The wolf stared at me warily, a low growl rumbling from deep within its throat.
Ariel responded immediately, baring her fangs as she stepped forward, her body tense and ready to intercept the matriarch if it made a sudden move.
I raised a hand to stop her. Then I stepped past her and began walking toward the matriarch.
The growling intensified almost immediately.
Its lips curled back further, exposing rows of sharp teeth as it watched my approach without blinking. Every instinct in its body seemed to be warning me to stay away.
I ignored it and continued forward at a steady pace.
The distance between us gradually disappeared until, within moments, I found myself standing directly in front of the wolf.
The growling was loud and aggressive, but despite all the noise, it never attacked.
The realization became more obvious the closer I got.
It wasn't behaving like a creature preparing to lunge. It was behaving like a creature trying to keep me away.
