765 One Goal

Ashleigh furrowed her brows. She sat up and looked at him.

“Relieved?” she asked.

Caleb smiled back at her and nodded.

“I thought that you were hesitating to tell me because something bad happened… that maybe a stranger had somehow taken my pack…” he said. “But… Galen?”

Caleb laughed.

“You couldn't find a more deserving wolf,” he said. “Not even me."

Caleb smiled to himself as though he were seeing a fond memory.

"I think I was a decent Alpha..." he continued. "I did my best, and I think I was pretty good... but at the end of the day, I was Alpha because of the family I was born into.”

He sighed.

"Your pack loved you," Ashleigh said.

Caleb smiled and nodded.

"I know," he said. "And they love him too. Galen never would have wanted the role for himself... he never would have considered the possibility. But, he was always right for it."

Ashleigh watched Caleb’s expression, his genuine relief and contentment.

“You really… don’t mind?” she asked.