The steady clatter of Lesley’s boots against the stone path echoed through the courtyard as he returned to the pack house after two long weeks at the northern border. His body ached from the gruelling patrols, but his mind was even more exhausted from the weight of unresolved thoughts. The news of Elenor’s wedding lingered in his head like an unwelcome guest, colliding with thoughts of Ava and their strained relationship.
He expected quiet when he stepped through the grand entrance of the pack house—perhaps a subdued greeting from his father or a report from the guards. What he didn’t expect was the sound of lively music, the hum of conversation, and the sight of a hall adorned with golden drapes and twinkling fairy lights. Tables laden with food stretched across the room, and the faint s
