RUBY The morning greeted me with a comforting heaviness. My body aching was a proof to how much fun I had yesterday. Memories of the outing filled my thoughts, and for once, they weren’t overshadowed by regret. Kiara had been a breath of fresh air, full of energy and excitement to have me as her brother's mate. She dragged us to places I had only seen on TV or through the windows of passing street buses: a quaint diner with milkshakes and the best pancakes I’d ever tasted, a lively carnival Mom once promised we’d visit together, and a serene park adorned with fairy lights. For the first time in years, I let myself enjoy the moment and allowed my wolf to communicate with me freely. I laughed without restraint, and my wolf felt giddy with excitement as she guided me to win games at the ca

