*Greenwood — The Great Hall, Evening*
The Greenwood great hall was filled with warmth.
Long tables stretched across the room, on it were roasted venison, loaves of bread, steaming stews thick with herbs, and bowls of berries picked fresh from the forest.
For once, there was no talk of war. No maps spread across tables. No messengers panting at the door.
Just the sound of laughter, of mugs clinking, of wolves sharing food and forgetting, if only for a night, how fragile peace could be.
Crystal sat between Ryder and Luca. Her fingers curled loosely around a cup of spiced wine, the warmth seeping into her skin.
Across from her, Ethan leaned in close to Alia, the tension that had haunted his shoulders lately seemed to have ease, if only slightly.
Thalia laughed at something Luca mu
