Chapter 17

Leona's POV I didn't know where I was. I seemed to float in the air, or perhaps rise above the entire world—I mean, like God. Because I clearly felt that I wasn't in darkness; I felt as if I were slowly rising from thick water. At first, there was only warmth—steady, deep, almost maternal. Then, the scent of snow and iron rushed towards me, sharp and ancient, filling my lungs even though I wasn't breathing. In an endless white void. She stood before me, an old friend who had appeared countless times in my dreams. This white wolf was enormous—far exceeding the size of any creature. Her fur flowed like living snow, shimmering even in the absence of light, each hair seemingly caressed by an invisible wind. Her presence seemed to distort the world around me. I should have felt fear. I should have run away. However, my legs went weak with an inexplicable sadness. It was her eyes that broke me. They were not cold, wild, or predatory. They were ancient and gentle, filled with a profound sorro