Chapter 17

Rylan’s POV

I lay there, trembling and whining in anguish as the magical compulsion settled into my very bones. It was like an insidious poison leeching the life from me, stripping away that vital piece of my soul that yearned for the white wolf.

My packmates watched in somber silence, their expressions a mixture of pity and relief. For them, the Alpha's decree brought a resolution, no matter how painful. The threat of war with our rivals had been averted. Peace would reign, even if it came at a devastating personal cost.

My father's face was a mask of grim resolve as he turned away, signalling for the others to follow. One by one, they began melting back into the forest, leaving me alone in the clearing with my shattered dreams.

I'm not sure how long I remained there, curled in on myself as the trauma of what had transpired washed over me in waves. What felt like hours could have been mere minutes lost in a haze of grief.

Finally, a familiar scen