POV: APHRODITE
The tension from this afternoon's confrontation still hangs in the air as evening settles over our camp. Everyone moves carefully around each other, processing what happened. What was promised. What comes next.
I sit near the fire, watching flames dance and trying to figure out how I feel about everything. Relief that they chose me. Fear about what leaving pack lands entirely will mean. Exhaustion from constantly being the one who has to demand better.
Lyra appears beside me with that look on her face. The one that means she's about to do something ridiculous.
"No," I say immediately.
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I know that look. The answer is no."
Lyra grins and holds out her hand anyway. "Come on. You need this."
"Need what?"
"To remember you're not just a Direwolf or a mate or a survivor." Lyra wiggles her fingers insistently. "You're also just a young woman who deserves to have fun sometimes."
