“The Cheslem threat has been eliminated.” Nic’s voice carries to every corner of the room. “Rafe is dead. His remaining wolves have either surrendered or fled. Our patrols have confirmed that no hostile forces remain within our borders.”
Chatter ripples through the crowd. Relief, mostly. Some disbelief.
“Additionally,” Luna speaks up, “all six explosives have been located and neutralized. The school, the medical center, and the pack house are all safe. Silvercreek is secure.”
The conversation becomes a cheer. Wolves embrace each other. Some of them cry. I feel my own eyes burning, but I blink the moisture away. There’s still work to do.
Bryan’s hand finds mine, and he squeezes gently. I let myself lean into him for just a moment. Just long enough to feel his warmth, to remind myself that we both survived.
“Thank you,” Nic continues once the noise dies down. “Every single one of you contributed to this victory. We protected our home. We protected each other. That’s what pack means.”
More cheers. More embraces. Nic says something else, but I’m not really listening anymore. My attention has drifted to a cot in the far corner where Dina sits alone.
She looks better than she did when we first brought her out of that compound. Someone found her clean clothes, and the blisters around her neck from the silver collar have started to heal. But there’s a faraway look in her eyes that I recognize. The look of someone who’s lost everything and doesn’t know how to move forward.
“I need to check on her,” I tell Bryan.
He nods and releases my hand. “I’ll be right here.”
I cross the room and crouch beside Dina’s cot. She looks up at my approach and shrinks into herself.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Physically? Better.” She touches her neck where the collar used to sit. “The burns are healing. Your pack’s healers have been kind.”
“And everything else?”
Dina is quiet for a long moment. When she speaks again, her voice is barely above a whisper. “I don’t have anywhere to go. My pack is gone. My family is dead. I don’t even know if there are other survivors from Ridgewood.”
My heart aches for her. Not so long ago, she had a home, a family, and a future. Now she has nothing but the clothes on her back and the trauma of everything she endured.
“You could stay here,” I offer. “Silvercreek takes care of its own.”
“I’m not one of yours.”
“You could be.” I reach out and take her hand. “Nic is a good Alpha. He won’t turn away someone in need. I’ll help you settle in. Find you a place to stay, introduce you to people, whatever you need.”
Tears gather in the corners of her eyes, but she blinks them back. “Why? You barely know me.”
“Because you survived something terrible, and you deserve a chance to heal. We were prisoners together, and that means something to me. Besides, it’s the right thing to do.”
Before she can respond, a shadow falls over us. I look up to find Nic standing nearby. Luna is with him, and there’s a gentle smile on her face.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” Nic says. “Skylar’s right, Dina. If you want to stay in Silvercreek, you’re welcome here. We have room for wolves who need a fresh start.”
A single tear escapes and rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away quickly, like she’s embarrassed to be seen crying.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Luna suggests. “We could use another strong wolf in the pack. And from what Caleb tells me, you held up remarkably well during your captivity. That kind of strength is valuable.”
Dina looks between the three of us. Her throat works as she swallows hard. “Yes,” she finally manages. “Yes, I’ll stay. Thank you. All of you.”
Nic nods. “We’ll sort out the details. For now, rest. You’ve earned it.”
He and Luna move on to check on other patients, but I stay with Dina for a few more minutes. We don’t talk much. I just sit beside her, holding her hand, letting her know she’s not alone anymore. Eventually, her eyes grow heavy, and I help her lie back against the pillows.
“Get some sleep,” I tell her. “I’ll come find you tomorrow. We’ll figure everything out together.”
