*Greenwood — Outer Gardens, Afternoon*
Crystal liked the garden behind the council hall because it was quiet.
Ethan walked beside her, his shoulders tense beneath the pale linen shirt he had pulled on after training. His wolf still prowled beneath his skin, she could feel it but it wasn’t restless energy that made him silent.
It seemed something was weighing him down.
Crystal slowed, waiting until he matched her pace. “You’ve been quiet since the council,” she said softly.
Ethan’s jaw ticked. “I don’t have much to say.”
“That has never stopped you before,” she teased gently, trying to get a smile on his face. When none came, her expression softened. “What’s wrong, Ethan?”
He hesitated. Then, with a sharp exhale, he dropped onto the stone bench beneath the roses.
Crystal followed,
