It was already past 9:30 at night when I finally noticed how quiet the villa had become. The autumn wind pressed softly against the windows, carrying the faint chill of a season about to turn. My instincts always reacted to changes in the air like this—subtle shifts in temperature, scent, and pressure that marked transitions within the pack territory. Winter was close, and the entire estate felt like it knew it.
I had just finished observing the night sky when the main entrance of the villa stirred with movement.
Elliot and Jared had returned.
I stepped out instinctively to greet them, but what I saw made me pause mid-step. Elliot was carrying Jared in his arms, the boy completely asleep, his small body tucked securely beneath one of Elliot's dark coats. The sight sent an unexpected ripple through my senses—something soft, unfamiliar, almost disarming.
"How did he fall asleep?" I asked quickly as I approached them.
