Aurora’s POV
The gates of the pack lands opened before me, and for a second, I thought I was dreaming.
Cheers crashed into me like a wave.
“Aurora!”
“Our Alpha!”
“She’s back!”
Voices rose, loud and wild, shaking the ground beneath my feet. Warriors, elders, healers, and even the children ran forward. Some were crying. Some were laughing. Some dropped to one knee, their fists to their chests.
Hurriedly, I stopped walking. My chest tightened. My throat burned.
“I… I’m home,” I whispered, though no one could hear me over the noise.
Someone grabbed my hand. It was Mara, her eyes red, her smile shaking. “You really came back. I knew you would.”
“I promised,” I said. Another voice cut in. “We never stopped believing in you.”
I looked around, truly looked. The pack that had once doubte
