Immediately, Bruce heard the howl—once, then again. It didn’t fade like a normal call; it lingered, pressing into his chest with urgency and desperation. He didn’t need anyone to tell him what it meant.

Meret was in trouble.

He grabbed his car keys and was out the door in seconds.

Bruce drove faster than he ever had, the howl had stopped long before he went out of his house. He prayed Meret was okay.

By the time he reached Meret’s residence, police vehicles already crowded the ...