The forest held its breath, as if the world itself knew what was coming. No growls echoed through the trees. No leaves rustled in the wind. Even the insects, usually a chorus of relentless chatter, had gone silent. The crimson moon above dimmed, not obscured by clouds but smothered by an unseen pressure that weighed on the air like a god's hand pressing down. The atmosphere thickened, syrupy and suffocating, wrapping around Raze's lungs and squeezing until every breath felt like a battle. The ancient trees, gnarled and twisted, seemed to bow under the weight, their branches drooping as if in submission.
Raze stood frozen, his claws still dripping with the blood of the Alpha he'd just slain. His golden fur bristled, his senses screaming warnings his mind couldn't fully process. Kyra, crouched beside him, gripped her crossbow, her knuckles white. Her breath was shallow, her eyes wide with a fear she was trying desperately to hide.
And then, it stepped out.
