Chapter 31. Motivated

Alison’s POV

The garden had always been my solace from the day I arrived here, a place where the chaos of the pack house couldn’t quite reach me. The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-kissed flowers and the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. I sat on the stone bench, my fingers tracing patterns on my skirt, my mind a whirlwind of doubt and pain.

Every harsh word spoken during the meeting echoed in my head like a cruel symphony. Katherine’s cold, unforgiving tone. The smugness in Caitlyn’s grin. The silent judgment of the elders.

You’ll get one last chance.

The weight of those words was crushing. What if I failed again? What if this time, I couldn’t claw my way back? My chest tightened, and I buried my face in my hands.

A soft crunch of footsteps behind me jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. My head shot up, heart racing.

“Miss Alison.”

I turned to see Luke, Xander’s Beta, standing a few feet away. The