ELIAS
The walk back wasn’t long, but I slightly wished it were.
It wasn’t because I had anything spectacular to say, but because the silence between us felt different tonight.
It felt… settled, like we were two people who had known each other for far longer than a few chance encounters in the woods. Her steps were quiet beside me, her cloak brushing softly against her legs.
I didn’t speak, but every now and then, I found myself looking at her. She kept her head slightly lowered as she walked, but her shoulders were relaxed.
Just as we reached the edge of the gathering path leading back into the celebration lights, someone popped out from behind a stall.
“There you are,” Rowena announced. “With Alpha Elias,” she added.
Mina’s shoulders instantly tightened again.
“Are you goin
