Chapter 278

LILA

Aurora spoke softly, her words hanging in the silence, in the balance within the pack, seeming to resound within her mind:

“Every choice ripples through into others. Be sure yours aren’t the one drowning someone you care for.”

I glared hard at the paper clutched in my shaking hands on it, Calla’s uneven words across the page read clear as day, the demand, “Sow doubt. Make them question him, or I’ll make sure your past comes to light.”

I felt my heart twist, words cutting deeper into me like a knife as I reread the message over and over.

The face of Rowan flashed into my mind, the honesty in his smile, the brightness of his eyes when he spoke about earning again the trust of his pack.

Why does he have to be so good? Why did I have to care?

I lay under a mountain of blankets, smothering, unable to get out. The murmurs of the pack outside my room filtered into my ears, a toneless reminder of how much it would cost me if Calla followed through with her threats.

“What am I doing?” I whispered, pacing. “I should have just

Chapter 278

walked away when she first called.

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But Calla knew too much. She was the key to unraveling it all the life I’d tried to build here.

It was some kind of treachery, a betrayal, to that one fragile. piece inside me that still hoped I could be better when Rowan. betrayed me.

I found him at the training grounds, his form economical as he showed techniques to a circle of younger wolves, voice steady, firm with corrections, yet the patience distinct beneath that weight of whispered concern surrounding his name.

“You’re gripping too tight,” he told one young werewolf, adjusting the werewolf’s hands on the practice sword. “Loosen up. If your hands are stiff, your strikes won’t flow.”

wolf nodded, adjusting his grip as Rowan stepped back. “Better. Now

certain that this was a brilliant notion being nearer to him but then he looked

said, mopping sweat off his forehead. “What’re you

over my words my readied pretext

you,” I heard myself saying weakly, managing a smile I made

Chapter 278

way the words sounded less strained. You’ve

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sparring wolves. “They keep me on my toes.

a stump beside him, fidgeting my hands nervously in my lap. “You seem different,”

trying,” he said. “Each day feels like a chance to prove I am not the

be.“.

honesty of those words shrunk my chest as guilt chomped down on the edges

don’t you ever get this feeling like you are fighting a

face me; his brow furrowed. “All the time. But

barely

of the wolves. drifting across the field. It was some

the silence.

he said softly, still questioning. “Not that I mind. It’s nice having someone who doesn’t look at me like I’m about

Chapter 278

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at the soft, unexpected, even to me.

me, his face unreadable. “And that

without thinking, then hastened to

with a small smile. “Careful, Lila. You’re starting. to sound

I made myself

the training grounds, younger wolves dispersing this way and that. The coolness of

over us.

think about leaving?” he asked abruptly, his voice

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