**Enzo's POV**
The sky was a mantle of grey as I arrived at the gates of the Elders' place. Each step brought me closer to the threshold of the forbidden, where thick iron bars loomed taller than any creature that dared trespass. I paused, letting the moment stretch longer than necessary. Memories flooded my mind—years of silence, estrangement from everything magical and wild. I had turned my back on it all but now stood before the echoes of a past I couldn't escape.
I shifted back to human form, my fur retreating into skin with a ripple of power. The cool air kissed my bare flesh, an unwelcome reminder of vulnerability. A robe, tattered and badly frayed, hung near the entrance, left for wolves like me who had forgotten what it was to belong. I slipped it on, the fabric rough against my
