Dorian's POV
The years after the guardians' final visitation settled into a rhythm I had almost forgotten.
Not the rhythm of war. Not the rhythm of preparation. Something simpler. Something that felt like a gift I didn't deserve. The pack thrived. The pups grew. The elders aged with grace. And the darkness remained sealed, a distant memory at the edge of our awareness.
I found myself waking each morning with a sense of peace that had once seemed impossible.
Elara was beside me, her silver pendant warm against her chest, her breathing slow and even. Selene and Lyra were in their rooms, their silver-tipped fur glowing faintly through the walls. The lodge was quiet, the village was still, and the moon was setting over the horizon.
This is what we fought for, I thought. This is what we s
