The next morning, Julian slowly opened his eyes. He felt an unfamiliar lightness in his body, his aches were gone, and his strength had returned. As he shifted to sit up, his gaze fell on the four women sleeping soundly next to him, tangled in the blankets and each other, exhaustion still etched on their peaceful faces. A faint heat rose to his cheeks, he remembered just how intense last night had been.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb them. He dressed quietly, then stepped out of the room for the first time in days. Outside, the shelter was bustling with life. People smiled, laughing with relief, food supplies were stable again, and hope had returned. Julian chuckled to himself, imagining Derrick somewhere passed out after overusing his skill to replenish their stores.
