The Curse of the Beast

just a little brighter in her presence. Her pace was swift, her steps measured and sure, each one taken with a sense of purpose, as though she was walking a path that had a

tect the town. And tonight, they were ready to join her on her quest for vengeance. Mary's gaze scanned the group, her eyes narrowing as she assessed each member. They were loyal to her cause, but Mary knew that loyalty only went so far. In this world, alliances were fragile, and everyone had their own reasons for fighting. Some were driven by fear, others by power, but Mary, Mary was driven by something far deeper, something far more personal. She had lost everything. And she wasn't going to stop until she had made the wolves pay. One of the figures stepped forward, a tall man with a hooded cloak that obscured his face. His voice was low and gravelly, barely audible over the wind. "Are you sure you want to do this, Mary?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "The wolves won't be easy to track down. And if you go after them now, you risk everything." Mary's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening as she met his gaze. "I don't care about the risks. I don't care about anything except making them pay for what they've done." The man nodded solemnly. "Then we're with you. We'll do whatever it takes." Mary's heart pounded in her chest, the excitement of the hunt beginning to surge within her. She could feel the power of the Shadow faction around her, the strength of their will as they prepared to follow her into the heart of enemy territory. They were ready. And so was she. "Let's go," she said, her voice cold and determined. The group moved as one, slipping silently through the trees, their movements coordinated and precise. The path ahead was treacherous, filled with dangers both known and unknown, but they were undeterred. This was what they had trained for. This was what they had been waiting for. As they ventured deeper into the woods, Mary's thoughts drifted to Luke. His confession had rattled her, but she hadn't allowed herself to dwell