I clenched my jaw, letting the weight of the revelation sink in. “And you’ve come to help. But why hide part of it?”
Taryn’s voice was steady. “We weren’t hiding it to harm you. We needed to see how Moonflare responded to new wolves, to stress, to the current balance. We needed to ensure you could survive on your own first. That you had the pack’s trust and unity intact. Only then could we introduce this threat without risking chaos before it was necessary.”
I studied them carefully, letting my instincts judge the truth in their words. The bond felt genuine. They weren’t lying about their loyalty, though they had hidden information for a reason. Their energy was aligned with protection, readiness, and skill. They were warriors, not manipulators.
“Alright.” I said finally. “We’ll work to
