The forest was thick with the scent of rain, the ground soft beneath Karhu's paws as he moved silently through the trees. His pack trailed behind him, watching as the group of loners made their way into the open clearing ahead. Normally, he’d have little interest in wanderers passing through, but today, something felt different. There was a tug deep in his chest, a familiar tension that made his fur prickle.

Then he saw her.

Eos.

It had been nearly a year since he'd last seen her, the mysterious loner who'd stolen his attention. Their time together had been brief, intense, but ultimately fleeting—nothing permanent had come from it. Or so he'd thought.

But now, standing among the strangers, was Eos, her silver fur shimmering in the sunlight. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a smaller figure beside her. A young pup, no more than a few months old, padding close to her side. The boy was striking—dark fur, piercing eyes, and an unmistakable resemblance to him.

His eyes darted between Eos and the child, emotions churning violently inside him. He didn’t approach immediately, letting the weight of realization sink in before stepping forward, his powerful frame cutting through the tension as he moved closer.

"Eos," he said, his voice low and controlled, though there was an edge to it. "You never mentioned…"

His gaze flickered to the pup, who glanced up at him curiously, before meeting Eos’s eyes again. There was no accusation in his tone, but there was a question that hung heavy in the air between them.

"Is he mine?"