CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The evening air nips at my skin as I stand in the town square, surrounded by the ancient cobblestones and rustic buildings of Golden Paw. The last rays of sunlight stretch like fingers through the treetops, casting a golden glow over the assembled pack. My heart races, a mix of anticipation and a strange sense of peace settling over me.
"Pack members," Ford's voice booms across the square. He stands before us, his posture radiating the strength and confidence of an Alpha. His eyes, those deep pools of green, find mine, and there's a flicker of something unsaid that passes between us. "Today marks the turning of a new leaf for our pack, for me."
I can feel the collective breath of the crowd drawing in, hanging on his every word. Ford's gaze never wavers from mine; it's
