The scars that are too fresh

Hawkeye looked down. "Maybe he thinks he did... but love doesn't just 'stop', Blue Willow. You and Atticus... I am not sure how serious you two are, but if something happened to him — if he were depressed, injured, kidnapped by another pack — and you two had a family together.. would you stop loving him? I gave him leadership, I gave him pups, and when I was most vulnerable, he cut the cord. I have moved on from my feelings for him, but I won't ever forgive him for breaking a promise to me." She thought she was over it, but now the she-wolf felt raw and defeated.

"I assume someone stepped up once she left them, but why would you leave a pack — one you lead, one you protect, one you should love — for a mate that you hardly know? And then you bypass wolves who have been in the pack and earning their ranks just to give your lover the Beta position? She doesn't even know any of us." Hawkeye scoffed. "At least when I made Peregrine Alpha, he had already proven himself in the pack and was a high rank. If you give some wolves power, though, they will abuse it." The female looked at Blue. "At least you are a good leader, Blue." Hawkeye smiled slightly. "As long as you are Alpha, I don't think the pack will fail. You'll keep it afloat." If it wasn't for her faith in Blue Willow, the sharp-eyed female would have been long gone.