HADES I close my eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath as I walk downstairs for dinner, the weight of work and pack duties bearing down on my shoulders like an oppressive force. Sometimes, in my most desperate moments, I wish I could escape for a week, take a break from the relentless responsibilities, and come back to find everything just as I left it. But I know that’s an impossible fantasy. The daunting task of ensuring my pack’s readiness in the face of a potential civil war has consumed nearly every waking moment these days, leaving me little time for Haisley. I miss her with an ache that resonates deep in my bones - the warmth of her presence, the softness of her touch, the way she gasps and writhes beneath me when I’m buried deep inside her, claiming her as mine. It’s been far too