The quiet that settled over the estate was haunting, the calm after the storm that had threatened to tear apart everything Lily and Eric held dear. The battle had taken its toll on the pack—injuries, exhaustion, and the weight of the Order’s warning lingered in the air like a dark cloud. But they had won, if only for the moment, and for now, they took what comfort they could in that.
In the aftermath, Lily walked through the grounds, offering her thanks to the pack members who had risked everything to protect their home. Each face, each word of gratitude, filled her with a renewed sense of purpose. They weren’t just fighting for survival—they were fighting for each other for the freedom to live without fear.
Eric approached her as she moved among their people, his presence a steadying fo
