Chapter 5 Steps Towards Peace

Selene's POV

The snow had finally relented by the time I ventured outside.

I had lost track of how many days it had been since I left the infirmary. A week, perhaps? Time felt twisted in those moments of healing, where my body was recovering and my mind was slowly unraveling the silence that had shrouded me for years.

But that morning, something within me stirred.

Not my wolf - not yet.

Just... me.

Selene.

The she-wolf who had endured rejection and humiliation, yet still found the strength to breathe.

In that moment, I yearned for air.

I longed for space.

I craved the simple act of walking.

So I slipped on the boots that lay by the door, wrapped myself in a thick cloak Mara had carefully folded on the bed, and stepped into the cold embrace of the outside world.

The chill greeted me with sharp clarity, stirring my senses. I tightened the cloak around myself and took my first full breath in what felt like an eternity.

The Ashfang Pack lands were a world apart from Nightfall's.

Nightfall had been about high stone walls, watchful towers, and eyes that scrutinized my every move.

Ashfang was a tapestry of mountains and mist, tall pines reaching toward the sky, and snow-dusted paths that wound between quaint stone cottages and charming wooden cabins with slanted rooftops. Here, the silence wasn't stifling; it felt holy.

There were no guards following my every step. No whispers echoing behind me. Just wolves moving through their day, nodding in greeting - not out of pity, but with a warm, quiet respect.

They didn't know me.

And yet... no one scorned me.

No one regarded me as something broken.

And for the first time, I found I wasn't afraid to be seen.

I wandered without purpose at first.

Past a frozen river that sparkled under the pale sun.

Through a path of evergreens where my fingers brushed against the soft needles.

Until I found a flat stone perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a valley filled with mist. The view stretched endlessly - mountains rolling like slumbering giants, snow-capped and wild.

Settling down, I wrapped the cloak tighter around my knees.

No tears fell.

Only silence.

And breath.

For so long, I had forgotten what it meant to simply exist. To be without orders. Without the pressure of performance.

I had endured the weight of Kade's expectations for years, taught to believe that silence was strength and gentleness was a flaw.

But in this moment...

Now, the silence felt chosen.

It was mine.

I wasn't alone for long.

The soft crunch of boots against the snow broke the stillness, causing my muscles to tense.

It wasn't Ronan approaching this time.

It was a woman - tall and striking, with long braids and golden-brown skin. Her confident posture radiated strength, and her gaze was both direct and warm.

"I figured I'd find you here," she said, stopping a few feet away.

I tilted my head, curiosity stirring. "Do I know you?"

She smiled gently. "Not yet. I'm Captain Thalia - head of patrol units and trainer of spirited young wolves who think battle scars are their badge of honor."

I blinked, surprised. "You're... a warrior?"

She chuckled softly. "That's the label they give me. I prefer to think of myself as a 'problem solver.'"

I stood, brushing the snow from my cloak. "It's nice to meet you."

She regarded me for a moment, her expression sincere. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"

I swallowed, the weight of her words settling over me, but I nodded.

"Good," she said, surprising me.

"Good?" I echoed, uncertain of her meaning.

Thalia nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "The wolves who've faced challenges are the ones I want in my pack."

My heart tightened. "I don't think I'm pack material right now."

She shrugged with a hint of empathy. "Neither did Ronan when I found him. Look at him now."

I blinked, taken aback. "You knew him before?"

Thalia smirked softly. "Before the Alpha title? Yes. Before the tragedy? Definitely. He had his struggles. He still does, but he's learned to channel them."

She glanced down the cliffside, her voice growing softer. "This was his brother's favorite view. Ronan comes here when he needs to reconnect with himself."

I looked out at the scenery again, surprised by the depth of their shared history. "He lost his brother?"

Thalia's voice was gentle, filled with compassion. "Years ago. It took him a long time to find peace in the world again."

I didn't need to ask for more details. I understood that pain was universal - especially for Alphas.

As she prepared to leave, Thalia paused and turned back to me, her gaze steady. "Join us in the training yard tomorrow. You don't have to fight. Just observe. Allow yourself to feel the rhythm again."

"Why?" I asked, curiosity mixed with hesitation.

Her eyes locked onto mine with clarity.

"Because one day, your wolf will want to run again. And you should be ready for that moment when it arrives."

Then she walked away, leaving behind only her footprints and the faint scent of cedar.

That night, sleep eluded me.

But this time, it wasn't from nightmares.

It came from the stirrings of possibility.

I stared at the journal Ronan had given me, its pages now partially filled with clumsy sketches and fragmented thoughts.

Strength.

Fire.

Freedom.

Eira.

I missed her.

My wolf.

I longed for her steady presence, her fierce spirit, and her comforting warmth. Since Kade's rejection, she had been a shadow of herself - it felt as if a part of her had withered away when our bond was severed.

But Thalia's words lingered in my mind.

One day, your wolf will want to run again.

Maybe that day wasn't today.

But it was on its way.

I could sense it.

The following morning, I made my way to the training yard.

I didn't shift.

I didn't grasp a weapon.

I didn't engage in sparring.

But I did watch.

I observed wolves of all shapes, ranks, and backgrounds training together as equals.

I witnessed warriors stumble and rise once more.

I listened as Thalia commanded with authority like thunder, yet offered praise that resonated like warm rain.