The Christmas market field was usually the happiest place in the valley. Families walked with mugs of hot chocolate. Kids ran between stalls decorated with red ribbons. Lanterns lit the snow with warm golden light. The scent of cinnamon and fresh bread drifted through the air.
But today the joy felt thin.
Like fabric stretched too tight.
Like everyone was smiling because they were supposed to, not because they felt safe.
I wiped sugar from my hands as I finished bagging cookies for the bake sale table. My wolf paced under my skin with low restless energy. Ronan stood a few feet away, pretending to talk to Jonah about patrol routes, but I felt his attention on me like a warm steady weight.
He was close.
Close enough that my wolf draped herself over his presence without meaning to.
Cl
