Ayla’s POV
I don’t stop walking, even when the pull lingers behind me—low, steady, impossible to ignore. I don’t turn around. I don’t slow down. I don’t give myself time to think about what just happened, or what it meant, because if I do, I might hesitate.
And hesitation… is dangerous.
As soon as I’m out of sight, I strip off my clothes and let Tala take control.
White paws hit the snow almost instantly. The shift comes easier now—fluid, seamless, like breathing. There’s a strange comfort in it, an instinctual relief that vibrates through my bones as muscle and fur replace skin. The wind nips at my ears, carrying the scents of pine and distant wood smoke as I stretch into my wolf form.
“That’s more like it!” Tala crows, her voice bright and just a little smug. “Look at you! If they g
