The capital woke slowly after the victory, as if the city itself needed time to believe the war was truly over. Reconstruction began in earnest under a pale autumn sun. Workers cleared rubble from damaged districts, merchants reopened stalls with cautious optimism, and the palace buzzed with the low hum of new decrees and old grudges. The air carried the scent of fresh-cut timber, wet stone, and the faint herbal sharpness drifting from newly opened healing houses.
Seren stood on a wide balcony overlooking the inner courtyard, watching the activity below. Her body still ached from the ravine battle. The dark fur along her shoulders and forearms caught the light, a constant reminder of how much she had changed. The bond thrummed gently with her mates' presence; Kael's steady warmth, Aeron's quiet calculation, and Theron's cool vigilance. Each of them healing in their own way.
