Kaelira’s POV
The morning air bit sharp against my cheeks as I moved through the corridors of the Ironfang estate.
My steps were measured, careful, though the hollow ache in my chest weighed heavier than any exhaustion my body could feel.
Seven years of being tethered, bound, contained and now, for the first time, I moved through the world without invisible chains.
And yet, the emptiness wasn’t freedom. Every step reminded me that my wolf was still unsettled, restless beneath my skin. Her growls were soft, almost whispers, but I could feel her trembling with the lingering echo of the broken bond. She wasn’t weak, not entirely but she was raw. Vulnerable.
I pressed a hand to the wall, feeling the cold stone through the fabric of my sleeve. My fingers trembled, a subtle betrayal. The
