CHAPTER 47: SELFISH NATURE

Drakon paced the forest's edge, the cool night air doing little to quell the heat rising within him. He had always been a wolf of action, a leader driven by duty, but tonight, it was as if his restlessness had become a living, breathing entity. It gnawed at him, reminding him of every sleepless night and every agonizing thought that had plagued him since Shirley had left. The nightmares had returned—vivid and relentless. Without her, he felt like drowning in a sea of despair. He tried to shake off the feelings, but the more he stayed away, the more intense they became. His only solace was his brother-in-arms, Zack, who had always been his sounding board. Zack was already at the campfire when Drakon arrived, his face illuminated by the flames. The tension in the air was palpable. Drakon had been avoiding this confrontation for days, hoping that time would ease the sting of the recent events. But the gnawing need to confront Zack became overwhelming. "Zack," Drakon began, his voice lo