AIDEN
Claire left just because she has work. We said goodbye at the door. I kissed her forehead, stepped back, and let her leave. My wolf remained calm. I stayed where I was for a moment after, listening to her footsteps fade down the hallway, then turned back into the apartment and finished getting ready. The night had ended cleanly, without confusion or unfinished words, and that mattered more than holding on to her for a few extra minutes. She had chosen me again in the light of morning, and I had chosen to respect the life she needed to step back into.
I moved through the apartment slowly, aware of how different my body felt compared to mornings before this one. There was no restless energy driving me toward motion or escape. My wolf stayed close to the surface, attentive, awar
