Christmas morning at Crescent Moon arrived wrapped in quiet.
Not the empty kind—but the soft, reverent stillness that came just before joy exploded.
Snow dusted the forest outside the packhouse, clinging to pine branches and rooftops like silver lace. The moon had dipped low only hours before, leaving behind a faint glow that still lingered in the sky, as if the Moon Goddess herself had paused to watch what unfolded below.
Inside the Alpha house, warmth ruled.
The hearth crackled steadily, casting golden light across the living room where a massive tree stood proudly near the windows. It was decorated with carved wooden ornaments, silver charms shaped like crescent moons, and handmade pieces the pups had crafted over the years—some crooked, some glitter-heavy, all treasured.
Elaine wa
