Chapter 22 : Bonds Forged in the Wild

Serena POV

As the sun began its slow descent, casting a warm golden hue over the rugged landscape, I stood at the edge of the village, taking in a deep breath. Today was crucial. The children, or pups as they were affectionately called here, had been skeptical of me from the start.

As an outsider and a member of the Pack Alliance, I was an anomaly in their tight-knit world. But today, I was determined to win them over.

I gathered the pups in the clearing, their curious eyes following my every move. The clearing was a sun-dappled expanse of grass and wildflowers, surrounded by towering trees that whispered secrets in the breeze. The youngest pup, barely able to toddle, clung to the hand of an older sibling, while the eldest stood with their arms crossed, a curious eyebrow raised. Their expressions were a mix of boredom, curiosity, and suspicion, a challenge I was eager to tackle.

There were about a dozen of them, each with their unique quirks. One of the pups, a girl with wild