By evening, the silence had changed shape.
It was no longer watchful.
It was curious.
Denise noticed it in the way wolves lingered just a little longer when she passed.
In the way conversations didn’t stop anymore—but softened instead.
In the way her name wasn’t spoken like a question now.
It was spoken like something people were still learning how to place in the world.
Not Keeper.
Not outsider.
Not threat.
Just Denise.
Liam stayed beside her as they walked through the outer paths of the territory again, though this time it wasn’t necessary.
No one stepped in their way anymore.
That realization still felt strange.
Denise broke the quiet first.
“They’re getting used to it faster than I thought.”
Liam glanced at her.
“They’re not used to it,” he corrected.
“They’re adaptin
