Love in the Shadow of the Wolf

nd her. Every step she took felt heavier than the last, as if the forest itself was trying to pull her deeper into its dark embrace. The cold night wind

ettling quiet of the forest; it was as if eyes were lurking in the shadows, tracking her every move, waiting for the right moment to strike. T

d canopy above swallowed the moonlight, her surroundings became increasingly indistinguishable from each other. Every tree, every rock, every rustle of leaves felt lik

s no turning back now. The more she tried to push forward, the more her thoughts spiraled. How did she end up here?

mpenetrable darkness beyond them. The hairs on her neck stood on end as her instincts screamed that she was not alone. Her breath caught in her throat. "Alexander?" she whispered

avy footsteps. The crunch of earth and leaves was unmistakable, and it was coming from a different direction. Catrine's heart pounded i

ootsteps following behind her. The tension in her body mounted with every passing second. The sense of be

cing, and unmistakably the sound of a predator. Her body froze, every muscle tens

e forest, and it seemed almost otherworldly, a creature born of the night itself. Catrine's breath hitched, and her body trembled with fear. She

to escape, but her limbs felt frozen in place. Her mind screamed for her to move, to get away, but her body refused to

full well that her words would have no effect. The wolf was a cre

d her eyes, praying that this was all just a nightmare, a figment of her imagination. But when sh

me to react before a large figure collided with the wolf, sending it tumbling to the ground with a

s Ale

ocking her from view. He didn't even look at her. His gaze remai

no trace of the gentle, reassuring tone she had come to know. This wa

dy remained rigid, his eyes never leaving the wolf. The predator seemed to hesit

low but filled with authority. "This is

back again. The growl died down, and after what felt like an eternity, the wolf slowly began to retreat. It backed

w seconds, still watching the darkened forest, as if ensuring the threat was truly gone. Finally, h

e asked, his tone

he nodded slowly, though she was still too shaken to say much. "What... What

Some things were too complicated for words. "I know how to handle them," he said simply, though

situation. "I didn't know... I didn't know what I was gett

omething that made him want to protect her despite the risks, despite the rules he had always f

e," he said after a mom

Catrine's brow

e," Alexander replied firmly

ip was firm but not harsh, as if he were guiding her rather than forcing her. Catrine didn't pull away.

t feel the weight of her own curiosity. "Why are you helpi

far more complex than words could express. Finally, he answered, though his words felt incomplet

when she could tell that he was holding something back. But she couldn't shake the fe

forest, they finally arrived at a clearing. There, nestled in

id, his voice now quieter, more serious.

creeping into her thoughts. "Is this yo

s used for patrols. Not many

, and emotionally drained from everything that had happen