Chapter 236: Shadows of the Forest

**Thelma Zane’s POV** The power I had absorbed in the past was a lingering gift, fortifying my body and enhancing my natural ability to heal. As a result, my recovery outpaced that of the average werewolf. Barely half an hour had passed, and I could already feel the dull ache of my wounds—a strange sensation that was both comforting and disconcerting. On one hand, it was a sign that my body was regaining its vitality. On the other, the pain reminded me of my precarious situation. “We’re heading up the mountain,” Maxine whispered cautiously. “Do you see those trees outside? They’re... not normal. They’re moving.” Through the narrow gap in the carriage door, I glimpsed the eerie forest beyond. Strange pine trees emerged from the shadows, their gnarled trunks twisting unnaturally under the pale moonlight. They didn’t simply sway in the wind; they moved as if alive, each step breaking the pristine surface of the snow with disturbing intent. I recalled marking a pine forest a