Chapter 55: Nature's Fury Unleashed.

The morning mist clung heavy to the forest floor as Chloe emerged from the den, stretching her arms out to her sides in the meager light of dawn. She took in a deep breath, savoring all the rich, earthy smells that met her like old friends: the musty decay of fallen leaves, the sharp tang of sap oozing from towering pines, the musky perfume of her pack mates. "Another day in paradise," she mused out loud, her face curling into a satisfied smile. A soft whine came from behind her, and she turned to find Nyla eyeing her with those piercing amber eyes. She seemed tense, her powerful shoulders bunching under her thick fur coat. "What's wrong, my friend?" Chloe asked, furrowing her brow with concern. Without replying, Nyla turned and darted off into the underbrush, stopping only to look back and make sure Chloe was following just a few paces behind her. The she-wolf led them on a twisting path through the forest, her movements purposeful yet guarded. Finally, what seemed like hours int