The door opened, and Ashina stepped out of the SUV into a world that wasn't hers.
Moonlit Pack territory spread out before her like something from a dream or a nightmare, depending on how she looked at it. Dense forest stretched in every direction, ancient trees that dwarfed anything in Silverpaw's lands. The air tasted different here, sharper and wilder, carrying scents of pine and snow even though it was spring. In the distance, she could see mountains rising against the sky, their peaks still capped with white.
It was beautiful. Breathtaking, even. And it felt like a prison.
The Alpha's Manor loomed ahead, three stories of stone and dark wood that looked more like a fortress than a home. Massive windows reflected the afternoon sun. Ivy climbed the walls in carefully maintained patterns. The architecture was old but well-kept, speaking of generations of Alphas who'd ruled from this place. It made her family's modest house look like a cottage in comparison.
