The Last Pack Standing

ced efficiency, but the weight of countless stares followed her every step. She kept her head down, refusing to meet the ac

ways been

d toward the communal hearth, the m

er cracked, drowning out the furious argument in the Alpha's quarters. Her father, Elias,

d, his broad shoulders slumped and his expression grim. Behi

d, his voice colder than the ra

shivers down Selene's spine. "I did what I had to for this pack

Your choices cost us lives. You put

tion. "I acted to secure our future. If you can't

s sealed

sound of Elias's fall echoed in her mind long after his body hit the ground. By dawn, h

and scattering across the ground. She cursed under her breath, st

oice said, moc

nters, standing a few feet away. Mara's lips curled into

ther's shadow," Mara added, her

t respond. She'd learned long ago tha

ting for a reaction, but when none

feel the weight of unspoken judgment from the others nearby. She forced he

next scouting mission. A rogue wolf had been spotted near their territory-a potential threat tha

" he said, his voice steady and authoritative. "This mi

raced. This w

cond-guess herself,

id, her voice cle

ned to her, some filled with skept

oked at her. For a moment, Selene th

aid, his t

her stomach si

replied, turning his att

ed into fists at her sides, but she forced herself to remain cal

g. "It's not just about skill, Selene. It

opened her mouth to argue, but Damon's expre

ttle over her. The pack's whispers returned, louder this time, and she knew they

uld escape the suffocating atmosphere of the pack. The moon hung low in the sky, it

hard she tried, no matter how much she pushed herself, it was never enough. T

, and she stiffened, her senses sharpening. She

it's j

trees, his hands rai

oulders relaxing. "Wh

lopping down on the log she'd just vacated. "Like, I don

m a glare but

. "You know, for someone who's so good at eve

her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Every day

e softer. "You're not your father, Sele

ack," she muttered,

pack doesn't matter," he said after a moment. "Not as much as you think.

s audacity. "You do realize he'd tea

t hey, someone's gotta remind you that

er of hope. Maybe Finn was right. Maybe proving

shadows seemed a little less oppressi

w the road ahead would