Dawn spilled gently over the Silverback Pack as if the sun itself hesitated to wake the night. Soft gold touched the treetops first, then slid down to the rooftops and the quiet courtyard where the final lanterns flickered like fading stars. The celebration had ended hours ago, yet silence still clung to the air—thick with what had been decided, and what still awaited.
Veronica barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt Evan’s hand brushing hers, the sparks flickering beneath her skin like embers refusing to die out. Her wolf paced inside her, unsettled by the idea of leaving one family behind—and yet singing with joy at finding a mate after believing fate had forgotten her.
When she stepped out into the cool morning mist, Evan was already waiting—leaning against a pine tree
