Dahlia lunged again, and this time Lavender wasn’t fast enough. Pain seared across her arms and legs as Dahlia’s claws cut into her skin. Lavender gasped. For a moment, doubt crept in. Was she truly ready? Could she overcome everything that had been holding her back? But before panic could take hold, she placed her hands over the wounds, her palms glowing faintly. Warmth spread from her touch, and in moments, the cuts closed, leaving no trace behind. She stared at her healed skin, the glow fading as quickly as it had appeared. This was her power. Not borrowed, not given by anyone else. It was hers.
A calm certainty washed over her as she opened her eyes. The bruises Cedar had left on her heart—his lies, his betrayal—no longer held power over her. She felt lighter, as if she had shed a heavy coat she hadn’t realized she was wearing. Her breaths came easier, her steps steadier.
Then it happened. Her senses sharpened beyond anything she’d ever known. The forest came alive around her, every sound and movement suddenly crystal clear. She could hear voices, distant but distinct, from the farthest reaches of the pack’s territory.