Perry's POV
The familiar forest path stretched before us, slick with rain and treacherous in the darkness. But I could navigate these trails with my eyes closed—every root, every fallen log, every twist through the ancient trees was burned into my memory.
I kept my pace deliberately slow, watching Phoebe struggle with her new wolf form. Her pristine white paws slipped on wet leaves. Her balance wavered with each tentative step. But gradually—beautifully—she began to find her rhythm.
The sight of her nearly stopped my heart. Against the black forest, her coat gleamed like starlight made flesh. She was ethereal, otherworldly. A creature of legend learning to run beside me.
We couldn't return to the pack house. Not tonight. A newly awakened wolf needed time—hours of running, hunting, exploring. Her beast had to stretch its legs, test its limits, bond with its human half. Rain or no rain, we had to keep moving until dawn broke.
