Chapter 31 Iris's Growing Acceptance Of Her New Life And Wildwood Pack

• The journey to the Moonbay Pack was tense, their footsteps bearing the weight of their past as Iris and Erin trekked on. A thick forest seemed to contract upon them from all sides, casting the tall trees' long, dark shadows much like the ones inside Iris's heart. She kept her eyes straight, trying to focus on what lay ahead rather than the memories that threatened to overwhelm her.
• Erin strode beside her, his hand brushing against hers every now and again, a reminder that he was there, that she wasn't alone. He knew better than to speak, sensing that Iris needed to be alone with her thoughts, even in his presence. The twins were nestled comfortably in a small carriage, their innocent faces a stark contrast to the turmoil around them.
• As they neared the edges of Moonbay, something about the familiar land sent a rush of feelings in Iris—fear, anger, nostalgia, and just a hint of sadness. She had spent years here, building a life with Emmett, only to have it all ripped out from under her. She was returning now, no longer as the rejected Luna, but as a mother, and that role gave her a strength she hadn't known before.