As the days passed, Mason, Alex, and Riley found themselves drawn together more often, whether in training sessions, pack meetings, or quiet moments by the lake. The tension that had once hung heavy between them began to ease, replaced by a tentative sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding.
One evening, after a particularly intense training session, Mason suggested they take a break and relax by the lake. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow across the water, and a gentle breeze rustled through the surrounding trees.
They settled on a large flat rock at the water's edge, each lost in their own thoughts as they watched the play of light on the ripples.
"It's peaceful here," Riley remarked softly, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
"Yeah, it is," Mason agreed
