Chapter 43 A Dangerous Comfort.

The afternoon sun was warm against my skin as I walked through the woods, the familiar path back to the Ashwood Pack’s hidden lair winding between the trees. My conversation with Elsa weighed heavily on my mind, her pained expression and the hurt in her voice replaying in my thoughts over and over. I had done what I could, offered my apologies, but the wound I had caused was too deep to heal with just words. When I finally reached the lair, I found Noah pacing just outside the entrance, his brow furrowed in worry. His head snapped up as he sensed my approach, his gaze locking onto mine. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. "Did you talk to her?" Noah asked, his voice low and cautious. I nodded, letting out a slow, shaky breath. "I did. But it didn’t go well. She’s hurt, Noah. More than I think either of us realized." He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I should have known this would happen. I’ve onl