Chapter 186
Cassian found Elyra curled up in her room, her face buried in a pillow as she sniffled quietly. He knocked gently on the doorframe, holding two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
“Hey, little star,” he said softly, sitting beside her on the bed. “Rough day?”
Elyra nodded without looking up. “I can’t do it, Papa. The shiny doesn’t like me.”
Cassian chuckled, setting the mugs down. “I don’t think that’s true. I think the shiny—your bond—is like a wild wolf. It doesn’t hate you; it just doesn’t know you yet.”
Elyra peeked out from her pillow, her brow furrowed. “But it listens to Mama. And Selene. Why not me?”
Cassian thought for a moment. “Did I ever tell you about when I became Alpha?”
Elyra shook her head, her curiosity piqued.
“I wasn’t ready. Not at all. I made mistakes—big ones. There were days I thought the pack would never trust me, that I wasn’t good enough. But I kept trying. I listened, I learned, and I grew. And guess what?”
“What?”
“I earned their trust. It took time, but I got there. And you will too.”
Elyra tilted her head, her silver eyes thoughtful. “You think I can?”
Cassian smiled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I know you can. And you won’t have to do it alone.”
Aurora appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame as she listened. “Your father’s right,” she said, joining them on the bed. “You’re stronger than you know, Elyra. And we’re so proud of you.”
Elyra’s tears dried as she listened to her parents’ reassurances. She crawled into Aurora’s lap, nestling against her mother’s chest. “I’ll try again tomorrow,” she murmured sleepily.
“That’s all we ask,” Aurora said, kissing the top of her head.
As Elyra drifted off, Aurora and Cassian shared a look of quiet determination.
“She’s incredible,” Cassian said softly.
“She is,” Aurora agreed. “And we’ll make sure she knows it every day.”
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