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CHAPTER 168
The night air had thickened even further, and every sound seemed amplified. The forest beyond the packhouse hummed with life, but the hum was tense, sharp, on edge. The wolf in the pen coiled on its paws, muscles rippling beneath its thick fur, eyes bright and intelligent. It wasn’t moving aggressively, not yet, but it had fully woken, fully aware, fully testing the boundaries.
I stayed a few steps back from the pen, Asher’s hand resting lightly on my arm. “It’s different now.” He murmured. “Not just aware… it’s gauging us.”
I nodded, fingers gripping the railing instinctively. “And the twins… they’re feeding into it, even if they don’t realize it. That influence she has, Emily, it’s amplifying the tension.”
Asher’s jaw tightened. “I see it. Every little movement, every flicker of attention… it’s like they’re extensions of her calm, but it’s making them less cautious. That’s dangerous.”
Emily sat quietly on her folding chair, blanket draped around her shoulders, knees tucked in. Her eyes never left the wolf, calm and measured. She was like the center of a storm, drawing the twins in with
subtle energy I couldn’t quite put into words.
Gage and Arlo stood just a few feet from her, eyes fixed on the creature. Both of them mirrored her posture, mirroring her calm, yet their bodies tensed ever so slightly with awareness of the wolf. I could see it. The way their breathing synchronized, the way they shifted when she did. It wasn’t malicious. Not yet. But it made the pack more vulnerable if the wolf decided to act.
I stepped closer to Asher. “We need to take over the rotations. Let the twins rest. They’re too tuned in right
now.”
Asher’s lips pressed together. “Yeah. But she won’t let them step back if she’s watching. That’s the
problem.”
I exhaled slowly, keeping my voice calm. “We’ll handle it. Just follow my lead.”
I approached Emily carefully, making sure to keep my tone neutral. “Hey.” I said softly. “We’re going to take over and give the twins a break. You can stay here, but let them rest for a while. We’ve got this under
control.”
Her eyes flicked to me, calm but calculating. “Are you sure?” She asked, voice quiet. “I can stay with them if you want.”
I smiled, though my stomach tightened. “I’m sure. You’ve done your job. Let them rest. We’ll monitor the
wolf, and you’ll be fine.”
Her gaze lingered a moment longer, and I could see the subtle influence she held over them in her eyes. She nodded slowly and leaned back, letting the twins step away slightly. Gage exhaled quietly, stretching his shoulders. Arlo muttered something under his breath about needing coffee, and both of them moved toward the packhouse to get a break.
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Asher and I were left alone in front of the pen, eyes locked on the wolf. Its massive frame coiled, ears twitching, chest rising with deliberate rhythm. Its dark eyes followed every movement, every subtle shift in the energy around it.
“It’s testing us.” I murmured. “I can feel it. Not aggression… not yet… but awareness, intent. Something
more.”
Asher nodded, hands resting on the railing. “I feel it too. That… presence. Something about it is different
from any wolf we’ve handled before.”
The wolf shifted slightly forward, pressing its claws against the dirt. Its head tilted, nostrils flaring, and I could see the subtle tension in its spine. Not a threat yet, but it was pushing boundaries, learning us as
much as we were learning it.
“I think it’s sizing us up.” I said quietly. “Testing our energy. Not just physical, but… everything around it.”
Asher exhaled slowly. “Which means… we have to be perfect. Calm and deliberate in everything we do. One wrong move and…”
I knew exactly what he meant. One wrong move could trigger the wolf, and with its size, strength, and awareness, there would be no containing it if it decided to lash out.
We rotated shifts carefully, keeping our distance and using calm energy to keep the wolf from escalating. Every small movement was intentional, deliberate. It was exhausting. And the night dragged, each hour
thick with tension.
Emily stayed near the pen, watching, silent but ever–present. Occasionally, she glanced at Asher or me, offering a faint nod or a subtle gesture. And I could see the twins reacting even from a distance. Every time she moved, Gage and Arlo stiffened slightly, mirroring her energy without conscious thought. The subtle pull she had over them was undeniable, and it unnerved me more than I wanted to admit.
By late evening, the wolf began to react more. Its breathing deepened, muscles coiled, eyes bright and alert. Its head lifted fully, sniffing the air, observing the forest beyond the pen. The hairs on the back of its
neck bristled slightly.
Asher leaned close to me. “It’s noticing something.” He whispered. “The air… the energy… it’s like it’s responding to the shift in our focus.”
I nodded, keeping my voice low. “We need to stay calm. Don’t let the twins‘ energy distract you. Focus on
the wolf, not on anything else.”
It shifted again, pressing against the pen slightly, claws digging into the dirt. Its head lifted higher, eyes scanning the area. And then it let out a low, rumbling growl. Not directed at anyone, not hostile, but powerful. The sound vibrated through the clearing and made me shiver.
Emily’s gaze didn’t waver. She remained seated, calm, unflinching, blanket wrapped tightly around her. But the wolf’s eyes locked with hers for a long moment. And I could feel the subtle pull of her energy on the
twins even from where I stood.
CHAPTER 168
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Gage’s fingers curled around the edge of the pen. Arlo’s jaw tightened. Both of them were tense, aware, and completely attentive to her unspoken commands.
I took a careful step forward, hand brushing against Asher’s. “It’s reacting… to her presence.”
He exhaled, eyes narrowing. “I know. And it’s feeding into the tension around here. We’ve got to keep
control.”
The wolf’s head snapped slightly, nostrils flaring, chest rising as if to test the air again. Its muscles tensed in a coiled rhythm, ready for action. And then, with a speed that made my heart skip, it lunged forward, pressing against the reinforced fence. The metal groaned under its weight, claws scraping, fur bristling.
I jumped back instinctively. Asher stepped in front of me, stance wide, hands ready. “It’s testing the pen.
That’s all.” He muttered.
But the sound echoed through the clearing, sharp and jarring. Emily’s eyes widened fractionally, but she didn’t move. The twins stiffened instantly, mirroring her stillness, hands gripping the pen.
The wolf’s growl deepened, resonating through the clearing like a low drumbeat. Its massive head lifted higher, ears pricked forward, chest heaving. It was fully awake, fully aware, fully testing the boundaries we
had set.
I could feel the tension in the clearing spike. Every heartbeat, every breath was synchronized with the wolf’s movements. It wasn’t attacking, not yet, but it was aware of everything. Every flicker of energy, every
subtle influence, every small misstep.
And Emily… she remained calm. But I could see it in the twins. They were tethered to her energy, following her cues even as their instincts screamed to react. Her influence over them was growing, more obvious, more powerful. And it was only making the situation more unpredictable.
I took a step closer to Asher, voice low. “If it keeps escalating… if it pushes the pen too hard…”
“I know.” He said quietly. “We’re ready. We’ll contain it. But… this isn’t over.”
The wolf shifted again, muscles rippling, claws pressing against the dirt. Its chest rose and fell with
deliberate rhythm, eyes locked on the energy in the clearing, sensing everything.
Then, in one sudden, fluid movement, it lunged fully, pressing against the fence with all its weight. The
reinforced metal groaned and bent slightly, and the sound made every nerve in my body spike.
Gage and Arlo tensed instantly, but Emily didn’t flinch. She stayed seated, calm, almost unshakable. And I
realized with a jolt: her influence over the twins wasn’t just subtle anymore, it was critical. Their restraint,
their calm, everything keeping the wolf from breaking free, was tied to her.
I exchanged a glance with Asher. “We need to be ready for whatever comes next. It’s testing us, and if it breaks through…”
I didn’t finish the thought. I didn’t need to. The wolf’s eyes gleamed with intelligence, awareness, and intent. And as the shadows of night stretched across the clearing, I knew, without a doubt, that the next
CHAPTER 163
move was coming. And we might not be ready.
+25 Points
The pen creaked under the wolf’s weight. Its growl deepened, resonating through the field, a sound both terrifying and commanding.
And then it reared slightly, massive body colling, muscles rippling in preparation.
Emily’s gaze remained locked on it, calm, unflinching. But the twins, under her influence, mirrored her
stillness, frozen in anticipation.
I swallowed hard, heart hammering. “Asher… it’s reacting fully. Now.”
The wolf’s chest heaved, its head lifted high, and in that instant, I knew: whatever was about to happen next wasn’t just a test of strength. It was a test of control, of instinct, of who we were as a pack.
And there was no turning back.
The wolf lunged once more. Stronger, faster, more deliberate, and the clearing seemed to vibrate with its
power.
I braced myself. The night held its breath.
And everything was about to change.
Kylie K
CRESCENT RIDGE – *ECLIPSE*
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LUCK DR
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
