Chapter fifty two
Moonlight, once a source of comfort, now cast an unsettling glow as I tore through the undergrowth, the primal instincts of the wolf driving me deeper into the heart of the forest. Gone were the familiar paths of my childhood, replaced by a labyrinth of twisting branches and tangled roots.
The pain, once a searing torment, had receded, replaced by a raw, exhilarating awareness of my surroundings. My senses, heightened beyond human capacity, picked up the rustle of leaves beneath unseen paws, the distant cry of an owl, the pungent scent of damp earth and pine needles.
But amidst the exhilaration, a sliver of terror remained. I was lost in a sea of animal instincts. The love for my family, the fear that had fueled my fight for survival – all of it seemed distant, a half-forgotten dream in the face of this primal urge.