sea of hedonism. The neon buzzed through him, a reminder of the world that was dragging him back in, one he had fought tooth and nail to escape after his last god-for

the weight of his father's expectations. Elias had been a soldier, a guardian, an alpha in every meaning of the

disdain and bitterness: John Deere. Their previous meeting did not end amicably; an old grudge born of a terrible expenditure wher

e cozy den, arms crossed, eyes shining with worry. Her warmth melted away some of the fr

d, trying to force a gri

ing in the background. As they started to drift back into the shared memories, Elias's phone buzzed with urgency. He l

ra said, her tone changing from con

e sinking in gravity. "Diplomacy with extremely high stakes and covert ope

d more tightly against her c

ot that simple, Clara. W

sion clamping down on the room, "What about your father?" Clara asked, her voice lifti

to carry heavy burdens around the choices Elias made, especially related to the military. William David

him, came in. "Elia," he said, his voice comforting like authority. "We need to talk." William sat at the old livin

stand the military has its calls, but don't forget what we built together." He had always acted as a compass for Elias, always latching on t

shimmered through, this time Clara's ph

lips, and Elias felt a change in himself. "Elias," she paused. "I've found something. My in

, and his father were all united by something stronger than the ghosts of his past. But still the path ah