Meanwhile, life in Silverblade pack had been calm on the surface, but underneath the stillness lay fractures that no one dared to speak of aloud.
Since Elaine’s departure to Crescent Moon, the balance of relationships within the pack had shifted in ways Michael could no longer ignore. His bond with his parents had grown strained, their conversations clipped and often ending in silence.
Kathy’s own ties with her family, once warm and open, now carried unspoken tension as well. They all carried the weight of a decision that had cost them far more than they had ever anticipated.
Michael could not escape the truth. He had sacrificed his mate bond with Elaine, his Goddess-given mate, because of the pup that was growing inside Kathy. At the time, it seemed unquestionable. Every voice around h
