CHAPTER 2 ā THE SECRET INSIDE THE BARN
Thomas dropped the rifle.
"EMILY!"
He sprinted toward the barn.
The wolves immediately noticed.
Half the pack changed direction.
They weren't interested in livestock anymore.
They had discovered an easier target.
Inside the old wooden barn, eight-year-old Emily woke to Ranger's furious barking.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes.
Something scratched against the walls.
Then another scratch.
Then another.
The barn doors shook violently.
Outside...
The wolves had completely surrounded the building.
Emily looked through a crack.
Dozens of glowing eyes stared back at her.
She couldn't even scream.
Meanwhile...
Ranger stood alone at the entrance.
Bleeding.
Panting.
His left shoulder had deep bite marks.
One ear hung torn.
But he refused to move.
The alpha wolf slowly approached again.
This time it didn't attack.
It circled Ranger.
Testing him.
Waiting for weakness.
Thomas finally reached the barn, but before he could fireā
CLICK.
His old rifle jammed.
The sound echoed through the silence.
The alpha lunged instantly.
Ranger intercepted it in midair.
The impact slammed both animals against the fence.
Wood exploded everywhere.
Thomas grabbed an axe instead.
Before he reached them...
Three wolves attacked him from behind.
He fell.
The axe slid away.
Everything happened too fast.
Emily watched in horror from the loft.
Her grandfather couldn't get up.
Ranger was surrounded.
The wolves closed in from every direction.
It was over.
Then...
A deafening howl echoed across the mountains.
Every wolf suddenly froze.
Even the alpha stopped moving.
Ranger lifted his bleeding head.
He recognized that howl.
His expression changed.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't anger.
It was...
Recognition.
From the trees emerged a gigantic gray wolf unlike any Thomas had ever seen.
Twice the size of the others.
Its silver eyes locked onto Ranger.
Instead of attacking...
It slowly lowered its head.
The entire wolf pack did the same.
Thomas stared in disbelief.
Why would wild wolves bow...
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End of Chapter 2ā¦
