CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
The sun dips lower, brushing the horizon with streaks of orange and pink, as I weave through the dense thicket towards our secret berry grove. The crisp air is perfumed with pine and damp earth, a stark contrast to the warm embrace of Alec's scent that lingers on my skin. Weeks have passed in a blur of patrols and pack meetings, the alliance between our packs growing stronger each day. It's a dance of necessity and newfound trust, punctuated by stolen moments with Alec beneath the silver glow of the moon.
My fingertips graze over the leaves, plucking ripe berries with practiced ease. They burst with tart sweetness on my tongue, the taste of wild freedom. I've always loved this solitude, the peace it brings before the night's responsibilities summon me. But tonight, the
