CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT

THANE'S POV

The elders’ voices still echoed in my skull long after I left that meeting.

“Choose another mate.”

“You must give the pack stability.”

“Tyla is gone..accept it.”

Gone.

The word sliced through me like a fresh wound every time.

My wolf lay silent in the back of my mind broken, withdrawn, refusing to speak.

He had nothing to offer…no opinion and no guidance because as far as he was concerned… our mate no longer existed.

For him, for both of us, Tyla was dead or missing but at this point, dead had the upper hand.

And you cannot replace the dead.

Yet the pack needed a Luna and I, Alpha or not, was drowning.

I found myself standing outside my mother’s door without even remembering the walk.

I pushed it open gently.

She was seated near the fire, spinning wool with calm, steady hands.

The flames cast a soft glow on her tired face.

“Mother,” I murmured.

She looked up with eyes far too perceptive.

“Thane.”

I sat at her feet like I did when I was younger, when problems seemed eas