you, Grandpa? Please? I'm

er how he groaned a little, the sound of age catching up to him,

e I'd take you in a heartbeat. You kn

ng I was wrong. "You mean your best

morning. Must've been the alpha. Smart son of a bitch. Led the

of people. I won't run off. I'

t hunting's not just shooting and walking in the woods. There's always risk. Always a moment where instinct takes over and you have to

us. I remember the way the rocking chair creaked under o

They plan. They observe. And they're vicious when they finally strike. I've never know

ut the way his brow creased and his eyes turne

so bad?" I asked quietly.

he weight of silence pressed down on the room

you. They'll let a dog think it's winning. They'll run in huge circles just to wear them out, always stay

. "They're fast. So damn fast. But it ain't speed that makes them dangerous. I

re chasing, sweetheart. It's never one. The others hide just out of sight. Waiting for the moment you get tired... or too c

I still remember the weight of

go with him after that night, even when he invited me years later. Something in his eyes told me ever

e city, even negotiate with armed criminals. But the lo

e black. Wolves tearing into his beloved dog. Blood in the snow. Fur flying. Ghosts of hounds I'd grown up with st

go there. They're just wolves. If you should fear anything, it's the

ogs, sure. But dogs nonetheless. And I had

ne gun ver

d. But bravery always swelled in numbers. Ju

ere the p

c to drown it out. A soft, mellow tune filtered

rkness outsi

. Before I could fully turn, the car jerked violently. My head slammed sideways and fire shot

ng had

thin

road, into the ditch-no, down a steep hill. Trees blu

as

the window and hot blood streamed down the side of my face. The seatbelt held, bu

tered. Metal gr

it sounded like when a car folded in on

on

ind my eyes, and my limbs were heavy-too heavy.

t the forest before me, a shape

de throu

rs. A long, gliding gait. As if it didn't care

ed, trying to react, to reach for my weapon

help. I n

urse. For my gun. But I

-metal groaning under pressure. It sounded almost

ower. Draw

d. The pain in my skull drowned out ever

ttural, and angry. It echoed th

aline surging in my bloo

new it, Darkne