The animal is massive, its dark fur matted and streaked with what looks like dried blood. Its head is low, its amber eyes glowing faintly in the shadows.

It whimpers again; the sound tugs at something deep inside me. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then the wolf shifts, its ears flattening as it lets out a low, rumbling growl.

I stumble back, my hand gripping the door frame for support. My mind screams at me to run, but my feet won’t move.

“Hey!” A voice barks from behind me.

I whip ...