Chapter 72

　　Third Person

　　The morning sun cast a gentle glow over the Red Moon Pack territory,but for Ethan,the day held a weight that eclipsed the warmth of the sunlight.The events of the previous day,the solemn procession,and the final farewell to his mother,Sena,lingered in the air like a palpable ache.He awoke to the murmur of the pack outside his window.It was a comforting presence on any other day and would have been a source of solace.Today,however,the familiar sounds felt distant,as if the world had shifted into a subdued,mournful melody.

　　He sat up in bed,rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the heaviness that clung to him.The excitement he usually feels in anticipation of training now seemed emptier,echoing the reality of the absence of the one person who had been a constant in his life.