through the din in the pack house like a knife. "And don't forget to check for

ses were a reminder of her new life, one she never asked for but had been thrust into with cruel pr

innamon that spoke of warmth and comfort. It was a nook in the house, tucked away from the busy dining area, but it felt suffocatin

h as the minutes ticked by into more mundane tasks. Lyra entered through the narrow door and inhaled deeply as if the odours could hold her fast

ected, never forced to her knees before anyone. Kneeling was precisely what she did, however, not only before Isabella but be

he girl was leaning against the doorframe, wide-eyed with concern.

ne. Inside, the weight of the walls closing in th

id, stepping inside the pantry, her arms crossed defi

ver. "Because it sure doesn't feel that way.

frown creasing

don't know myself anymore. I'm just. Here. With each passing day, I feel mor

You are still you, Lyra. No one can take that a

igs of her former friends. Every snide remark, every sideways glance, pried her a little further a

support Desmond. I thought my life had a purpose." She laughed-a bitter, biting sound that cut through the quiet

s shoulder. "It's okay to be lost. But this is not for

ok her head. "How can I, when I am stuck

r while straightening the pantry. Every container felt like a further piece of herself being pulled away; each

You don't have to fight this battle alone. I'm here with

rk of hope lighting in her chest. "Y

y. "You simply need to take the power back. Show the

doubt. "What if they won't listen?

blaze with conviction. "Show them that you're still one of the daughte

gh Lyra. Perhaps she was lost, but she was not defeated. Maybe her plac

a heart racing. "I'll try.

steps," Nia said, smiling softly and reassu

moments away into the bank of memory that had hurt her chest but wasn't going to drown in. She was mo

d her ears. They weren't just background noises; it was her pack, her family. And sh

turning flicker of hope igniting in the depths of her heart. She

she vowed, more to herself tha