But I could see her.
The air was cold as I stepped outside.
I walked up beside her, careful not to make too much noise. She didn’t look at me. Didn’t move.
Slade glanced over as I approached. I gave him a small nod—one he returned with a quiet exhale, the kind that sounded like relief. He hesitated for half a second, then turned and slipped away into the shadows.
Hopefully to rest.
I sat down beside her—close, but not too close.
Then I wrapped the blanket around us both.
I inhaled her scent—faint honey and vanilla, and something I could never name. And for the first time in days, I felt my lion calm inside me.
She was home to me. No matter where we were.
I wished I could tell her that.
She didn’t look at me. But in the dark, she leaned her head gently against my shoulder.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Like she’d been waiting for me all along.
I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. I just let her breathe.
Chapter 2
Elira
I woke in the bed, blinking against the morning light.
And I sighed.
I’m still here.
Beside me, Leo lay curled toward me—close but not touching. His hand had drifted toward where I’d been, like he’d reached for me in his sleep.
I stared at him for a long moment, trying to remember what it felt like to feel safe with him. Warm. Whole.
I wanted to.
But the feeling didn’t come.
So I pulled back.
I turned away, carefully. Then slid out of the bed without a sound.
The hallway was quiet as I tiptoed to the bathroom at the far end. It was larger than mine—polished marble, gilded sconces, light spilling in like it belonged to someone else.
I stood in front of the mirror, searching my reflection for something I could hold on to.
Who am I now?
I washed my face. Tied my hair back. Movements that felt like routine, even though nothing about me felt normal.
As I reached for the tie, my wolf pendant slipped from beneath my shirt.
