Chapter 37. The Forest

Ally's POV

"Yes," she confirms, a comforting lilt in her presence. "You have always been apart, Ally, because you are born of a legacy distinct from those who raised you."

A pang of acute loneliness grips my heart as I lean against the tree, allowing its ancient wisdom to seep into my skin. The notion of belonging has always been elusive, like chasing shadows that flicker just out of reach. James, whom I've called brother, and the parents who raised me- even they seemed like figures in a well-rehearsed play.

"Blood does not define family, but it can explain so much of who we are," Dawn continues, her voice a balm to my fractured soul.

"Then they... they aren't truly mine?" My voice catches, betrayal and relief warring within me. The idea that I was not born from indifference or disdain, is both liberating and devastating.

"Ally, you belong to something greater," Dawn soothes, her spirit in