Chapter 34 I Serve The Pack, Not You

• Aella
• I sit up in bed, taking in the morning light that filters through the curtains. It casts a golden glow over the room, softening the edges of furniture and painting a deceptive picture of serenity. I know it’s a lie. It’s as if even the light knows it doesn’t belong here. Just like me.
• This is my last morning in this room, my final moments as the Aella who had dreams beyond the boundaries of a cold, empty marriage. The guest room has been comfortable but temporary—a perfect analogy for my life up to this point. It’s all changing today, whether I like it or not.