But now…
Now, as the crowd welcomed her with genuine warmth, those shadows began to loosen their grip. The weight that had once crushed her confidence, that had followed her like a ghost even into the present, started to lift.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Addison felt something break free inside her, like she was finally stepping out of the past that had once defined her, leaving behind the pain that had held her captive for far too long.
She no longer needed to question her worth or doubt her ability to lead. For the first time, the weight she had carried for so long felt lighter, as if something invisible had finally slipped from her shoulders.
The image of who she had been, standing before the Midnight River Pack as their Luna, uncertain and constantly scrutinized, stood in stark contrast to who she was now. The difference was like night and day.
And she knew what had changed her.
