---- break. But it broke anyway." She finally looked up. Her eyes were no longer tearful -but clear, focused. "T want to earn your respect. If you never call me daughter again, I'll accept that. But let me serve your clan. Let me protect what you built. Even if I have to do it in silence for the rest of my life." Silence lingered in the room. I studied her face-so much like mine now. "You've grown," I said at last. "You don't even look like the pup I once knew." "Pm not," she whispered. "But I still love you." I didn't move toward her. I simply nodded. "Fine. You'll start as a scout. If your record holds, you'll move to guard duty. No one will treat you differently. No one will call you my kin. You'll rise or fall on your own merit." Her lip trembled just slightly. She nodded deeply. ---- "And Yelena..." She looked up, startled to hear her name. "You will report directly to me. Once a week." She blinked, surprised. "As a scout?" "No," I said. "As someone I'm willing to try to forgive. Slowly. Carefully." Her eyes shimmered. This time, she didn't cry. She straightened her back and saluted. "Thank you, Alpha." She left the room with quiet steps. As the door shut behind her, I looked down at the Riverwatch crest in my hand. My wolf stirred softly in my chest. She's learning, the wolf murmured. She's not perfect. But she's trying. And for the first time in years, I let myself hope that ---- maybe-just maybe-my daughter might become the kind of wolf I could trust again.