The packhouse felt unusually quiet that evening. The usual sounds of training, clattering weapons, and low hum of energy were gone. The sun had set hours ago, leaving only moonlight filtering through the windows.
Asher and I stood side by side near the front hall, watching the silver glow stretch across the trees. He didn’t say anything, just held my hand—steady, warm, grounding. It had been weeks since a moment like this—no training, no planning, no whispers of the Shadow Lords.
“I think… tonight we can try to forget.” I said softly, not looking at him. “Just for a few hours.”
He squeezed my hand gently. “I like that.”
Dennis had been kind enough to give us the evening off, trusting the pack could manage for a few hours. I didn’t realize how much I needed it. My muscles ached from tra
