Alpha Brennan arrived at dawn, alone as promised, carrying nothing but a small duffel bag. Duke met him at the gate, and I watched from the main hall window as they spoke, their body language tense but not hostile.
"He actually came," Luna said beside me, Hope cradled in her arms. "I half expected him to send word that he'd changed his mind."
"So did I," I admitted. "But he's here. Now we find out if we made the right call."
The morning started quietly. Brennan observed the breakfast routine, watching as wolves who'd once flinched at raised voices now laughed and joked with each other. He said little, just took it all in with those sharp, assessing eyes.
Then Celeste walked into the dining hall.
She'd been doing better, sleeping through most nights now, participating in group sessions
