Chapter 16: The Choice of a Free Heart

The weeks that followed were a gentle, quiet revelation. The "probationary period" faded away, not with a formal declaration, but with the slow, steady rhythm of two lives intertwining. We fell into a comfortable routine. I continued my studies with Lila, my knowledge of herbs and healing growing, earning me a quiet respect that felt earned, not given. Kaine led the pack with a newfound wisdom, one that valued counsel over command. The bond, once a source of agony, had become a quiet hum of...