Chapter 16

Nick

I drove to the wooded area that my father had bought from Martin Grants, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me like a heavy blanket. The land itself seemed to hold no value, completely abandoned and overgrown with tangled brush and gnarled trees.

Exiting the car, I stepped onto the uneven ground, the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath my boots echoing in the stillness of the forest. I walked in however I couldn't shake the strange sensations that seemed to prick at my skin, my senses heightening with every step.

My sense of smell, in particular, was now keenly attuned to the slightest hint of human scent, lingering in the air like a haunting melody. It was a sensation I hadn't felt in years, not since I was a young teenager discovering the depths of my wolf heritage.

Suddenly, a sound pierced the silence, a sharp crack that echoed through the trees like a gunshot. Instinctively, I ducked and grabbed for the guns holstered at my sides, adrenaline coursing