The valley came into view after a while, stretching wide and endless beneath the morning mist. The sight should have eased Daniel’s nerves—he was nearing civilization. But the weight in his chest only grew heavier. Shadow kept hesitating. It was subtle, but noticeable. He would walk ahead, then stop, listening to something.
Daniel had spent weeks caring for the pup, yet there were moments he swore Shadow was waiting for something else. Or maybe… someone. The thought unsettled him. Had the pack been following them this whole time? Had he only borrowed Shadow, thinking he was saving him?