Arlene's POV
Rain pounds against the windows with relentless force, but even through the storm's chaos, I can distinguish the crash of waves against the rocky cliffs below. Every heartbeat in this house echoes in my ears, every hushed conversation feels like it's happening inside my skull. Ever since we arrived at this place, I've been searching desperately for something familiar, some sign that this sprawling pack territory could have been my sanctuary once. Instead, I find only emptiness.
Maybe that's just who I am now. Someone who expects disappointment because it's become the only constant I can trust. The realization makes my chest tight, and the worst part is knowing I'll need to accept this as my new reality.
