The soft click of the door shutting behind Lyra and Elina gave way to a moment of silence. I stood in the middle of my room—the room that had been both prison and sanctuary—and took a deep breath. I was back. The familiar scent of lavender from my candles lingered in the air, but everything felt different now. I was different.
"Miss, we're so relieved you're safe!" Lyra rushed forward, breaking protocol to embrace me. "When you disappeared, we feared the worst."
Elina joined the hug, her voice thick with emotion. "The entire household was in chaos. The Alphas were like rabid wolves, tearing through the territory looking for you."
I returned their embrace, feeling a genuine swell of affection. These two had been my only allies for so long. "I'm okay," I assured them, pulling back to look at their concerned faces. "But it's been... complicated."
"That's an understatement," Elina muttered, her eyes scanning me for injuries. "We heard rumors about an auction. Is it true?"
