Elena woke to the sound of arguing voices and the sterile smell of Shadow Creek's pack hospital. Her shoulder throbbed where the wolfsbane bullet had grazed her, but the deadly burning had faded.
"She's pack now," Daniel's voice carried through the door. "Whether Blackwood Valley believes their lies or not."
"You don't understand," a painfully familiar voice responded. "Elena is—"
"Right here," she called out, pushing herself into a sitting position. "And perfectly capable of speaking for herself."
The door opened, and Marcus Stone stepped into her room. He looked terrible – dark circles under his eyes, hair unkempt, his usual confident posture replaced by uncertainty. Behind him, Daniel gave Elena a questioning look.
"It's okay," she assured the Shadow Creek Alpha. "I can handle this."
Daniel nodded and closed the door, leaving Elena alone with the man who had broken her heart. For a long moment, neither spoke.
"Sarah confessed," Marcus finally said, his voice rough. "To everything. The hunters, the dead pack members, the evidence against you. God, Elena, I'm so sorry. I should have known—"
"Yes," Elena cut him off. "You should have. I loved you, trusted you, would have died for you. And you couldn't even give me the benefit of the doubt."
Marcus flinched as if she'd struck him. "I was wrong. When they found Sarah with the hunters, when she started talking... Elena, I've never hated myself more. I threw away the best thing in my life because I was too blind to see the truth."
"Truth is funny that way," Elena said, picking at her blanket. "Sometimes we don't see it because we don't want to. You wanted to believe I was guilty because it was easier than admitting Sarah was manipulating you."
"She's being held for trial," Marcus said. "The hunter she was working with gave up everything. Names, dates, locations. She'll be exiled, at minimum. The pack wants to make things right, Elena. I want to make things right."
Elena laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Make things right? I lost everything, Marcus. My home, my pack, my future. Do you know what it's like to run alone on full moons? To wake up every day knowing your family thinks you're a traitor? To see humans like Jessica and know you can never be truly honest with them?"
"Then come back," Marcus pleaded, stepping closer. "The pack will welcome you home. We can start over, rebuild what we had."
"What we had is dead," Elena said quietly. "You killed it the moment you chose to believe I could betray our pack. And honestly? I'm glad."
Marcus reeled back as if she'd slapped him. "What?"
"Being exiled was the worst thing that ever happened to me," Elena continued. "But it forced me to find my own strength. To build a life on my terms. Shadow Creek has offered me a place in their pack, and I'm taking it."
"But... we belong together. Elena, I love you."
"No, Marcus. You loved who I used to be – the girl who would have done anything to make you happy. But I'm not her anymore. And you're not the man I thought you were."
Tears slid down Marcus's cheeks, and Elena's heart ached at the sight. Part of her – the young, innocent part that still believed in fairy tales – wanted to take him back, to pretend the last six months never happened. But she wasn't that wolf anymore.
"The pack will restore your honor," Marcus said softly. "Your name will be cleared."
"Thank you. But my home is here now. With people who believed in me when it wasn't easy, who fought for me without requiring proof of my innocence."
Marcus nodded slowly, understanding and grief warring in his eyes. "I'll never forgive myself for losing you."
"Good," Elena said. "Maybe that will help you become a better man, a better leader. The pack will need that when you take over as Alpha."
He reached for her hand, but Elena pulled back. After a moment, Marcus straightened, squaring his shoulders. "I'll always love you," he said quietly.
"I know. But sometimes love isn't enough. Goodbye, Marcus."
He left without another word, closing the door softly behind him. Elena let out a shaky breath, tears finally spilling over. It felt like closing a book, like the end of a chapter she hadn't realized was still unfinished.
A soft knock preceded Daniel's return. "You okay?"
Elena wiped her eyes, managing a genuine smile. "Yeah. Actually, I think I am."
"The pack is gathering for the full moon run tonight. Feel up to joining us?"
Elena looked out the window at the setting sun, then down at her healing shoulder. Six months ago, she'd left her old territory with nothing but a broken heart and wounded pride. Now she had a new home, a new pack, and most importantly, a new understanding of her own strength.
"Yeah," she said. "I think it's time to run with family again."