A year passed since Shadow's transformation. The community thrived. Love grew. Peace reigned.
Hope was no longer small. She had grown. Not in size. She would always be tiny compared to wolves and Darks. But in presence. In authority. In the quiet power that came from serving others completely.
Everyone respected her. Everyone trusted her. Everyone loved her.
But something was wrong.
Hope felt it first. A weakness in her body. A tiredness that sleep did not fix. A heaviness that rest did not ease.
She ignored it at first. Told herself she was just working too hard. Just caring too much. Just giving too much of herself to others.
But the weakness grew. The tiredness deepened. The heaviness increased.
One morning, she could not get up. Could not move. Could not stand.
Kade found her c
