Chapter 78

Aria's POV

Summer arrived with the particular chaos of a season that doesn't understand boundaries.

The alliance coordination work didn't pause for heat or long days or the way everyone's attention drifted toward easier things. If anything it intensified. Corinna had moved quickly after signing, identifying three western territories whose Alphas had expressed interest and beginning the assessment process with an efficiency that made me feel retrospectively slow about my own early months.

She wasn't slower without our mistakes. She was faster.

I found this equal parts impressive and clarifying. The framework we'd built was working as intended — transferable, sturdy enough to travel. Watching Corinna apply it...