Richard's arm settled around her, the warmth of his body steady and reassuring against hers. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then, gradually, the tension that had lived in their muscles and minds all day began to ease. Their breathing slowed and deepened until sleep, deep, necessary, and unguarded, finally claimed them both.
Outside, the rain continued its steady rhythm against the windows. Inside the chambers of the Alpha and Luna of Silver Ridge, the two wolves rested side by side, their bodies relaxed and their mate bond humming with quiet strength. Tomorrow would bring the first careful steps of their new strategy: reaching out to distant Alphas, beginning Maya's hidden preparation, and positioning the pack to reclaim strength in the shadows. The path ahead carried danger for every wolf involved, especially for their daughter who would walk into Nightshade's territory, but it was the only path that offered Silver Ridge a chance to endure and eventually rise again.
