CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

LANDON:

With each cautious step, I surveyed the area, ensuring our safety as we traversed the woods. We remained in our wolf forms, a decision made to heighten our senses and evade any potential threats. My focus was on guiding us back to my house; a place where I could better control the environment and protect us from the unknown danger that lurked in the shadows.

The moonlit path was both our ally and enemy, casting silvery beams that illuminated our way but also left us exposed to prying eyes. I traded glances with Venita, a silent exchange of reassurance as we moved with a heightened awareness of our surroundings. Leaves slapped against our furs which bristled in the night air, dust filling our nostrils from each paw that undug some part of the earth we trod on.

Approaching the turn in the woods that led back to my house, a subtle bolt of a sense of security hung in the air. It was a crucial juncture, a point where our path took a different, ominous turn.

As we neared the fami