ne's

relented by the tim

perhaps? Time felt twisted in those moments of healing, where my body was recove

g, something wi

wolf -

t..

le

ection and humiliation, yet stil

ent, I year

ed for

e simple ac

yself in a thick cloak Mara had carefully folded on the b

senses. I tightened the cloak around myself and too

nds were a world ap

ne walls, watchful towers, and ey

and snow-dusted paths that wound between quaint stone cottages and charming wood

oing behind me. Just wolves moving through their day, nodding

idn't

. no one

ed me as some

ime, I found I wasn

ithout purpo

er that sparkled

ns where my fingers brushe

ooking a valley filled with mist. The view stretched endlessly -

apped the cloak tig

ears

sil

br

ant to simply exist. To be without orde

ions for years, taught to believe that sile

this mo

silence f

as m

alone f

st the snow broke the stillnes

nan approach

s and golden-brown skin. Her confident posture radi

u here," she said, sto

curiosity stirring

ad of patrol units and trainer of spirited young wol

prised. "You'r

abel they give me. I prefer to thi

snow from my cloak. "I

er expression sincere. "You've

t of her words settlin

e said, su

ed, uncertain

tanding. "The wolves who've faced chal

I don't think I'm pac

pathy. "Neither did Ronan when

n aback. "You k

Before the tragedy? Definitely. He had his struggle

ofter. "This was his brother's favorite view. Ronan

surprised by the depth of their sha

ompassion. "Years ago. It took him a lon

ails. I understood that pain was

gaze steady. "Join us in the training yard tomorrow. You don't ha

curiosity mixed

ed onto mine

t to run again. And you should be re

g behind only her footprints

t, sleep

, it wasn't f

he stirrings o

me, its pages now partially filled with

eng

i

ee

i

ssed

w

g warmth. Since Kade's rejection, she had been a shadow of herself - i

words lingere

wolf will want

t day was

was on

ld se

ng, I made my way t

n't s

grasp a

engage in

did

pes, ranks, and backgrounds

iors stumble and

authority like thunder, yet offered