POV: Aphrodite
Journeys don't just move forward. They dig backward.
Morning comes cold and clear. We approach the ruins in full daylight, and they're more extensive than I realized. Stone structures half-reclaimed by forest, vines crawling up ancient walls like nature trying to erase what once was. Carved pillars still standing despite centuries, their surfaces weathered but defiant against time's erosion. Markings everywhere—Direwolf symbols I recognize instinctively even though no one ever taught me their meaning. The recognition sends shivers down my spine, something primal and ancient stirring in my blood.
My blood knows this place. My wolf recognizes home. The feeling is overwhelming, like coming back to a place I've never been but always belonged to.
"Stay back," Kai warns suddenly, arm extended to stop the twins from advancing. His voice is sharp with concern, body tense. "The magic here is active."
