THE SHADOW IN THE TREES
Nara’s body froze.
The creature lunged at her.
Instinct took over. She tried to run, but her legs refused to obey. Her chest burned, lungs screaming for air. The glowing eyes of the predator, red like molten fire, glinted from the shadows, moving faster than her mind could process.
A shadow slammed into the wolf's midair.
The force knocked Nara to the ground. Dirt and leaves filled her mouth. Pain shot through her shoulder as she tried to push herself up.
“Get back!” a deep voice thundered.
Kael.
He landed between her and the wolf. Shadows wrapped around his form, thick, alive, swirling like black smoke that lunged at the creature. The red-eyed wolf yelped, recoiling from the force that threw it back.
“You shouldn’t be here!” Kael shouted, fangs bared, eyes
