"Avery," Ethan's voice broke through the heavy silence, his gaze locked on her. "You've been quiet ever since we escaped."
She hesitated, the weight of the Silvermist elders' words still pressing down on her. "I… I don't know what to say, Ethan. They said things about you, about us."
Ethan's jaw tensed. "Things like what?"
"Things I don't want to believe," she whispered, looking away. "They told me that being with you would put everyone I love in danger. That… that I'd be risking my pack's safety if I stayed by your side."
Ethan took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Avery, you know me. You know I'd never hurt you, or anyone you care about."
She looked at him, her voice trembling. "But how can I be sure? They're my family, my pack. They wouldn't lie to me… would they?"
Ethan's eyes softened, and he reached out, taking her hand. "Avery, we've faced so much together. You have to trust what you feel, not what they want you to believe."
