Aria's POV
Silver Moon Pack territory looked different than I remembered. The forests seemed smaller, the mountains less imposing, the familiar landmarks diminished by months of living in a place where everything had been designed to test and challenge rather than comfort and protect.
Or maybe I was the one who had changed.
"Nervous?" my father asked as our transport approached the main settlement.
"Should I be?"
"Probably. Coming home as a different person than when you left is always complicated. Coming home as the first female Alpha in generations adds another layer of complexity."
I could see pack members gathering along the road, watching our approach with expressions ranging from curiosity to concern. Word of the Academy revelation had obviously reached Silver Moon territory ah
