CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The rain still falls, a soft patter against the leaves. I stand amidst the pack, soaked to the bone, but the mood is far from dreary. Ryan's voice cuts through the drumming droplets as he stands on the rock that serves as our natural podium.
"Everyone, gather 'round!" His command is gentle but firm, and the pack converges with an eagerness that stirs the wet earth beneath our feet.
I weave through the crowd, my heart a restless thud in my chest. Ryan catches my gaze, his eyes hold a storm of their own – fierce and tender all at once. He extends a hand to me, and I ascend beside him, my pulse racing.
"Today, we honor Lily," he announces, the timbre of his voice wrapping around my name like a caress. "Her strength summoned the rain that nourishes our land." Applause er
