The moon bathes us in silver light, and I feel its energy coursing through my veins. Not just my power as a Scarlet, butsomething deeper—a connection to all wolves, to the land, to our shared history and future.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I truly belong. Not just with Aydan or at Moonhelm, but in this world. I have a place. A purpose. A pack.
“What are you thinking about?” Aydan asks, his thumb caressing my cheek.
I lean into his touch. “About how far we’ve come. And how far we still have to go.”
“We’ll do it together,” he says with quiet certainty. “One day at a time.”
“One day at a time,” I agree, resting my head against his chest. His heartbeat is strong and steady under my ear, a rhythm I’ve come to rely on.
The balcony offers a perfect view of Moonhelm’s grounds. Students move between buildings, their laughter carrying on the night breeze. Somewhere, a wolf howls—not in pain or loneliness, but in celebration.
Soon, we’ll graduate and return to Claymore permanently. The thought no longer fills me with dread, but with anticipation. We’ll build something new there—a pack that accepts all bloodlines, that values strength in diversity rather than purity.
The vision of those pups playing together wasn’t just a dream. It was a promise—one I intend to keep.
“Ready to go back in?” Aydan asks, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“In a minute,” I say, savoring this moment of peace before we dive back into the celebration. “Let’s just stay here a little longer.”
