The bonfire outside roared, painting the pack in shifting shades of copper and shadow. The scent of woodsmoke, pine, and roasting meat filled the frozen air. Laughter and the low thrum of conversation built a wall of sound against the vast, silent night. But inside the great room, the world was reduced to the crackle of the new hearth-fire and the steady, shared breath of two people.
Laila and Xavier stood before the window wall, the fire at their backs. The pack was a living tapestry on the other side of the glass, their faces turned expectantly toward the illuminated figures within. The moonstone pendant was cool against Laila’s skin, a focal point for the nervous energy humming through her.
Xavier reached for her hand. His grip was firm, his skin warm. It wasn't a romantic gesture, bu
