CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY – THE AFTERMATH

By the time she returned to Florian's side, Maxwell had subdued the spy leader, and the rest of the team was rounding up the remaining spies. The battle was over, but at what cost? The next few hours passed in a blur. Florian was rushed to the pack's healer, his life hanging by a thread. Cassie paced outside the healer's hut, her clothes still stained with Florian's blood, the weight of the stolen documents heavy in her pocket. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the healer emerged. "He's stable," she announced. "The wounds were deep, but he's strong. With time and care, he should recover." Cassie felt her knees go weak with relief. She was allowed to see Florian briefly, his pale face a stark contrast to the white sheets of the bed. As she held his hand, she made a silent vow. She would never again let her determination to prove herself put him in danger. Over the next few days, as Florian lay recovering, Cassie threw herself into decoding the documents they had recovered.