#Chapter 63: The Mate Bond Fades

"The sun feels good," I murmured, turning my face toward the warmth. Two weeks had passed since the crash, and today marked my first time outside the sanctuary walls. The simple wooden bench beneath a flowering tree offered the perfect vantage point to observe Crescent Valley's healers at work in their herb gardens. Though I still needed a cane for even short distances, each day brought noticeable improvement in my mobility. Kane settled beside me, his presence now a comfortable constant in my daily routine. "I've heard from my informants in Blood Moon territory," he said, voice pitched low though no one was close enough to overhear. "Giana has moved into the Luna quarters." I expected pain at this news—the final insult to my position—but found only a strange detachment. My fingers rose unconsciously to touch the mate mark on my neck. "The bond continues to fade," I admitted. "I feel less connected to Raymond every day." Kane's expression was thoughtful as he studied me. "The