ARIA POV
I crashed through the underbrush, my paws barely hitting the ground as I ran. The forest was a blur around me, trees rushing past in streaks of black and gray. My white hair glowed in the moonlight, making me an easy target.
They were hunting me.
Three wolves followed my trail—one silver, one black, one brown. Their howls filled the night air, closing in from all sides. I pushed myself harder, muscles burning, heart beating in my chest.
The silver wolf was fastest, breaking ahead of the pack. I could hear his breath, feel his presence closing in behind me. But he wasn't attacking. He was... protecting me?
The black wolf growled, lunging at the silver one. They met in mid-air, teeth flashing, claws tearing. The russet wolf circled around them, eyes calculating, waiting for his time.
"Choose," a voice whispered through the trees. "Choose or they all die."
Blood splattered across falling leaves. The silver wolf yelped in pain as teeth sank into his neck.
