Chapter 29
What Healing Actually Looks Like
That evening felt different.
Not fixed.
Not magical.
Just…
honest.
Selene stayed for dinner.
Not because anyone insisted.
Not because duty demanded it.
Because leaving immediately after that conversation felt wrong somehow.
The estate dining room looked familiar in a way that made my chest ache.
Long table.
Warm lights.
Too many empty seats.
For months—
this room had felt crowded and lonely at the same time.
Tonight—
it felt quieter.
The pup sat between me and Kael.
By his own decision.
Which he announced proudly.
Selene laughed softly and let him.
Kael accepted this with suspicious seriousness.
Halfway through dinner—
the pup held up his cup.
“Story.”
Kael blinked.
“What?”
The pup looked offended.
“Story.”
Selene s
