Days passed in a haze of warmth and wonder, the double bite glowed faintly whenever they stood too close, silver and gold threads shimmering just beneath the skin, visible only to those who knew what to look for. They walked the territory hand in hand, shared meals at the head table without shame, stole kisses in corridors like teenagers who’d just discovered touch. Patrols were still run, council still met, but Hazel moved with new lightness, her shoulders relaxed, her laughter easier, her commands carrying the extra weight of absolute confidence.
Anthony, too, had changed. The lazy grin remained, but now it carried an edge of quiet power. He still joked with the juveniles, still let Rob call him “Noodle,” still stole the last slice of pie, but the pack no longer saw a drifter lounging i
