CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
I watch, my heart sinking like a stone in the depths of the forest lake, as my parents' silhouettes recede into the twilight. The finality of the moment weighs down on me with an invisible force that threatens to crumble my composure. In their pursuit for Gem to lead, they've abandoned the Pine pack, abandoning me as well. I feel the sting of rejection, not just from the hierarchy but from my own blood.
"Hey, Isla," Lucas's voice breaks through my wallowing thoughts, gentle yet firm. "You know, packs change. But we don't have to."
I turn to him, his brown eyes reflecting understanding that only someone who resents the rigid structures of our world can offer. His presence is a testament to solidarity, a comforting contrast to the churning chaos that has become my life.
