Nobody believes him.
Least of all the puppy.
The world changed after Ascension.
The files Gabriel recovered detonated across international intelligence agencies like a bomb.
Secret facilities.
Government funding.
Missing children.
Behavioral conditioning programs.
People were arrested.
Others disappeared before they could be questioned.
Entire agencies publicly denied involvement while quietly burning records behind closed doors.
But the truth survived.
That’s what matters.
Ascension doesn’t get to hide anymore.
More facilities are still being uncovered.
More children rescued.
The work isn’t over.
Not even close.
But now?
Now they have people fighting for them.
A warm hand slides around my waist from behind.
I smile before he even speaks.
Clay presses a soft kiss against my temple.
“You disappeared.”
“I was watching.”
His eyes drift downstairs toward the children.
Toward Eva laughing.
Toward Eli pretending he doesn’t love the puppy.
Toward little Mia throwing glitter at literally everyone.
His chest rises slowly against my back.
