Astella's pov

The forest seemed to hold its breath as the pack moved through the dense foliage. The first rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy, casting long, golden beams over our determined faces. Each step brought us closer to Ryan’s compound, a looming fortress of stone and steel that rose defiantly against the natural world around it.

I could feel the weight of the dagger at my side, its hilt cool against my palm. My heart pounded like a war drum, matching the rhythm of our march. The group around me moved silently, their movements fluid and precise, like wolves stalking their prey. We were no longer just survivors...