The first week of the new dawn unfolded like a slow, careful breath—tentative, fragile, yet filled with a quiet light no one had dared to hope for. Where once the pack grounds had hummed with rigid order, sharp commands, and hushed whispers that died the moment anyone looked up, now there was movement, conversation, and the soft sound of people working together without fear. But beneath that peace, I could feel it—old shadows lingering at the edges, waiting for the first sign of weakness to creep back in.
I stood at the edge of the training fields at sunrise, watching warriors practice forms that had been unchanged for generations. Every strike, every stance, every movement had been taught to serve strength and hierarchy above all else. No one fought to protect; they fought to dominate. N
