CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
The charred earth crunches under my boots as I step through the scorched clearing, the remnants of the fire still smoldering in places. The Silver Paws work tirelessly around me, kicking dirt over small flames that lick at the remains of what was once a lush expanse. My chest tightens with guilt. This destruction, it's all because of me—because when those rogue wolves threatened us, I didn't hesitate to summon the inferno within.
"Careful there, Aria," one of the older pack members warns as he stomps out a stubborn flame. His voice carries a note of reproach that’s more scalding than any fire I've ever called forth.
I nod, not trusting my voice, and divert my gaze to my soot-covered hands. They tremble slightly, betraying the turmoil inside. How can something that fe
