Chapter 29

The forest was alive with the sounds of the chase as Cassandra's wolf streaked through the dense underbrush. The urgency in her pursuit was evident in the pounding of her heart and the rapid rhythm of her pawbeats. She could hear the hunters closing in, their heavy footfalls and shouts echoing through the trees. Arrows whizzed through the air, finding their mark as they punctuated the forest with deadly intent. Cassandra's instincts screamed at her to dodge and weave, to avoid them as they sought to pierce her. Her eyes were sharp, her ears attuned to every sound, and her senses heightened in the adrenaline-fueled frenzy of the chase. But her pursuers were relentless, their aim impeccable. Arrows hissed through the air, and one struck her flank, tearing through fur and flesh. A pained howl ripped from her throat, but she didn't falter. She couldn't afford to. Another arrow found its mark, this time in her hind leg. The searing pain was like a hot brand, and Cassandra's wolf yelped i