Tina slowly opened the storage room door and eased her way inside, never taking her eyes off the wolves as they followed close behind. The door clicked shut behind them with a sharp finality, a sound that echoed in the confined space like a verdict. In that instant, it felt as though their fates had been sealed together. The air grew heavy—thick with tension and uncertainty. What now? she wondered.
For a fleeting moment, everything was still. A deceptive quiet hung in the air like the pause before a storm breaks. Then, something shifted. The wolves stiffened, their eyes gleaming with a wild, primal intensity. They scanned the room, muscles taut, alert and ready to strike. The silence was no longer peaceful—it was loaded with anticipation, and Tina could feel every second stretching unbearably thin.
Tina pressed her back firmly against the door, the cool metal grounding her as the air around her crackled with tension. She held her breath, heart pounding, watching the wolves with wide, unblinking eyes. One of them let out a low, guttural growl—a sound so deep it seemed to hum through the floor, vibrating in her chest.
Then, instinct took over.
Tina slowly lowered herself, shrinking her presence to appear as unthreatening as possible. Her thoughts raced, desperately searching for a way to signal peace. She kept her gaze soft, her movements deliberate and slow. I’m not here to hurt you, she tried to express through her body language alone. Every gesture was careful, meant to convey calm and submission—hoping the wolves would sense she wasn’t a threat.
Tina’s eyes fixed on the small, limp figure dangling from the alpha wolf’s jaws. From where she stood, it was hard to make out exactly what it was—but whatever the creature, its fragile, twisted form clearly needed help. Desperation surged through her. Whatever had happened, there was no doubt: it was hurt. Badly.
Her heart thundered in her chest, the weight of responsibility growing heavier with each second. Instinctively, she curled into herself, trying to make her posture smaller, less threatening. But just as she adjusted her stance, one of the wolves flanking the alpha let out a sharp, warning growl—and a cry escaped Tina’s lips before she could stop it.
Instantly, the alpha responded with a commanding rumble, silencing the others. Its growl wasn’t just power—it was authority. The other wolves backed down.
Tina steadied her breathing, forcing her fear into the background. Whatever was happening, she couldn’t freeze now. She had to move—and fast.