Cassandra breathed heavily as she leaned against the trunk of a tree, her eyes frantically searching every direction. Her heart thumped against her chest, and her body shook with adrenaline. Beside her, Carma, the beta of the nomad pack, stood with a firm stance, scanning the vicinity for any sign of danger.

"What the hell was that?" Cassandra hissed, feeling her pulse race in her veins.

"A group of rogue wolves," Carma replied, her voice low and tense. "I've been tracking them for weeks now. They've been lurking around in this area for some time, hoping to catch someone off guard."

Cassandra clenched her fists, feeling the pain of her...