Gave up

Chapter 26: No more uploading

Elara woke to the sound of birds.

It was such a small thing—such an ordinary, human thing—that for a moment she couldn't place it. Birdsong meant peace. Birdsong meant safety. Birdsong meant no rogues at the borders, no master hunting her, no immediate threat of death.

Birdsong meant she could breathe.

Kael stirred beside her, his arm tightening around her waist. "You're thinking too loud."

"Sorry." She smiled, tracing patterns on his chest. "I forgot how to think quietly."

"Mmm." He pulled her closer. "Think quietly later. Sleep now."

"I can't. There's too much to do." But she made no move to leave the warmth of his arms. "Council meeting. Rebuilding plans. Messages from other packs. The loyalists—"

"Will wait another hour." His eyes opened, silver and warm. "You just survived a wa