#Chapter 55: Under the Eye of the Pack

We slipped away from the bonfire, leaving the crackling flames and laughter behind. Richard's hand brushed my back as he guided me to a quiet patch of grass. The stars overhead were cold and sharp, a thousand watchful eyes. We sat close but not touching. He handed me a glass. "To surviving," he said, voice low and ragged. My fingers trembled as I lifted mine. "To winning. I'm proud of you, Richard. Even after everything, you did it." His eyes didn't leave mine. "I wouldn’t have without you. I was ready to give up. You kept them from abandoning me. You kept me together. Even when I didn’t deserve it." We drank in silence, words sticking in our throats. I could feel the heat of him beside me. My wolf strained to close the space. I forced her down. When I finally stood, he rose too, close enough our shoulders brushed. We walked back to Richard's room slowly, the grass damp under our shoes. When we got inside, we didn't say goodnight, we just drifted through the quiet rou