Three days alone changed something fundamental.
Sera woke on the fourth morning to find Marcus already up, making coffee. Simple domesticity. No war room. No reports. Just a morning routine.
“We should go back today,” she said.
“We should. But we don’t have to rush.”
They took their time. Packed slowly. Walked the return path instead of running. Arrived at the pack house midday to find everything functioning smoothly without them.
“See?” Luna said, meeting them at the entrance. “The pack didn’t collapse in your absence. Revolutionary concept.”
“How are the survivors?”
“Stable. Three more transitioned to independent housing. Two had setbacks, but Dr. Chen is managing them. No crises.” Luna handed over a summary report. “Everything that happened in three days fits on one page. Welcome
