Chapter 81

• “Do you think they’ll follow me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I stood on the balcony, watching the wolves move through the clearing below. The pack was bustling, their energy unmistakable, but there was an undercurrent of hesitation. I could feel it.
• Kade stepped up beside me, his presence steadying the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. He looked out at the pack, his expression thoughtful, but he didn’t hesitate when he spoke. “They’ll follow you, Ava. They already are.”
• I nodded, but doubt lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind. The weight of leadership wasn’t just about making decisions or commanding authority; it was about something deeper—something I had only just begun to understand. To lead them, I had to earn their trust. I had to make them believe in me as much as I believed in myself.