Lyra’s POV
The words came slowly at first, halting, as if they’d been buried too deep for too long. But once they began, they poured out—raw, trembling, unstoppable.
“After my mom’s death,” I began, voice fragile, “growing up alone was something I swore I’d never go through again. Living like a curse in your own pack… it wasn’t a feeling of home. I struggled to survive every day. Sometimes I’d imagine what it would’ve felt like to have a family—one that loved me without condition.”
My chest tightened as the memories surfaced—cold nights, harsh whispers, the loneliness that had hollowed me out. That was all I could bring myself to share. I couldn’t mention my twin yet. Not until I knew she was safe.
Dax’s hand traced gentle circles on my back, his warmth grounding me when my voice falte
