Shadow lifted his head, his ears twitching, muscles taut. The pup let out a low, uncertain growl followed by whimpering coos. This wasn’t the sound of aggression—it was recognition. Daniel’s pulse quickened. Was it possible? Was something out there looking for him? Looking for Shadow?
The presence in the trees remained unseen, yet Daniel could feel it pressing in, cold and patient. It wasn’t attacking. It wasn’t retreating. It was waiting. Daniel’s grip on the knife tightened. The message was clear—he had taken something from the wild. And the wild wanted it back.