The air felt different the moment Nova crossed onto Silver Ridge territory. She had always known this land, the sounds of the pack’s wolves echoing in the distance, but today, it felt foreign—heavy, almost suffocating. Her stomach churned as she pulled up to her parents' house, a place where she had once felt comfort and safety. Now, it felt like a cage.
Her parents were waiting for her. Their faces, though warm, seemed strained as they ushered her inside. They had heard the stories—the drama at the cabin, the tension at school. And Nova knew they were disappointed, though they didn’t voice it. They never did. But she could feel it in their eyes, the silent reproach.
"Nova," her mother greeted her softly, her voice warm but distant, like she was trying to mask the unease that hung in the
