Chapter 16: Whispers and Shadows

The following days in the Sunstone Pack's territory felt like a carefully woven dream. Emilia's ankle healed rapidly under the care of the clan's skilled healers. She was no longer a hunted fugitive, but an honored guest. Theron was the perfect host, his courtship like a warm tide—consistent, steady, yet never crossing a line. He showed her the library housing ancient scrolls, its knowledge far surpassing the Shadow Claw's prized repository of combat techniques. "Power has many forms, Emilia," he told her among the towering shelves, sunlight streaming through stained glass and dappling his face. "Wesley only understands the most primitive kind. I believe your strength lies far beyond that." He arranged for her to observe his warriors practicing intricate formations in the training grounds, a stark contrast to the Shadow Claw's brutal brawls. Every conversation, every walk, was him showcasing a new world—a world where she could exist not just as an "Alpha's mat