Chapter 19: Cane: The Girl in My Dreams

I watched her from the woods. She sank into herself when she rounded that corner, a sense of defeat hugging her shoulders I rarely saw from her.

My pack hadn't been kind to her. Not the way she deserved. I couldn't force them to like her. I couldn't force them to love her.

But I could protect her.

Aspen had to find her own way through this. Stepping in to interfere would only damage her in the long run. She'd lose respect from the other wolves if I did. As much as it hurt me to stay out of it, I had to.

Her blonde hair swirled in the wind as she walked away. Rory's parting words to her still drifting on the wind. My intended. Duty always got me in the end. I made decisions to benefit the pack, not myself, but this one…this one hurt. Rory had flaws. Major ones. But she was best suited to be my Consort in many ways.