Susan and James continued walking through the dark forest, the weight of what had just happened pressing heavily on Susan’s mind. The sound of the wolf’s final howl echoed in her ears, and the sight of James standing over its lifeless body haunted her. She could still feel the fear in her chest, tightening like a knot that wouldn’t loosen.
James walked ahead, his steps quiet but confident, despite the blood dripping from the scratch on his arm. He didn’t seem bothered by the wound; he was too focused on making sure they were safe. Susan watched him, feeling both admiration and guilt. He had fought the wolf, protected her, and now he carried on as if nothing had happened.
But something had happened—something important. She had frozen during the fight. She hadn’t been able to help James, n
