The howls rose again, closer now, morphing from mournful wails into a chilling symphony of predatory hunger. Each sound was not just an echo, it was a palpable wave of menace that tightened William's gut, sending an ice cold chill through his entire body. The wolves were hunting, and their prey was within reach.

  Edward's hand remained firmly on the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowed, scanning the area. Calculating. Assessing. “Wolves,” he confirmed, his voice low and grim, acknowledging the chilling reality. “And not just any wolves. These are from Tallenwood Forest. They’re larger, stronger, and far more vicious than usual. Let us hope it’s not a big pack…”

  William couldn't help but smile grimly. “Great. Just when I thought I’d seen all the wildlife this world had to offer, Tallenwood rolls the new and improved versions.”

  Julia, her face pale but resolute, tucked a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear. Her fingers began moving in the intricate patterns William had come to associate with her magic, a silent preparation for the battle ahead. “We need to leave. Now. We can’t stay and fight.”

  “Running is not an option,” Edward stated flatly, his gaze sweeping the perimeter of the small clearing. His experienced eyes took in every detail, noting potential escape routes and avenues of attack. “They're faster than we are, especially with William's injury. They’ll track us by scent, and they won’t give up. We’ll have to fight.” He glanced at William, his expression softening slightly, a hint of apology, of regret. “I wish there were another way, but… this is our only choice.”

  William felt a surge of conflicting emotions. His fear screamed for retreat, but his logical mind agreed that staying and working with Edward and Julia was his best bet. He looked at his injured leg, throbbing beneath the bandages, a stark reminder of his vulnerability. The weight of their trust in him, despite their short acquaintance, was both comforting and alarming. They could have very well escaped themselves and left him and his fate to the wolves. Would anyone in their right mind risk themselves for someone they just met?

  “Guess my charming personality hasn’t quite pushed them away yet, like it did with Harrison,” he muttered internally, pushing his doubts aside. He would not be a burden. He wouldn’t cower in fear. He would do his part, whatever that might be. He owed them that much.

  Edward drew his sword, the polished steel gleaming in the dim light, reflecting the last rays of the sinking sun. It was a smooth, practiced movement, the action of a man who had raised his blade countless times. “Stay behind us, William,” he instructed, his voice firm. It was a command, yet it carried the reassurance of a protector. “Use this.” He tossed William a small dagger, its blade surprisingly sharp, the hilt worn smooth with age. It wasn’t much, a sliver of metal against the savagery approaching, but it was better than nothing. His survival may depend on it.

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  William caught the dagger, the cold metal a stark reminder of their predicament. He gripped it tightly, knuckles white, heart pounding like a war drum against the rising chorus of howls. Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses. “Here I am, armed with a dagger, ready to battle Tallenwood's finest. If I survive this, maybe I can finally put ‘wolf slayer’ on my resume.”

  Edward closed his eyes for a moment, his lips moving in a silent incantation, perhaps a prayer or a battle mantra. With deliberate intent, he ran his hand along the length of his sword blade. William gasped, eyes widening in disbelief. Sparks, tiny arcs of blue-white light, danced along the steel, accompanied by a faint crackling sound, like static but amplified. The air shimmered around the blade, warping the light in a dazzling display of power. Lightning. He'd imbued his sword with lightning. It was a sight straight out of one of his fantasy novels, a blatant defiance of reality unfolding right before him.

  “Well, that's just cheating,” William quipped, trying to lighten the tension. “I’m out here throwing a kitchen knife at wolves, and he's got a lightning sword. I think I deserve an upgrade!”

  Meanwhile, Julia was weaving her own magic, her preparations less dramatic but equally potent. Her hands moved with fluid grace, tracing patterns in the air, intricate symbols that hung momentarily before dissipating, leaving behind a faint shimmer. Words escaped her lips in that strange, melodic language, resonating with the very air around them. A tingling sensation filled the clearing, electric anticipation crackling in the atmosphere as she summoned her power.

  Then the moment of calm shattered.

  The wolves burst from the trees, a flurry of teeth and claws, a pack of snarling fury erupting from the shadows. There were four of them, fur a dark mottled grey, almost black in the dim light, their eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger that sent a fresh chill down William's spine. The alpha, larger than the others, sported a thick, muscular build, a scar across its snout, its malevolent gaze fixated on them. They fanned out, circling the small group, growls rumbling deep in their throats, a chorus of impending violence that vibrated in William's chest.

  “Keep your distance!” Edward shouted, gripping his sword tightly, as the wolves snarled, pacing like hunters closing in on their prey. “We need to hold the line!”

  Julia’s voice cut through the chaos. “Edward, how are we going to…”

  “Focus on the largest one!” he barked back, his eyes glinting with resolve. “It's the leader. If we can take it down, the others might scatter!”

  William's heart raced, adrenaline surging through him. He tightened his grip on the dagger. “This is it. Time for me to shine. Or at least, to not trip over my own feet while everyone else does the actual fighting.”

  As the alpha lunged, jaws wide, Edward charged forward, lightning crackling along his blade.

  “Let’s hope this doesn’t end with my obituary reading ‘met a pack of wolves, threw a kitchen knife, and lost’!” William thought, bracing himself as the chaos erupted around him, ready to face whatever lay ahead.