Thorne's Perspective
I stood at the kitchen window, watching the sun begin its descent toward the horizon, my coffee growing cold in my hands as I replayed yesterday's conversation with Calla and Maya. The protective instincts that had been simmering since Alpha Kieran's arrival had now crystallized into something sharper—a determination to ensure that tonight's "diplomatic run" went nothing like the New Moon Alpha had planned.
"You're brooding," Maya said softly, appearing beside me with her own mug. She'd taken to joining me for these early evening coffee breaks, and I'd grown to treasure the quiet moments we shared before the packhouse filled with dinner preparations and evening activities.
"I'm strategizing," I corrected, though I couldn't keep the smile out of my voice. "There's a
