**Aria's POV**

Silver Moon Pack territory looked different than I remembered. The forests seemed smaller, the mountains less imposing, the familiar landmarks diminished by months of living in a place where everything had been designed to test and challenge rather than comfort and protect.

Or maybe I was the one who had changed.

"Nervous?" my father asked as our transport approached the main settlement.

"Should I be?"

"Probably. Coming home as a different person than when you left is always ...