Alpha'sShadow

r the hour. Tonight, however, something felt different. The air was heavy, charged with an unusual stillness that made her uneasy. Ir

kept her mind occupied. Still, there were days she couldn't shake the nagging thought that she was chasing dead ends. Her latest assignment a flu

sp night air. Iris froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes darted toward the darkened treeline, her mind racing.

ng herself to keep walking. But as her boots clicked agai

es began, leaving an ominous void of darkness. Her journalist instincts flared to life, pulling her forwa

y. She fished it out, seeing a message from her editor, Va

ick reply: "Still researching

ent at the edge of her vision. A shadow shifted among the t

regretting it. Her voice echoed sli

ans

alone. Her apartment was only a few blocks away, but the oppressive d

p and guttural. It was unlike anything she'd ever heard, primal and full o

source of the scream. The rational part of her brain screamed at her to turn back, to call the police, to do an

he faint light of the crescent moon. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she maneuv

ushed forward, her boots crunching against fallen leaves and twigs. An

nk, her heart hammering in her chest

hey were bears, but the way they moved calculated, almost human sent a chill down her spine. Their si

Giant

hat filled the air were undeniable. The two creatures lunged at each other, claws and teeth fla

stifle a gasp. What was she seeing? Th

h a sickening thud. The victor let out a triumphant howl that

She scrambled to silence it, but the damage was done. The victorious wolf

the tree, her mind racing. It didn't see me. It didn't

rate, and terrifyingly close. She held her breath, her heart

ehind the tree, the sound

trong, and unyielding clamped over her mou

voice hissed in her e

ying to see who had grabbed her, b

tree, its massive form towering over her. Its

d forward, placing himself

he growled, his voice c

ak, but the words caught in