CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Max's hand brushes against mine as he passes me the bundle, a tiny heartbeat fluttering against my palm. Benji, with his tufts of fur that are too big for his frame, nestles deeper into the crook of my arm, oblivious to the gravity of this moment. My heart swells, protective instincts flaring up like a warm hearth in the midst of winter.
"Careful," Max whispers, his gaze lingering on Benji before meeting mine. Those hazel eyes, always so full of resolve, now flicker with something softer, something akin to the tenderness I've long harbored in secret.
We approach Ezra together, united by our shared concern. The elder's silhouette is etched against the fading light, an unyielding oak standing sentinel over our pack. His eyes, shadowed yet sharp, lock onto the small form
