Astrid's POV
The vibrant chaos of the Blackwood village market was a symphony of sounds and scents, a welcome relief from the stifling quiet of the mansion. The air was a rich tapestry of fresh-baked bread, roasted meats, and the earthy aroma of herbs. I walked beside Brie, a giddy, almost childlike sense of freedom bubbling in my chest. It felt good to be a she-wolf among other she-wolves, to feel the sun on my face and the soft earth beneath my boots. Aidan had been right; my spirit needed this, needed to remember what it was like to simply be in the world.
We browsed a stall selling fresh honey, the vendor a kind-faced old she-wolf with a warm smile. I felt a sudden, dizzying wave of lightheadedness, a familiar and terrifying sensation. My vision blurred at the edges, the vibrant colo
