Chapter 44 The Dangerous Ascent

• We stopped near the path of a crystal-clear river, and the current seemed strong. We quenched our thirst by leaning over to drink from the pristine water. Finally, I decided to break the silence with a trembling question:
• “Are we getting close?” I tried to keep my voice steady, even though my exhaustion was evident.
• The Alpha assessed me with a sidelong glance before responding, his voice carrying a challenging tone, “Already tired, human? The real journey hasn't even begun yet!”