Seven years had passed since the quiet morning at the clinic, yet sometimes it felt as though I had only just closed my eyes and opened them to a whole new lifetime. The territory had blossomed into a thriving, peaceful sanctuary, but the true light of my world echoed through the stone corridors of the keep in the sound of two distinct pairs of rushing footsteps.
Marissa and Andre.
They were seven years old now, filled with boundless energy, sharp wits, and hearts so bright they could illuminate the darkest corners of the packlands. Looking at them now, standing on the sunlit terrace, I could see the incredible adults they were destined to become.
Andre had inherited his father’s stoic grace, broad shoulders, and deep, golden eyes that seemed far too wise for his young age. Even at seve
