It had been a month since the chaos with Lydia, since the forest had trembled under the weight of her magic and the guardians had finally been freed. The Moonflare pack had slowly begun to settle back into routine, though the memory of the attack lingered in quiet moments, a shadow that refused to fully disappear. The twins were regaining their bearings, the pack’s morale was slowly returning, and for the first time since Lydia’s defeat, Asher and I had a chance to breathe.
The morning was crisp when we set out for the werewolf council. The roads were empty, the town quiet as we drove. Asher’s hand rested lightly on my thigh, his touch grounding, and the bond between us hummed steadily beneath the surface. I could feel his tension. The lingering worry from Lydia’s attack, but there was al
