She remained still, too frightened to move, questioning if she had misinterpreted the sound or if her fear had triggered a hallucination.

A second howl pierced the silence, sending shivers down Ariana's spine.

No hallucination — there was indeed a wolf here!

Ariana felt her blood run cold, desperate to leave this place as quickly as possible.

She attempted to backtrack her steps, but due to the engulfing darkness or escalating panic, Ariana failed to locate the way out, despite walking a long way.

The boundless forest surrounded her, its shadows morphing into desolate, haunting figures in the moonlight.

Ariana grew genuinely scared, her body trembling and her voice quivering uncontrollably.

“Theodore! Where are you, Theodore?"

She shouted for Theodore, her trembling voice echoing with fright, praying he would turn up soon and that the wolf had retreated.

However, destiny had a different path carved out, as she discerned rustling from the nearby woods.

Her heart pounded in her chest, holding her breath, her gaze fixed at the source of the noise.

Gradually, a pair of eerie green eyes appeared behind the bushes.

Anxious, Ariana clutched her collar tightly, not daring to break eye contact with the wolf, cautiously taking steps back.

Suddenly, the wolf in the forest Lunged at her!

Ariana let out a terrified scream and reflexively tried to run away, but she tripped, plunging into an abyss.

With her heart pounding like a drum, Ariana frantically tried to clutch onto something.

Just then, a firm grip rescued her from the void in the nick of time.

Theodore's face emerged into Ariana's line of sight, but any joy she might have felt was quickly overshadowed by the lack of time.

Behind her, a gentle slope awaited, and it was Theodore who caught her just as she was about to stumble and fall.

However, the wolf refused to leave.