AMORA'S POV;
The cold night air whipped against my face, stinging my skin as I tore through the forest. My legs felt like they were made of lead, every muscle screaming at me to stop, but I couldn't. I had to keep running. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, each one more painful than the last. Branches snagged at my clothes, leaves whipping past me as I pushed deeper into the woods. I didn't know where I was going—I just knew I had to get away.
Away from Zale. Away from the mansion. Away from everything.
But the deeper I ran, the more the forest seemed to close in around me. The trees towered overhead like silent, looming giants, their branches twisting together to block out the moonlight. Everything was dark, too dark. Shadows danced at the edges of my vision, twisting and flickering as though they had lives of their own. My heart pounded in my chest, fear crawling up my spine like a living thing.
Then, suddenly, I heard it—a low growl, so deep and menacing it felt like it came from the very earth beneath me. I froze.
My body locked up, the air in my lungs freezing as my instincts screamed at me to move, but my legs wouldn't obey. Slowly, I turned my head, my eyes searching the shadows for the source of that awful sound.
And then I saw it.
A wolf.
Not just any wolf—a massive, snarling creature with eyes that gleamed in the darkness, its fur matted and wild. Its teeth were bared, sharp and gleaming like daggers in the faint moonlight. I didn't need to know anything about wolves to understand that this one was dangerous. Ferocious. Its eyes locked onto me, a low, guttural snarl rumbling from its throat as it crouched, ready to pounce.
Panic surged through me, my heart slamming against my ribs as I stumbled back, my foot catching on a root. I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me as I scrambled to get away, my hands clawing at the dirt. But it was no use. It was too fast.
Before I could even blink, the rogue wolf lunged, its massive body flying toward me like a shadowy missile, its jaws snapping with a sickening sound. I threw my arms up in a pathetic attempt to shield myself, my entire body trembling with terror.
This is it. This is how I die.
But then, out of nowhere, something huge and silver crashed into the rogue, knocking it off course just inches from my face. A second wolf. Even larger than the first, its fur shimmering in the pale moonlight like it was spun from silver itself. The two wolves collided with a bone-shaking thud, their growls filling the air as they rolled through the dirt, teeth flashing and claws slashing.
I could only sit there, frozen, watching in shock as the silver wolf—beautiful, almost majestic in its sheer size and power—took on the other with a kind of ferocity I had never seen. It was terrifying and mesmerizing all at once. Its eyes glowed like molten gold, and yet, somehow, I didn't feel fear when I looked at it. I felt… safe. Protected.
What is happening?
I didn't know wolves could be this big. I didn't know anything about what was happening. I didn't know why this second wolf had saved me, or why I wasn't screaming in terror at the sight of these two beasts tearing into each other just feet from where I lay. All I knew was that this silver wolf—this massive, magnificent creature—was fighting for me. Protecting me.
The wolf snapped and growled, but the silver wolf was stronger, faster. With one swift, brutal motion, it sank its teeth into the rogue's throat, a sickening crunch filling the air. The wolf yelped, a final, pitiful sound, before it went limp, its body collapsing into the dirt with a heavy thud.
It was over.
The silver wolf stood over the rogue's body, panting heavily, its golden eyes scanning the area as if searching for any more threats. My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths coming in short, frantic gasps as I struggled to comprehend what had just happened. My entire body trembled with fear and adrenaline, my mind racing a thousand miles a minute.
And then… it turned to me.
For a moment, I thought I should be afraid. This wolf was massive, towering over me even from a distance, its golden eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. But when it looked at me, there was no malice. No hunger. Just… something else. Something I couldn't quite understand. It took a step toward me, slow and deliberate, and my breath caught in my throat. I didn't know what to do. My body was still locked in fear, but my heart whispered to me that this wolf wouldn't hurt me.
It crouched low, its massive body moving with surprising grace, its nose twitching as it regarded me carefully, almost like it was making sure I was okay.
Before I could process what was happening, I heard a voice in the distance. "Amora!"
I turned sharply toward the sound, my heart racing all over again. Wilder. I recognized his voice instantly, the urgency in it making my stomach twist with fear. The sound of footsteps followed quickly behind, the rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs getting louder by the second.
When I turned back to the wolf, it was gone.
Vanished.
I blinked, my head spinning as I stared at the spot where the silver wolf had just been. The rogue's body still lay there, lifeless and bloodied, but the wolf that had saved me had disappeared into the night like a ghost.
"Amora!" Wilder's voice was closer now, and within moments, he emerged from the trees, flanked by several guards. His eyes were wide with worry, his brow furrowed as he quickly took in the scene—the dead rogue, me sitting in the dirt, trembling and breathless.
I wanted to speak, to tell him what had just happened, but the words wouldn't come. My body felt like it was made of lead, my mind swirling with fear and confusion. The adrenaline that had been coursing through me moments ago drained away, leaving me weak and shaky. Everything felt distant, like I was watching it happen from somewhere far away.
"Amora," Wilder said again, softer this time, as he knelt down beside me. His hand came to rest gently on my shoulder, his expression softening with concern. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, barely able to form a coherent thought. "There was… a wolf," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "It saved me."
Wilder's eyes narrowed, and he glanced toward the dead rogue before looking back at me. He didn't ask questions. He didn't press for more details. Instead, he simply sighed, his hand tightening on my shoulder. "Let's get you back," he murmured, his voice low and steady. "You're safe now."
Safe.
The word felt foreign on my lips, like a promise that wasn't meant for me. But I was too exhausted, too overwhelmed to argue. My limbs felt heavy, my vision swimming as the world around me tilted dangerously. Wilder's voice sounded distant, his face blurring as a wave of dizziness washed over me.
The last thing I remembered was his arms around me, lifting me from the ground as darkness closed in around me, pulling me under.
And then, there was nothing.