#Chapter 134: Into the Fire

Lauren We reached the outskirts of the rogue encampment just before dawn, the sky streaked in shades of violet and bruised gray. The trees grew closer together here, gnarled and black, bark peeling like old wounds that had never healed. Wind whispered through the dead leaves, dragging the scent of rot and blood toward us. The forest floor sloped downward into a hollow basin of shadow and firelight—the rogue camp. Hidden in the bushes, we crouched low, breath held tight, watching. It was… and odd sight. A mix of old and new blurred together in a camp of what seemed to be more modern, with hutches or tents on the side. The mix of people and wolves were wild, clearly different groups, traitors, and ragtag gangs all pinched together to make this army of mitfits. Still, there were more then I thought. My eyes sweeped over the lavished tents and camps with laughing men, some preparing breakfasts others leaving in trucks with suits. Odd. But can’t say I was surprised, existing in the