Denera I emerged from the shower, the steam curling around me like a protective blanket. The day was long and gruelling. We had spent hours addressing the attack issues and pack concerns, and the subsequent party was a blur of faces and voices. The council concluded that the decision to send a messenger to inform Blue Moon about the attack was a step towards transparency, but it left a lingering tension in the air. I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped into the room, expecting to find it empty. Instead, I was stunned to see Rockan standing by the window, his silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Rachel must have already left, leaving us alone. "Rockan," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He turned, his eyes softening as they met mine. "Denera," he said, his

