Freda Pov
I heard the returning howls, and my blood ran cold. Those were not the sounds of friends coming home. Those were aggressive howls. Threatening howls, the sound of wolves who meant us harm.
"Everyone gather near the Alpha's den," I called out into the darkness. "Now. We need to protect him."
The seventeen remaining wolves moved through the darkness toward me. I could hear their shuffling footsteps. Their labored breathing. We were all so weak from the famine. How could we possibly defend ourselves against healthy wolves?
"What is happening, Luna?" one of the younger wolves asked. His name was Thomas. "Who is out there?"
"I do not know yet," I admitted. "But we need to be ready for anything. Stay close together. Do not let anyone separate from the group."
The howls circled our territory. Coming from the east and west, and north. They were surrounding us. Trapping us in our own land.
