The growl vibrated in the air again.
Deep. Low. Threatening.
For a moment that seemed too long, neither body moved.
Eliza remained motionless where she stood, her heart pounding against her ribs with brutal force, as if trying to escape from her chest. Her mind screamed for her to run, to turn around and flee toward the castle, toward the safety of the stone walls... but her body remained frozen in place.
The she-wolf was also still.
But not calm.
Her chest rose and fell with harsh, almost painful breaths. Each inhalation seemed to cost her effort. Her ribs showed beneath her light fur, too thin, too fragile for an animal that should be strong.
However, the weakness didn't make her any less dangerous.
If anything, it made her more unpredictable.
Her lips lifted a little more, revealing long, stained fangs. A thread of saliva stretched between them as she let out another deeper growl.
Eliza felt something inside her finally react.
It wasn't her mind.
