The tension in the pack was palpable. Whispers followed Lucy wherever she went, wolves murmuring about her sudden strength and the Alpha’s protective demeanor. She could feel the unease, the stares questioning her place among them.
It came to a head the next morning during training. Jared, still nursing his pride after their last sparring session, stood at the center of the group, his arms crossed and eyes sharp.
“She doesn’t belong here,” he announced, his voice carrying over the murmurs. “We’ve all worked for our place in this pack. What’s she done to earn it?”
Lucy froze, her fists clenching at her sides.
“She’s more than earned her place,” Conan said from the sidelines, his tone calm but firm. “You saw what she can do.”
“What she can do doesn’t mean she belongs,” Jared shot back.
