Sixty five

As I spoke, Golder’s worried voice resonated through the line. I could sense her concern, her anxiety for our pack’s safety. But even amidst the chaos, a flicker of determination burned within me. I needed her to trust in our ability to overcome.

“Golder,” I reassured her, my voice firm. “We are still standing, still fighting. The battle was tough, but we have not been defeated. We made the strategic choice to retreat, to regroup and fortify our defenses. This is not the end.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then Golder spoke, her voice filled with a mix of worry and determination.

“I trust in you, Simon,” she said, her words laced with a quiet resolve. “But the thought of you in danger… it fills me with unease.”

I could hear the underlying fear in her voice, the worry that gripped her heart. I understood her concern, for it mirrored my own. But now was not the time for doubt or fear. We needed to rally, to stand strong together.

“Golder, my love,” I responded