The skyport lights at Santorini were still lingering in Emma's mind long after they had left the island behind.
At 10:45pm, everything felt quieter, heavier in a different way—the kind of silence that only comes when a day has stretched too far and time no longer knows how to behave properly. The white walls of Santorini, the soft blue horizons, the way the sea had shimmered under evening light—it all felt distant now. The memory settled quietly as Emma sat close to Brandon, her clutch bag held tightly in one hand with her device tucked safely inside, while her other hand rested lightly against his sleeve.
Brandon, now fully acknowledged as Alpha Brandon, sat beside her with an easy confidence that never demanded attention yet somehow commanded the space around him. Their carry-on was tucked into the overhead compartment, while Emma kept her clutch on her lap. He glanced at her with that quiet look he always wore, making sure she was still there with him.
