Chapter 80

When we emerged, I was expecting it to be deep in the night. I was surprised to find it was still afternoon, I felt as if we were there for days.

I didn’t know if it were me or if the lands truly seemed brighter, more vivid as if their life was slowly being restored to them.

Nova insisted we return after we found some of her lost history, saying it was enough to know that something was waiting for her pack, her own hope reignited.

I did have a few things to deal with, things that were, for once, easy to forget.

When we returned to my packhouse, Ezra locked eyes with me, standing over his brothers. He made his way to me, searching my eyes and body before he relaxed.

“We have not buried anyone, just started to lay them together, to prepare them. I hope that is okay.” I nodded, tears filling my eyes as I saw the bones beyond, together as one pack, honored instead of left as they died, strewn about and ignored as if they were part of the furniture.

“They have not gone. They refuse t