Chapter 34
Justina
The familiar scent of freshwater enveloped me as I stepped onto my family's territory. The air here carried something deeper, something I hadn't realized I missed—the scent of home. Even when I knew I was going to find it difficult to have stayed with them when I last visited, whatever comfort they provided was still home and I was going to appreciate that. I was thankful for it.
But as my eyes swept over the gathered wolves, I could tell that home was no longer the same.
Some faces lit up with surprise, relief even, while others held suspicion in their gazes. Murmurs spread through the crowd as they took in my sudden arrival, their emotions swirling between curiosity and wariness.
I barely had time to brace myself before I was pulled into a crushing embrace. My mother's scent enveloped me—warm, familiar, but laced with something I hadn't noticed before. Fear.
