Chapter 339

• We were hurled back nearly ten feet, skidding across the ground like stones skipped over water. The sting of scraped knees and forearms was a fleeting pain, dwarfed by the chaos that loomed ahead.
• The rumble of shifting earth roared in our ears, settling into a slow trickle as dirt and debris rained down. Three rogues stood before us, their snarls slicing through the thick silence. Yet, something was off. The air lacked the pungent, musky odor typical of wolves. There was no scent at all.
• The wolves, fully grown and feral, frothed at the mouth. Their dark eyes locked on us, hackles raised in anticipation of the hunt. “I can’t smell them,” Sofia hissed, her sharp whisper slicing through the tension. Her gaze flicked toward me, sitting between her and Chiara.