Chapter 23 - Offerings of the Wild
Tave sprinted toward the edge of the forest, not daring to look back, not even once.
After everything that had just happened with the wolf pact, he had absolutely no desire to stay a moment longer in those woods. Hunting? Training? Whatever plan he had tonight, completely erased.
He needed distance.
He needed somewhere safe to breathe, to rethink everything.
The moment he crossed the boundary, he let himself fall, crashing down behind the iron railing with a heavy thud, followed by the dull clang of his overloaded bag hitting the ground beside him.
The sky had begun to shift; the horizon glowed with the early hue of dawn.
But all Tave could see was that massive shadow.
That stare.
That howl.
Still etched clearly in his memory.
Fang, the little wolf, padded over and sat in front of him. Those round eyes stared up at Tave. Calm, patient, as if silently asking, Are you okay?