The following days passed like a blur, though the memory of the wolf lingered in Selene's mind. The forest called to her, and the pull grew stronger each time she stepped outside. Her senses sharpened further—she could hear the whisper of leaves even on a windless day and detect the faint scent of wildflowers that weren’t even in bloom.
The village, with its narrow streets and endless gossip, felt suffocating. People stared at her with suspicion, their whispers louder than before. "Odd girl," they said. "Always in her own world." Even her brothers noticed her distracted state. Jakob and Lucian took it as another opportunity to mock her, but their usual taunts barely registered.
Eli, however, was different. He watched her with wide, curious eyes, as if sensing the change in her. One eveni
