#Chapter 76: Sweet Life

Elara The house felt different as we stepped inside, the soft click of the door behind us sealing out the world beyond. It wasn’t just the warmth that greeted me, or the faint glow of the early morning sun filtering through the windows—it was something deeper. A stillness. A kind of quiet I hadn’t realized I’d missed until now. Alaric’s arm stayed curled around my waist, his weight still pressing into me as he leaned in, but I could tell he was growing stronger with every step. The lingering traces of paralysis were fading, slow but steady. He hadn’t spoken much on the drive home, but he didn’t need to. I could feel it in the way his thumb traced gentle circles along my hip, as if he needed the constant reassurance that I was still there. Still breathing. I slipped my hand over his, lacing our fingers together as I guided him toward the living room. “Sit down,” I whispered, nudging him toward the couch. “You need to rest.” He let out a soft huff, but there wasn’t an