"I'm sorry," I whispered to them. "I tried. I really tried."
"You did more than try," a voice said behind me. I turned to find Helena approaching, her elderly frame moving carefully over the rough ground.
"We lost," I said. "Maybe not completely, but we lost."
"You lost this battle," Helena corrected. "The war continues. Nessa, listen to me. Your mother and the Silver Moon Pack fought for decades to change wolf society. They won some battles, lost others, but they never stopped fighting. Neither can you."
"What if I'm tired of fighting?" I admitted. "What if I just want peace?"
"Then Thorne wins completely. Then every wolf suffering in an abusive pack continues suffering because the one beacon of hope they had given up." Helena touched my shoulder gently. "You don't get to quit, Luna Nessa. Too many wolves depend on you."
"That's not fair," I said, tears finally falling. "I'm just one wolf. I can't save everyone."
