Ellie’s POV
The first thing I felt was warmth. The sun slid over my face like a soft hand, and I let myself lie still for a moment. My chest rose and fell slowly as I listened to the world around me—the chirping of small birds, the whisper of leaves moving in the morning breeze, the faint sound of water trickling somewhere far away.
It felt like the world was alive, and for the first time in a long time, so was I.
But things had changed.
I wasn’t just Ellie anymore. The thought pressed heavy inside me. I was the guardian of the pack now, the Luna-to-be. In only a few days, the council would crown me officially, with Ethan by my side. The title itself felt almost unreal, like a dream I was’t sure I deserved. Yet it also felt right, like it had been waiting for me all along.
I sat up sl
