The clearing outside the packhouse was alive with sunlight, the kind that made every leaf sparkle and every shadow dance. Birds called from the treetops, the wind carried the smell of fresh earth and pine, and the lake glimmered like a sheet of silver. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was calm.
I leaned against Asher as we walked through the fields behind the packhouse, feeling his steady presence beside me. The bond between us was quiet now, not pulsing with danger or energy, just a comforting rhythm that matched my own heartbeat.
“I still can’t believe it’s finally over.” I said softly. “The Eclipse, the shadows… everything.”
Asher’s gray eyes softened, his lips twitching into a small smile. “For now.” He said. “We’ve earned this peace. You’ve earned it.”
I nu
