked into the forest away from the camp. The moon hung high above, its light filtering through the branches. This was where I felt most at peace, away from the noise of the pack expectations.
A soft rustle of leaves caught my
