Evaline:
By the time brunch was over, my belly felt pleasantly full and my heart even fuller. Madam Elira had outdone herself with the food, and my friends had not stopped laughing since they had sat down.
Rowan teased Kyros over the way he piled his plate like he hadn't eaten in days, Mallory and Draven were busy planning something in hushed whispers as if not everyone around them had a wolf's hearing strength, and somehow Oscar had managed to win every small debate at the table, as if the meal was just another battlefield.
After the dishes were cleared, we all migrated to the living room. The house suddenly felt alive, brimming with voices, laughter, and the occasional sound of the pup's soft gurgles. Our son lay in my arms, dressed in the pale blue outfit Mallory had brought as a gift. He seemed content, blinking up at the ceiling as if it held secrets only he could see.
