Life in Crescent Moon had settled into a gentle rhythm—steady, warm, and deeply peaceful. Six months had passed since the council hearing, and the once-chaotic storm in Elaine’s life had quieted into something soft and steady. Morning sun filtered through the dense forest canopy that surrounded the Crescent Moon territory, scattering golden patches across the ground like coins of light. Wolves moved easily through the territory—training, laughing, working—while the hum of contentment pulsed through the pack bond.
Darius was busy, always busy, with his alpha duties. He led the pack with clarity and strength, mediating disputes, planning strategies, and ensuring that every wolf under Crescent Moon was safe and cared for. Yet he never failed to return to her at the end of each day, the conne
