Lucian’s POV
The air smelled of damp earth and burned wood. The border loomed before me like a scar on the landscape—unseen, yet etched into every tree, every stone. One more step, and I would be back on my land. Back in my pack.
I moved forward.
Each step was a battle between the familiar and the foreign. I recognized the paths, the whisper of the wind through the trees, the latent energy in the ground. But the way my warriors looked at me… that was different.
Some lowered their heads at the sight of me. Others stood tall, their eyes locked onto mine, unyielding. No joy. No unconditional loyalty.
Silence.
The guards stationed at the entrance exchanged a brief glance. No one blocked my path, but neither did they step aside with the automatic obedience they once had.
I kept walking,
