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He grabbed my arm. “Let’s go.” He said, nearly jerking me to the left.

I stumbled on a log and tripped, but he yanked me back up and glared at me.

I whispered, “Well, if you hadn’t yanked me.”

We were walking slowly, although I got the feeling Gage was hunting. His knees stayed bent, his head was on a swivel and his breathing was steady, in and out, in and out. He let go of my arm briefly to hold his fist up, indicating we were stopping.

He sensed something, but still hadn’t told me what it was. I looked around but couldn’t see or hear anything.

We took another step and then another. He found a large tree that had fallen and tucked me under it. Grabbing me by the shoulders, he stared into my eyes. “Stay here and do not make a sound.”

I nodded as I pulled an arrow out of my quiver and laced it in my bow, laying it on my lap.

What was going on? What did he sense that I couldn’t?

He leapt over the log in one swift motion, an easy six foot vertical, and walked in the direction behind me. He told me to stay put, so I fought the urge to get out and look, which in itself was irritating. I was not some damsel in distress he had to baby.

I was a capable woman who could hunt.

I started to move when I heard a twig breaking on the ground, followed by a slight ruffle of leaves. I could tell by the sound it was not Gage, but someone else… something else… and it was getting closer.

Another twig breaking. Another leaf crunching.

I grabbed the bow off my lap, slowly pulling the arrow back. If I had to jump out and shoot, I needed to be ready.

I heard another set of twigs breaking, but these were a little further in the distance.

Two?

While I felt capable, I still wish Gage was with me. Two on one would definitely be harder.

I heard another twig breaking, and this one was right over me. I held my breath, not wanting to make a sound.

“Hey!” I heard Gage yell off in the distance.

The leaves shuffled above me.

“Shit.” Gage said, his voice faltering, but there was something else in it. Something I couldn’t place. Recognition?

I heard a low growl from above me.

It was an animal of some sort, large, by the sound of it.

I heard it walking away from me, towards Gage’s voice, the growl growing louder.

“What do you want with her?”

Was he talking to the animal? About me?

“You can’t have her.” Gage snarled, which set the animal off.

I heard its pace picking up, like it was charging towards Gage.

I poked my head up, ready to shoot my arrow if given the chance. Gage had to be protected.

I popped my head above the log and was not prepared for what I saw.

A giant wolf was running full sprint at Gage with his teeth pulled back over its white hot gums and standing arms open, ready to fight, was Gage.