LOGINELARA'S POV"Mama, what's this word?"Our daughter pointed at a book. Two years old now. Talking in full sentences. Reading simple words. Magic develops beautifully every day."Sanctuary," I read for her. "It means a safe place.""Like home?" She looked up at me with those bright silver eyes."Exactly like home."One year since our bonding ceremony. Taking stock felt natural. Looking at what we'd built. What we'd become.The valley had grown into a small center of learning and healing. Our home expanded into a compound. Sanctuary. Training ground. Teaching spaces. Living quarters for apprentices.But still intimate. Not an institution. A family home that shared its gifts.Our daughter's personality emerged more every day. Curious like me. Brave like Kael. Kind of like Ronan. Best parts of all three parents.Yesterday she'd healed a bird with a broken wing. Just picked it up. Glowed. Set it down. I watched it fly away."Better now," she'd declared. Satisfied.Simple as breathing for he
ELARA'S POV"Are we bound by magic or by choice?"Ronan's question hung in the air between us. We sat in the garden. Late evening. Our daughter finally fell asleep after an exhausting day of refusing naps.The trinity bond hummed constantly between us. Always there. Always present. Comfortable now. Like breathing.But Ronan's question made me think. Really think."Both maybe," Kael said. Leaned back against the bench. "Magic brought us together. But we choose to stay.""Exactly," I agreed. Reached for both their hands. "The bond connected us. But we built everything else ourselves."The bond had settled over the years. No more wild fluctuations. No overwhelming emotional surges. Just a steady connection. Warmth. Presence.We could always feel each other. Share thoughts when needed. Sense emotions. Support each other through the link.But we'd learned to give space too. Privacy. Independence within unity."I want to formalize it," Ronan said suddenly. "Not because the magic requires it
KAEL'S POV"Papa Kael, look! Pretty!"Our daughter thrust a fistful of crushed dandelions at me. Yellow petals stuck to her chubby fingers. Her dark curls were tangled with leaves and dirt streaked her cheek.Spring in the valley was something else. Ronan's garden had exploded into life practically overnight. Flowers everywhere. Vegetables sprouting. Fruit trees are blooming. The whole place smelled like growth and possibility."Very pretty," I agreed. Set down my hammer. I'd been working on the house addition all morning. New room for when she got older. Needed her own space eventually.She toddle-ran to the next flower. Bent down to pick it. Her little wolf ears popped out when she concentrated. Still learning control. Still learning to shift properly."Gentle, sweetling," Ronan called from across the garden. "We talked about this. Ask the plant first."She looked at the flower seriously. Whispered something I couldn't hear. Then I picked it carefully. Brought it to show Ronan with
RONAN'S POV"Riders coming up the valley road."Marcus called down from the watchtower. His voice carried across the morning quiet. I looked up from the garden where I was teaching our daughter to transplant seedlings."How many?" I called back."Six. Maybe seven. Carrying banners."Banners meant official business. I wiped dirt from my hands. Our daughter looked up at me with those bright silver eyes."Who's coming, Papa?""Don't know yet, little one." I picked her up despite her muddy hands. "Let's go find out."Elara and Kael were already at the main house when I arrived. Both standing on the porch. Watching the road with matching frowns."Official delegation from the capital," Kael said without looking at me. "Recognize the colors."My stomach tightened. "What do they want?""Nothing good," Elara muttered. But she straightened. Smoothed her dress. Put on that diplomatic face she used to wear constantly. "Guess we're about to find out."The riders arrived within the hour. Six mounte
ELARA'S POV"Mama, look! Look!"Our daughter's voice rang clear across the village square. High and excited. Full of pure joy.I turned from hanging decorations to see her toddle toward me. Fast little legs pumping. Arms outstretched for balance. She'd only been walking confidently for two months but already moved like she owned the world."I'm looking, sweetling," I called back. Smiled as she stumbled slightly. Caught herself. Keep going.One year old today. Well, one year since we'd found her glowing in that chamber. Since she'd saved us all. Since everything changed.The village had transformed for her celebration. Colorful banners hung between houses. Tables groaned under food. Children ran everywhere shrieking with laughter. Everyone had come to celebrate our little miracle."Flower!" She thrust a daisy at me. Crushed and wilted from her tight grip. "Made it pretty!""It's beautiful," I said. Knelt down to her level. "Did you pick this yourself?"She nodded enthusiastically. Her
KAEL'S POV"You're really not coming back?"Marcus stood at my door with disbelief written all over his face. He was one of my old pack warriors. We'd fought side by side for years."I'm not," I said while leaning against the doorframe."Kael, the western border is falling apart. Rogue wolves attacking settlements. Alpha disputes turning bloody." He stepped closer. "They need you. We need you.""You have other strong wolves.""Not like you." His eyes were almost pleading now. "You're the best fighter we ever had. You ended the shadow war. People listen to you."I looked past him at the village. Peaceful. Quiet. Normal."I'm done with wars, Marcus.""This isn't war. It's protection. Justice." He grabbed my shoulder. "When did you stop caring about our people?"That hit harder than I wanted to admit."I still care," I said. "But I can't keep fighting everyone's battles. I need to build something instead of destroying it."Marcus stared at me for a long moment. Then he let go and stepped







