**Kael's Point of View**

The quiet war was like a grinding wheel that wore us down in ways that a direct battle never could. The land thrived under my care, and its energy was a real force that flowed through the pack, healing old wounds and bringing people closer together. But in the peace of our home, the stress was starting to show in small cracks.

The pack was getting used to Lyra's smile, which used to be a rare and beautiful sunrise. Her eyes, which had the deep, old wisdom of the ...