ELLIE’S POV
The moon crept slowly over the trees, full and swollen, drenching the forest in silver light. Its glow clung to the leaves, spilling into every shadow, every crevice, until the entire glade shimmered like glass. Even the air changed. It was thicker, wilder, humming with something ancient.
Something sacred.
And my bones ached for it.
I stood barefoot in the center of the clearing, the cool earth beneath my feet thrumming with power. A fire crackled nearby, feeding the warmth of the ritual Maela had guided me through all week. The air was perfumed with sage, cedar, and wild lavender. Scents meant to protect and ground me. My heart thundered in my chest, not with fear, but anticipation.
Tonight, I would shift.
Truly shift.
The Moon Ritual had unlocked something inside me, b
