|| Lilac's POV ||

As we walked into the house, the familiar scent of home wrapped around me like a warm blanket. The tension from the council meeting still clung to my shoulders, but the sight of Mom rushing toward us, her face etched with worry, made me push it aside. She had been waiting anxiously, her hands wringing together as she paced the living room. The moment she saw us, her eyes lit up with relief.

“How did it go?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. I could ...