Chapter 212

Caelan’s POV

I didn’t plan this at all. But something inside me finally broke open during training earlier. Like a weight I have been dragging for years suddenly loosened.

Maybe it was watching Harper and Lucas return with those stupid glowing smiles. I’m glad and happy for them though. Or maybe I was just done carrying anger I didn’t even want anymore.

Either way, I knew exactly who I needed to see.

Valerie. Even thinking her name makes something twist in my chest. I find her outside, sitting on the back porch steps with a blanket around her shoulders. She looks up when she hears me, she looks surprised .

“Caelan?” she asks. “Everything okay?”

No. Everything is not okay. Everything has been wrong for years.

But tonight… I want to fix it.

“Can we walk?” I ask gently. “Please .”

She hesitates for half a second before nodding. “Yeah. Of course.”

We walk quietly through the pack grounds. The sky is turning dark purple,