Chapter 4 — Secrets of the Howling Woods

Max Castro

Max Castro felt the weight of the city fall away as he drove Cassandra Dane towards the outskirts, where the towering skyscrapers gave way to the dense canopy of The Howling Woods. The night air was cool, tinged with the scent of pine and the distant howl of his kin. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, a reflection of the control he sought to maintain over the complex web of alliances and conspiracies that now included Cassandra.

As they neared the edge of the woods, Max glanced at Cassandra. Her sharp eyes were fixed on the road ahead, her dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. The faint glow of her Cybernetic Gloves illuminated her hands, a reminder of her technological prowess that he was beginning to rely on. He could sense the tension radiating from her, a mix of determination and fear for her brother, Alex.