CHAPTER 7

(SHEILA’S POV)

I slowly stirred awake, the faint scent of pinewood and herbs lingering in the air greeting my senses before anything else. I noticed that the room was still dimly lit by the early morning light seeping through the window curtains, casting a soft glow that danced across the walls. My eyes soon adjusted to the ceiling, which was in stark contrast to the simplicity of my own hut. The intricate carvings of the moon goddess symbols, mystical runes, and the hanging woven vines and flowers caught my attention. I recalled that I slept in my mentor's private quarters per the elderly lady's request—‘A measure to ensure my awakening safety,’ said Willowhart a few nights prior.

"Today's finally my birthday," I thought as I stretched my arms upwards. Though my eyes were heavy with sleep, the anticipation of my impending wolf awakening pulsed through my veins, adding a subtle edge to the drowsy haze enveloping my mind.

I yawned, slowly pulling myself up, the remnants of sleep still