Lunara's only true regret in all of this was her brother, Wulv, and his chilling detachment. Every single letter they had exchanged since her marriage had been utterly hollow, nothing productive, no warmth, and no familial guidance. Wulv had truly washed his hands of her, leaving her entirely to her own devices to sink or swim in the political currents of the south.
For her entire life, she had craved this exact independence. She had wanted nothing more than to step out from beneath his massive, suffocating shadow and prove she could be her own person. But now that independence was being handed to her on a silver platter, it didn't feel like a victory. It felt like isolation. She realized, with a heavy heart, that no matter how self-sufficient she wanted to be, his brotherly support was something she would always need and appreciate.
