Lara’s POV
Three days had passed since we returned to Frost Fang Pack.
The children were healing remarkably well — their bodies restored, their powers stabilizing under my constant lunar care. The nightmares never came. They slept peacefully through the night, and during the day, they were back to their usual brilliant, energetic selves.
I had thrown myself into work — pack meetings, training the younger wolves, reviewing border reports. Anything to keep my mind occupied. But Matteo wouldn’t let me forget.
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The first time he appeared, it was just after sunrise. I felt him before the guards reported it — that familiar, stubborn tug on the mate bond. I stood on the watchtower with Ryker, arms crossed, watching his tall figure stand motionless in the falling snow. “Turn him away,” I o
