I swallowed hard. “It’s injured… but it’s dangerous.”
The wolf’s gaze locked on us, calculating and wary. Its growl was low, warning us to stay back.
Gage stepped forward slightly, hand raised. “We’re not here to hurt you. Just… back away slowly.”
The wolf didn’t move. Its eyes flicked toward the deer carcass, then back at us. There was a sense of intelligence there, like it understood more than a normal predator would.
And then, without warning, it bolted…straight at us.
“Split!” Asher shouted.
Gage and I darted to the sides, but the wolf’s momentum carried it directly toward Asher. It leapt, claws extended, teeth bared. Asher barely sidestepped, shoving the wolf off balance with a heavy hand.
I lunged, grabbing a nearby branch and swinging it, striking the wolf’s shoulder. It yelp
