**Kael's Point of View**
The quiet war was like a grinding wheel that wore us down in ways that a direct battle never could. The land thrived under my care, and its energy was a real force that flowed through the pack, healing old wounds and bringing people closer together. But in the peace of our home, the stress was starting to show in small cracks.
The pack was getting used to Lyra's smile, which used to be a rare and beautiful sunrise. Her eyes, which had the deep, old wisdom of the Keepers, now had a permanent, shadowy worry when she looked at our son. She was overwhelmed by the "what ifs," and my reassurances felt like stones thrown into an ocean that never ends.
Kenny was changing as he got closer to being a year old. He was a happy kid who laughed easily and was fascinated by th
