The first light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy, turning the forest into a labyrinth of shadows and gold. The air was crisp with the lingering chill of night, carrying with it the scent of pine, damp earth, and the faint trace of distant predators. Aria crouched in the undergrowth, her heart hammering against her ribs, as she watched the pack’s land from the edge of the clearing. The village lay below, still quiet in the early hour, but she knew whispers had already begun, echoing through the stone halls and leafy paths of her home.
Mara stirred beside her, clutching the small bundle of clothes and supplies that would sustain them for the first days of their journey. Her wide eyes were bright with confusion and fear, yet she trusted Aria without hesitation. Aria’s chest tightene
