Ariana’s POV
Ariana sank into the plush armchair in her mother’s sitting room, the scent of lavender and polished wood wrapping around her like a gentle hug. Her mother, seated opposite with a cup of tea in hand, regarded her with quiet curiosity, her eyes bright with both pride and a hint of worry.
It had been weeks since Ariana returned to the royal pack, but this moment—just the two of them—felt intimate in a way the bustling halls and formal duties never allowed.
“I didn’t realize how different it could be,” Ariana began, her fingers tracing the delicate rim of her cup. “Silvercrest was… it had its charm, but it was nothing like home. The way the people there care more about power and authority, it made me appreciate what we have here even more.”
Her mother nodded, leaning slightl
