Inside the Elders' cabin, the air was thick with the scent of burning herbs. The room was dim, lit only by a few flickering candles. The Elders sat in a row, their faces unreadable.
"You have returned," the eldest, Elira, said. "But not as the girl who left."
I forced myself to stand tall. "No."
"You were taken by the Shadow Pack," she continued. "Bound to their Alpha. And yet, you return now. Why?"
I hesitated. "Because I finally see the truth."
Elira exchanged glances with the others. "And what truth is that?"
"That I was never meant to be with Magnus," I said, my voice low. "That I was never his mate. I was just a pawn in his father’s plans."
The words felt bitter on my tongue, but they were true. I had spent years believing Magnus and I were fated. That our bond was real. But I had been wrong.
One of the Elders, a man with a scar across his cheek, nodded slowly. "Then you must reclaim your place. But it will not be given freely."
I clenched my fists. "I don’t expect it to be."
Elira leaned forward. "Then let us see if you can still fight for your pack."