The cave was still, but Hunter couldn’t sleep. Not really. Not with Celeste’s shallow breathing echoing in his head like a second heartbeat. He sat propped against the wall, one arm curled protectively around her waist, the other gripping the hilt of the blade beside him like it was an extension of his own fear.
Outside, the wind had stilled. Snow clung to the trees like frosting, disguising the wreckage left behind by battle. Inside, it was warmer. Quieter. But only just.
Rogue stirred inside him, pressing his muzzle into Luna’s dark fur where their wolves lay curled together. Hunter felt the echo of that touch across his chest, something between longing and gratitude. The bond between them, and the instinct to protect it, pulsed steady beneath his skin.
Celeste murmured something in h
