Beneath The Tree

Esme's breath caught when the wolf loomed before her, its sheer presence overwhelming. Its fur was a striking mix of black and white, but what truly captivated her were the swirling shadows, not just shadows after all – but rather, they were tendrils of mist.

They coiled and emanated from the wolf itself, clearly something beyond anything she had ever seen before.

Esme's heart raced as the realization struck. This was an Alpha. She felt it instantly, the power in the air shifting so suddenly that it left her inexplicably breathless, as though the very oxygen had been drained from her lungs.

Instinctively, she took a step back when the wolf let out a low growl, its eyes locking onto hers, whilst she froze. Those eyes — they were unmistakable, a mirror of someone she knew all too well.

The shock coursed through her, jolting her out of her daze.