Chapter 36: Into the Lion's Den

The chilling howls sliced through the quiet forest, carrying an unnatural resonance that sent shivers down Logan's spine. He froze, his knuckles whitening around the makeshift spear Aura had handed him earlier.

"Get up." Aura's voice was calm but firm, and the urgency in her dark eyes left no room for hesitation.

Logan stumbled to his feet, his body still aching from days of relentless travel. "What was that? Wolves?"

Aura didn't answer immediately. Her sharp gaze scanned their surroundings, her posture tense. Even in the dim light of their flickering fire, she exuded an aura of unwavering control.

"Not wolves," she muttered, extinguishing the fire with swift kicks of dirt. "Something worse."

Logan's stomach twisted as he followed her lead, his boots crunching softly against the forest floor. The shadows seemed alive, shifting and stretching around them.