I awoke to the soft rustling of leaves and the gentle sounds of the forest around me. The morning sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled light on the forest floor. Beside me, James slept peacefully, his expression serene in the early morning light. I smiled, grateful for the moments of calm we could steal amidst our duties as leaders of our pack.
As I sat up, stretching my limbs and taking in the tranquility of the forest, my thoughts drifted back to the recent battle. We had faced a formidable enemy and emerged victorious, but the lingering effects of the dark energy still weighed heavily on my mind. Controlling it had been a struggle—a dance between harnessing its power and resisting its corrupting influence.
"James," I whispered softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. He stirred awake, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
"Aimee," he murmured, his voice still heavy with sleep. "What is it?"
