The goddess smiled faintly, her form beginning to fade into the cosmic light. “Awaken, Zoe. And remember: the darkest nights bring the brightest stars.”
Zoe’s heart felt a strange calm as the goddess’s words echoed around her. The luminous figure dissolved into the cosmic expanse, but her presence left a lingering warmth that anchored Zoe to her resolve. She turned back to her wolf, whose white fur was no longer dulled by exhaustion. Instead, it shimmered faintly, though the black tendrils remained, writhing like restless serpents.
The wolf growled low, its eyes locking onto hers, and Zoe understood. This was no time to hesitate. The darkness encroached, still hungry, still relentless. She knelt, placing both hands firmly on the wolf’s fur.
“We’re not fighting this alone anymore,” she w
