The sun had barely begun to paint the sky with dawn’s soft hues when I woke up, the lingering glow of yesterday’s perfect day still warming me. It had been a dream, a stolen moment of pure joy with Astor, a day I wouldn’t trade for anything. But dreams, as lovely as they are, can’t last forever. Reality, stark and unyielding, waited for us back in the Pack.
I’d decided early on that the return would be easier if I kept myself busy, if I focused on what I could control. So, today was a day of purpose, filled with visits to the elders of our Pack. Checking on them, making sure they were well since my last visit, it was a task I genuinely enjoyed. There was a quiet wisdom in their eyes, a gentle patience that I found myself drawn to. I’ve always felt a connection with the young and the old,
