The first light of dawn cast as I gathered a few loyal wolves away from the pack. They listened intently as I laid out my plan. Each of them understood the gravity of my departure. I’d only just begun to lead them, to help rebuild their broken lives, and now I was asking them to take on the burden I was leaving behind.
“You all know what we’ve accomplished so far,” I said, setting my eyes from one to the next. “And I trust you to keep it going in my absence. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
The beta nodded in acceptance. “We’ll protect the pack and continue your work, Alpha. You don’t need to worry.”
I was filled with both pride and sadness. These wolves were ready to fight, to stand firm despite everything they’d been through. I had to l
