***************
CHAPTER 283
~Zara's POV~
We reached the Golden Claw Pack's territory, the familiar scent of pine and the cool mountain air welcomed me home.
The sight of the sprawling packhouse, with its stone walls and tall spires, brought a mix of nostalgia and anxiety.
As we pulled up, my mother waited by the stairs. Her regal presence was as commanding as ever. She descended gracefully as the car stopped, her sharp eyes taking in each of us.
"Zara," she greeted warmly, but one could not mistake the tone of royalty in it.
And immediately Astrid nagged me. "What was that about not being royalty?"
"Shu, it's her poise. With practice as a Luna, you can get it."
"Keep deceiving yourself. Just look at Ella." I glanced at Ella and noticed how tightly she gripped her bag strap. "Bloody hell. She looks like a scared lamb."
