The forest blurred past Mira as she ran, her paws pounding the ground with an urgency she hadn’t known she possessed. The distant howls behind them pushed her forward, her heart thundering in her chest. She cast a quick glance at Liana, who was struggling to keep pace.
“Liana, faster!” Mira growled through their mental link, her voice sharp with desperation.
“I can’t!” Liana’s voice came back, strained and filled with exhaustion.
Mira’s wolf surged with newfound strength, a primal energy she didn’t fully understand but was grateful for. She slowed just enough to let Liana lean on her, practically dragging her sister forward as they weaved through the dense trees.
The howls seemed to fade slightly, and Mira dared to hope they were losing their pursuers. When they finally came to a clearing, Liana collapsed onto the ground, her breath ragged.
“I can’t... go on,” Liana panted, her body trembling as she shifted back into her human form.
Mira shifted as well, kneeling beside her sister. “Yes, you can,” she said firmly, gripping Liana’s shoulders.
“No,” Liana insisted, shaking her head. “I’ve got nothing left. Just... go. Save yourself.”
Mira’s jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with determination. “I’m not leaving you here.”
Liana looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. “There’s nowhere for me to go, Mira. Kaelan... he’ll never forgive me. And you—you shouldn’t have to keep saving me.”
Mira’s heart twisted. Despite everything Liana had done, she couldn’t abandon her sister. “We’re going back to Kaelan together,” she said firmly. “You’ll face him, and I’ll deal with whatever comes next. But I’m not leaving you behind.”
Liana opened her mouth to protest, but her words were cut off by a low growl that sent shivers down both their spines.
Mira froze, her ears straining to catch the sound. Slowly, she turned, her eyes scanning the treeline. One by one, shadows emerged from the forest, their glowing eyes locking onto the sisters.
“Wolves,” Liana whispered, her voice trembling.
The pack surrounded them in a tightening circle, their growls vibrating in the air. Mira and Liana stood back-to-back, their bodies tense as they prepared to fight.
But something in the wolves’ posture made Mira pause. They weren’t attacking. Not yet.
“Who are they?” Liana asked, her voice barely audible.
Mira didn’t answer. Her focus was on the largest wolf, who stepped forward, its gaze fixed on her. Mira’s heart raced as she waited for their next move.
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