Weeks turned into months, and the cubs grew fast. Their paws, once clumsy and soft, grew heavy with muscle. They no longer fit neatly beneath Bella’s frame; instead, they sprawled beside her like small shadows of the lions they were destined to become. Ethan saw the change most clearly at feeding time.
What once began with squeaks and playful nudges now started with low growls. The cubs lunged at the meat with sharp little teeth, tugging and snarling. Bella wedged her muzzle in anyway, pushing them aside with a huff, and—miraculously—they let her. She even claimed the first scraps, tail wagging as though she were leading the meal.