Chapter Twenty-six: Maxwell

The night was still as Maxwell stood in the shadows, preparing for his journey beyond the boundaries of Devil’s City. The air was thick with the scent of impending rain, but he moved with an unbreakable focus. Valen’s words still echoed in his mind: Confirm the healer wolf’s existence. Find the truth.

For centuries, Maxwell had been Valen’s trusted scout and enforcer. Tonight, however, his mission felt charged with greater purpose. The rumors surrounding a healer wolf were impossible to ignore, even if they seemed as improbable as any he’d heard. Valen’s previous purge of healer wolves had been merciless, leaving none to spare, or so they’d believed. But if one had truly survived, this could reshape everything they understood about their species—and reignite old wars.

Maxwell slung his gear across his back and blended into the night, his steps soundless as he made his way through the outskirts of the city. His senses were sharp, taking in the hum of life beyond the walls. He would nee