The morning began quietly, the pack house still wrapped in the soft glow of dawn. Melody, dressed in a simple white shift dress and a pale blue wrap robe, moved into the kitchen. She had grown used to being the first to rise back home, but here it felt different. The kitchen staff were still absent, and she felt a twinge of unease as she brewed her morning coffee and selected an apple from the fruit bowl. Sitting on one of the bar stools, she nibbled on the fruit, her thoughts spiraling inward.
Is this the life the Goddess wants for me? she wondered, biting into the crisp apple. These people didn’t follow her pack’s strict rules, yet they seemed content, even kind. Could my father ever allow a match with Andrew? Would Andrew even want me?
Lost in thought, she didn’t hear the soft footste
