Kael’s heart slammed in his chest. The howl had come from the forest while he and the pup were returning from the berry bush. His pace slowed instinctively, spear gripped tightly, axe strapped to his waist. The darkening treeline seemed to press closer with each step.

  The pup’s ears twitched, its body stiffening beside him. Kael’s stomach twisted; fear froze him in place, yet leaving the little creature behind wasn’t an option. He glanced down its amber eyes met his, wide and trusting.

  A shadow moved between the trees a larger wolf, older, stronger than the pup. Its fur blended perfectly with the dusk, each step silent but deliberate. Kael’s pulse thumped painfully in his ears. He forced himself to remain still, breathing shallow, calculating.

  The wolf stepped closer, eyes locking on the pup. The small creature whimpered, attempting to reach Kael, but the wolf lunged, teeth sinking into its leg. The pup yelped sharply.

  Something snapped inside Kael. Adrenaline, fear, and fury collided in a single surge. He lunged forward, spear trembling in his hands, striking the wolf’s side. The beast staggered, claws scraping the soft earth. Kael’s axe met its flank again and again, each swing fueled by desperation and the raw need to protect.

  Finally, the forest fell silent except for Kael’s ragged breaths. The wolf lay still. Panting, Kael dropped to his knees, trembling hands pressed against the earth, chest heaving. The pup limped to him, soft whimpers breaking through the quiet, pressing against him with fragile warmth. Relief mingled with guilt he hadn’t reached it in time to prevent the bite.

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  He tore a strip from his pants, binding the pup’s wound as best he could. It pressed against him, trusting and alive, and Kael let himself exhale, though his limbs still shook. He glanced at the fallen wolf again, noting the empty hunger in its eyes, the subtle dignity in its stance even in death. Survival demanded vigilance, so he scavenged a sharp-edged rock from the ground and returned to the carcass.

  Carefully, he cut a small portion of meat for the pup, who immediately began to eat. Kael watched, silently grateful for the creature’s resilience. The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the clearing.

  The journey back to the tower felt slower than it should have. Every snapping twig and rustling leaf made Kael flinch. He noticed the smell of damp earth and pine, the way the wind carried scents of the forest. His senses were sharpened, alive to everything. The pup stayed close, limping slightly but moving with determination.

  By the time night fell, the pup rested beside him in the tower. Kael sat quietly, cleaning his hands and trying to calm the racing of his heart. He thought of the wolf, of the ferocity and cunning that had almost cost him and the pup dearly. Exhaustion pressed against his mind, yet beneath it lay a thin thread of hope—the pup was alive, he was alive, and they had survived together.

  He lay down finally, the weight of fear and warmth settling over him. Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow we survive. And for the first time, he allowed himself a flicker of confidence not just in his own abilities, but in the bond forming with this small, amber-eyed creature.