Elara's POV
"Alright," he said. "Don't be upset anymore. I'll stay close these next few days." A pause. "I've been thinking about what Landon said."
I went still.
"Another baby," he said. "He's right. It's the surest shot we have. You know the numbers, Elara. Thirty-six packs, and fewer than sixty pups born this whole year. We've screened every viable donor there is. The one Lily used..."
He stopped. Then he started over, more carefully.
"It may have been the only match in the country."
He kissed me.
I let it happen. I was tired. The kind of tired where anything familiar felt like a life raft. Even him. Even this. And for one dizzy second, it was easy to forget why anything was wrong at all.
This kiss felt like a routine. There was no love in it. Maybe I was just too tired. Maybe I
