My attack caught them off guard. They underestimated me, saw me as nothing more than a damsel in distress. That was their mistake.I moved with a speed and ferocity I didn't know I possessed, my knife aimed at the throat of the Wolf who had spoken. He barely had time to react, his eyes widening in surprise as my blade sliced through the air.Alessandro, seizing the opportunity, launched himself at the other Wolves, his movements fluid and deadly. The forest erupted in a flurry of violence, the silence shattered by the sounds of gunfire and desperate cries.I fought with a primal instinct, my fear replaced by a cold, burning rage. I was no longer Clara, the librarian. I was something else, something stronger, something more dangerous.The Wolf I had attacked stumbled back, clutching at his throat, his eyes filled with terror. I didn't give him a chance to recover. I pressed my attack, driving him back towards the edge of the cliff.He tripped, losing his balance, his arms flailing wildly. He teetered on the edge, his eyes pleading for mercy.I showed him none. With a final, brutal shove, I sent him plummeting over the cliff, his screams fading into the abyss.I turned back to the fight, my heart pounding in my chest. Alessandro was holding his own, but he was outnumbered. One of the Wolves had managed to disarm him, and they were locked in a brutal hand-to-hand combat.I rushed to his aid, my knife poised to strike. But before I could reach them, another Wolf stepped in front of me, blocking my path.He was bigger than the others, his face scarred and weathered. He looked at me with a cold, calculating gaze, his eyes devoid of emotion."You're a feisty one," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But you're out of your depth."He raised his weapon, aiming it at my head. "Time to die, little librarian."I braced myself for the impact, closing my eyes, waiting for the end. But it never came.Suddenly, a figure emerged from the trees, moving with incredible speed and agility. He launched himself at the Wolf, knocking him to the ground.It was Enzo, the old associate who had warned Salvatore about Alessandro's whereabouts. He was armed with a pistol, his face grim."Get out of here!" he shouted at me, his voice urgent. "I'll handle this."I hesitated, reluctant to leave Alessandro. But I knew Enzo was right. I would only be a liability.I turned and ran, disappearing into the trees, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I knew I had to trust Enzo, to believe that he could protect Alessandro.I ran as fast as I could, my lungs burning, my legs aching. I had to reach the valley, to find help. I had to survive.For Alessandro. For Silas. For myself. The hunt was far from over.
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