I felt a deep warmth settle in my chest as I listened to Harriet's gentle words, her presence radiating the kind of Alpha energy that could calm even the most restless wolf. Still, I shook my head firmly, letting my instincts guide my reply. "Old Madam Presgrave, I'm truly grateful that you remember my mother. But I didn't come here for favors or repayment. I only came to greet you, not to accept any offer."
Harriet's eyes sharpened for a moment, then softened as she gripped my hand with a strength tempered by care. "Girl, your mother has passed, which makes it my duty to watch over you. Please let me treat you as my granddaughter." Her voice carried the weight of pack loyalty, the kind that binds generations together, and for a moment, I felt the tug of belonging in a way I hadn't in years.
