CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Through the dense underbrush and overgrown ferns, I follow the scent that twists and turns like a serpent through the mountainous terrain. Spring has awakened the forest, but the beauty of blooming wildflowers cannot distract me from my purpose. Love's scent is laced with iron and fear—a pungent aroma that sets my teeth on edge and sends tremors of anxiety coursing through my veins.
The hunters' tracks are fresh, their heavy boots leaving deep impressions in the soft, muddy earth. They're close, too close for comfort, and the sinking sun casts elongated shadows that merge with the darkening woods. My heart races, pumping adrenaline through my body as I push forward, driven by the need to find Love before it's too late.
A low whimper breaks the haunting silence of dus
