Chapter 77

Sophia’s POV

Derick and I finally found a stretch of peace we hadn’t known in a long time, spending a vacation together beside the ocean. The Moonstone Pack was thriving under his leadership, and for once, we allowed ourselves to simply enjoy the calm we had fought so hard to reach.

“You know,” Derick said, a small smile playing at his mouth, “it’s strange not having to watch our backs every second of the day.”

I laughed softly, letting myself sink into that unfamiliar freedom. “It really is. It feels good, not having Blake and Mia hanging over every moment.”

We walked together through the sunlit meadows near our territory, hands linked, the quiet broken only by rustling leaves and the occasional birdsong drifting through the air.

<