Chapter 34

Aria

I close the front door to Leah's house with a gentle click, stepping out into the quiet street. A chill morning breeze caresses my skin, and I wrap my arms around myself against the cold. I feel raw and exposed after our emotional conversation, like a nerve laid bare. But I know there's no going back now. My choice has been made.

With a deep breath, I make my way down the walk and turn in the direction of the packhouse.

The tap of my boots on the pavement echoes in the silence, a lonely refrain keeping tempo with my own tumultuous thoughts. Doubt claws at me, whispering that I'm making a mistake. That a true Alpha would stand her ground, would fight to keep what she'd earned.

I clench my jaw, steeling myself against the insidious voices. I didn't want to be Alpha, not really. It was forced upon me, a burden I never desired. Returning it to Elijah is the right thing to do. The only thing left that feels true in a world upended.

As I near the center of town, flickers of movemen