The journey to the northern territory took days.
Days of silence.
Days of rebuilding myself.
I didn't look back.
Not once.
By the time I reached the border, I wasn't the same girl who had been rejected.
I was stronger.
Harder.
And done with being weak.
The new pack was cautious when they saw me, their warriors surrounding me with sharp eyes and ready claws.
"State your purpose," one of them demanded.
"I'm not here to fight," I said calmly. "I'm here to stay."
Murmurs spread among them.
Before things could escalate, a voice cut through the tension.
"Let her in."
The crowd parted.
The Alpha of the northern pack stepped forward—tall, composed, but nothing like Kael.
There was no cruelty in his gaze.
Only curiosity.
"You've been through something," he said, studying me. "I can smell it."
I held his gaze without flinching.
"I'm not weak," I replied.
A small smile touched his lips.
"Good," he said. "Because we don't accept weak wolves here."
Training was brutal.
Every day pushed me to my limits.
Fighting. Running. Shifting.
Over and over again.
But I didn't break.
I became faster.
Stronger.
Better.
And slowly… I started to feel something new.
Control.
One evening, after a long training session, I stood alone near the water, staring at my reflection.
I barely recognized myself.
Stronger eyes.
Sharper features.
Confidence.
"Impressive."
The voice behind me made my body tense.
I turned slowly.
The northern Alpha stood there, closer than I expected.
Too close.
"You've changed a lot in a short time," he said, his gaze lingering on me.
There was something in his eyes.
Something that made my pulse quicken.
"I had to," I replied softly.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The air between us shifted—thick, charged.
His hand lifted slightly… like he wanted to touch me.
But he stopped himself.
"You're dangerous," he said quietly.
I tilted my head.
"Is that a problem?"
His lips curved faintly.
"Not for me."