The first light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy, painting the forest floor in streaks of amber and green. Aria awoke with a heightened sense of anticipation, her wolf stirring beneath her skin, eager for the day’s trial. She had learned much under her mentor’s guidance, yet she sensed that today would push her beyond the boundaries of what she had previously thought possible. The memory of yesterday’s exercises still lingered, the rhythm of her movements and the sharpness of her awareness now second nature.
Mara lay beside her, restless but alert, sensing her mother’s heightened energy. “Mom,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, “will it be harder today?”
Aria placed a hand over her daughter’s, offering comfort and reassurance. “It will be challenging, but not impossib
