Lily POV
The drive through winding forest roads had taken us deeper into the pack territory, away from the university, away from the pack house, away from all the watchful eyes and careful restrictions that had governed our lives recently. When Kai finally pulled the SUV to a stop, I understood why he had chosen this place.
We were at a secluded clearing overlooking a pristine lake, its surface like polished glass reflecting the afternoon sky. Trees surrounded us, their branches creating a natural roof that filtered the sunlight into dancing patterns of gold and green. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the distant call of birds hidden in the canopy above.
I stepped out of the car and immediately spread my arms wide to the sky, closing my eyes and breathing in the clean air. After days of hospital antiseptic and the formal atmosphere of Luna training, this felt like coming back to life.
