The ornate doors of the church slammed open with a deafening crash, the peaceful vigil shattered in an instant. Gasps and cries filled the sacred space as a massive wolf stepped inside, its fur bristling and eyes glinting in the dim candlelight. Worshippers froze, their prayers replaced by stunned silence.
The wolf’s sharp claws clicked against the stone floor as it moved with deliberate steps, each one echoing through the vaulted hall. Marianne, seated near the middle of the pews, felt a cold wave of dread wash over her. The beast’s piercing gaze locked onto hers, freezing her in place.
A low growl rumbled from its chest, reverberating through the stone walls like a warning. The creature’s sharp teeth gleamed as its powerful frame shifted forward, step by deliberate step, toward Marianne. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she couldn’t move—its eyes were fixed on her, wild and full of danger.