The forest was no longer silent.
One howl became two.
Two became five.
Soon the night was filled with the chilling sound of wolves calling to each other.
Nora felt her entire body freeze.
Those glowing eyes in the darkness were getting closer.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Like hunters surrounding their prey.
Daniel—or the creature that used to be Daniel—was breathing heavily now.
His body trembled as the transformation continued.
Bones cracked under his skin.
His shoulders grew wider.
His muscles twisted unnaturally.
Nora stumbled backward.
Fear finally took control of her body.
But Daniel suddenly growled.
A deep, powerful sound.
The wolves in the forest stopped moving.
For a moment… the entire night became silent.
Daniel's golden eyes scanned the darkness.
Then he spoke in a voice that was no longer human.
"She is under my protection."
The words echoed through the trees.
A large wolf slowly stepped out of the forest.
Its fur was black as night.
Its eyes were silver.
And behind him…
More wolves appeared.
Ten.
Maybe fifteen.
They were forming a circle.
Watching.
Waiting.
The black wolf stared at Daniel.
Then something strange happened.
The wolf… laughed.
Not like an animal.
Like a human mocking him.
"You still think you can protect humans?"
The voice came from inside the wolf's mind.
Daniel's claws dug into the ground.
"I told you to stay away from her."
The black wolf stepped closer.
"She belongs to the pack now."
Nora's heart stopped.
"What?"
Daniel growled.
"She has nothing to do with you."
The wolf's silver eyes turned toward Nora.
And when he spoke again…
His voice was colder.
"You're wrong."
"Her blood says otherwise."