Chapter 39 The Journey Begins

• I never thought I’d be standing here, with these people who call themselves my pack. "The Red Moon Pack" — they were all rogues, outcasts, or descendants of those who had once served my family. It still felt strange hearing them call me “Queen,” but every time they did, I felt a pang of pride and a weight of responsibility. It was surreal and yet felt like the beginning of something inevitable, something that had been set in motion long before I’d even known who I was.
• Standing in the center of the clearing, I inhaled deeply, letting the earthy scent of pine and wet leaves ground me. My muscles ached, but it was a satisfying ache, one that meant I was growing stronger. Each day, I pushed myself, throwing myself into training with a single-minded focus I’d never known I was capable of. This wasn’t just about survival anymore; it was about reclaiming what was mine, avenging those I’d lost, and protecting the ones I still had.
• The soft crunch of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts, and I turned to see Lea approaching, her face unreadable, as it so often was.