* Claire's POV *
I sat on the balcony of the pack house, lost in my own thoughts. My father sat next to me, but the silence between us was heavy, filled with the weight of our past. It had been so long since we had spoken like this, and I didn't know where to begin.
As I looked out at the forest beyond, I couldn't help but think about how different my life was now. When my father had left, everything had changed. My mother had struggled to keep the pack together, and I had been forced to grow up too quickly. I missed the man who used to take me on adventures and tell me stories of far-off lands. I missed the father who had always been my rock.
"Why did you leave?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.
My father sighed and looked out at the forest as well. "It's my biggest regret," he
