Forging the Future

The air in the Stone Haven pack territory had shifted, the undercurrents of suspicion and fear that had swirled around me since my arrival now replaced by a hesitant, yet palpable, sense of wonder. It was a subtle change, like the first breath of spring after a long, brutal winter, but it was there. And at its heart, it was Damon._

_He stood beside me now, his hand a warm, solid weight in mine, as we walked through the bustling village. Children, their laughter echoing like the chiming of tiny…”_

…bells, darted past us, chasing a wooden hoop down the dirt path. One little girl skidded to a stop at our feet, eyes wide and bright. She stared at our joined hands, then up at my face, then at Damon’s.