Meanwhile, what Ariana felt was far from comfortable. She expended all her energy sprinting and lobbing chunks of meat to sidetrack the wolves, muttering prayers to herself, Stop following me, please. Im running low on meat.
Yet, the wolves persisted.
After hurling the last slice of meat, her strength failed her. She staggered a few more meters before crumbling to the ground, utterly spent.
She lay there, breathless, sucking in air and straining her ears for any rustling in the bushes.
As time ticked by without a sound, it seemed she might have shaken off the wolves.
Her pulse, previously hammering in her ears, began to slow down.
Gathering some energy, she leaned on a nearby rock to sit up, removed her backpack, and took a few sips of water.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.
Her initial thought was that the wolves had caught up with her.
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But the footsteps sounded distinctly human.
Ariana tensed up, wondering if it might be Bennett. They were supposed to be alone out here; could he be planning to ambush her?
The footsteps grew closer, quickening Arianas heartbeat. Feigning a reach for her water bottle, she
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covertly drew a dagger from her backpack for defense.
Just as she felt a presence right behind her and spun around to strike, a force struck her, and she blacked out.
After a while, Bennett decided it was time to leave, so he limped out of the wooden cabin.
The wolves that had been pursuing Ariana now approached him in scattered groups. They frolicked around him, tails wagging and bodies nudging affectionately as if they recognized an old friend.
Good boys, Bennett murmured, stroking each of their heads as they encircled him playfully.
He had lied to Ariana. Bennett, in truth, had been their caretaker since they were mere pups. They were well acquainted with him.
The wolves had abandoned the chase of Ariana, lured away by Bennetts familiar scent.
The packs leader, a notably majestic wolf raised personally by Bennett, nuzzled against Bennetts leg and tenderly licked at his wound.
Bennett caressed the wolfs forehead and inquired, Where is she?
The alpha wolf, sensing his intent, tugged at Bennetts trousers, urging him forward.
They soon arrived at a massive boulder, yet Ariana was absent-only her backpack and a nearly empty water bottle remained.
Bennetts heart sank with the realization that someone had taken Ariana away.
As he peered into the dense foliage, a stern resolve settled over his features.