Wounds of the Past. In Wounds of the Past, Ava and Talon, two veteran Sentinels, return to Green Arbor seeking peace, but the haunting shadows of their past and a new, devastating war threaten to shatter everything they’ve built. As they try to protect the town, the re-emergence of Talon’s estranged father, Holts, drags them into a violent conflict with the criminal Syndicate. Meanwhile, the looming threat of the Reclaimer War sweeps them into a brutal battle that will test their resilience and force Ava to confront her deepest fears. The story opens with Ava and Talon settling back into Green Arbor after facing tremendous loss. Ava, struggling with the emotional and physical wounds from the Reclaimer War, tries to regain her footing. The brutal conflict left her gravely injured, and though she survived, the battle took its toll. She wrestles with her self-confidence as she navigates her recovery, finding solace in her bond with Talon, who helps her face the emotional scars that threaten to consume her. However, just as Ava begins to heal, Talon’s past comes crashing back in the form of his father, Holts—a ruthless leader of the Syndicate. Holts, who once forced Talon to flee and seek refuge with the Sentinels, returns with a deadly proposition. As old wounds reopen, Talon must confront the father who shaped him into a fighter, while Ava stands by his side, ready to face this new threat together. Amidst this emotional turmoil, the threat of the Reclaimer War remains ever-present. The Sentinels, led by Ava and Talon, must defend the town from a larger, more organized enemy. Ava’s recovery is interrupted when she is pulled back into the fight, still grappling with the trauma of nearly losing her life. Though her injuries have healed, the battle has left her spirit fractured, and she must rediscover her inner strength to lead the charge once more. The story takes a darker turn when Holts’ manipulations lead to the death of Sarah, Talon’s love interest, plunging Talon into a deep spiral of grief and rage. As Ava tries to hold him together, she reflects on her own past losses, knowing too well the dark places grief can take a person. Their shared pain brings them closer, as they struggle to protect Green Arbor and find a way forward. Amid the chaos, Talon uncovers shocking truths about his mother, a woman he believed dead. As the Syndicate tightens its grip and new enemies emerge, Talon must face not only his father but the lies and betrayals that shaped his entire life. Together, Ava and Talon fight to protect their future, even as the weight of their past threatens to pull them apart. *Wounds of the Past* is a story of survival, loss, and healing. As Ava and Talon battle the Syndicate and the ravages of the Reclaimer War, they must confront the emotional wounds left behind by their battles. In the end, their bond as chosen family proves to be their greatest strength, even as the scars they carry remind them of the toll they’ve paid.