Page 31 of Samuel
A defiant howl rose up from the wolf’s throat, its dying breath carried on the wind.
Eventually, I snapped its neck, the sickening crack echoing through the clearing.
The wolf fell limp, its eyes glassy, its body twitching once before it lay still.
For a moment, we stood there, breathing heavily, staring down at the creature that had nearly taken Blake’s life.
Blake knelt by the little girl, speaking softly, his tone soothing.
She clung to him, her small hands fisted in his shirt, her face buried against his shoulder.
Blood seeped from Blake’s arm, staining his clothes, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice rough with the remnants of the fight.
Blake looked up, a faint smile playing at his lips. “I’ve had worse,” he said, though I could see the pain in his eyes.
He gently set the girl down, and she looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear and awe.
“You saved me,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Blake smiled, reaching out to brush a tear from her cheek.
“You’re safe now,” he said softly. “But we need to get you back to town.”
I stepped forward, resting a hand on Blake’s shoulder, letting the warmth of the bond between us soothe the worry that had clawed at me since the moment he’d jumped in front of that wolf.
“Let’s get out of here,” I murmured, casting a wary glance over my shoulder.
We began to walk, the little girl nestled between us, her small hand gripping Blake’s.
But as we made our way back toward the town, a chilling sound stopped us in our tracks—a distant howl, echoing through the trees.
It was an answering call, a promise of retribution.
Blake’s eyes met mine, and I saw the same realization in his gaze.
Whatever rogue wolves remained out there, they knew what we’d done. And they wouldn’t let it go unanswered.
We quickened our pace, the weight of the moment settling heavily on our shoulders.
Although it was a short walk back to the parking lot, the forest seemed to close in around us, the trees casting long, ominous shadows.
I could feel the presence of the wolves, lurking just beyond our vision, watching, waiting.
As we reached the edge of the lot, I squeezed Blake’s shoulder, drawing his attention.
“We’ll deal with them,” I said.
He nodded, a flicker of determination lighting his gaze.
“I know,” he said.
We continued on, our steps quickening, our senses sharp.
The bond between us thrummed with a shared purpose, a silent promise that we would face whatever came next together.
As the car came into view, I felt a surge of relief, but it was momentary.
