Heron Lake Plateau Summer Heat

Raven shook her head, dismissing his words without a second thought. "No, don't apologize. There's nothing to be sorry for. I get it." She touched her nose lightly beneath his chin -- a gesture of reassurance and support. "Every single person in this pack matters to me. Their feelings matter to me. All their joys and sorrows and fears are important to me. And that includes you. I'm glad I could be here for you when you needed a friend, and you can trust that this will remain strictly between us." She smiled at him, her eyes lingering on his but in a way that contained no authority or challenge. She wanted him to know that she truly meant what she said. As the alpha, she was the heart of the pack, while each individual in its ranks served as parts of that greater whole. If a single part was ailing, the entire body suffered.