Elaine
I woke before dawn, stirred by the sound of wind brushing softly against the window. The snow outside had deepened overnight, wrapping the forest in a white silence so complete it almost felt sacred. Kave’s arm was still around me, heavy and warm, his steady breathing a rhythm that always grounded me.
For a long while, I just lay there listening — to the house creaking as it settled, to the faint rustle of pine branches beyond the glass. Everything seemed calm. Too calm.
Something inside me whispered that peace like this didn’t last forever.
I shifted slightly, and Kave murmured in his sleep, pulling me closer until my cheek rested against his chest. His heart beat strong beneath my ear. It still amazed me, how far we’d come — from strangers bound by duty to two wolves who could
