Aria’s POV ……..

The forest finally gave way to the familiar scent of home — pine, steel, and faint traces of magic that only existed around the Royal Pack’s borders because of me. My paws faltered when I saw the first torchlight.

Home.

The word ached in my chest. My legs trembled, exhaustion creeping through every vein. I shifted back to human form before crossing the final ridge. My skin was smeared with dirt, blood, and soot, my dress torn and clinging to me like second ...