As Asher and I returned to the party, the cheers from our newly united pack surrounded us. The air buzzed with excitement and hope, quite unlike the tension we had experienced just hours before. I couldn't help but smile, feeling a deep sense of calm within me.
Still, as I basked in the joyful mood, I felt a familiar tug in my heart. I scanned the crowd and found Xander, who was speaking to some pack members. He looked up, sensing my gaze, and our eyes met across the open space. Without a word, we understood each other, and he politely ended his conversation to join me.
I turned to Asher, who was already being pulled into a discussion with some of his former pack members. “I need a moment,” I said softly. He nodded, showing he understood.
While I walked through the crowd, people who car
