The scent of damp earth and pine needles filled the air, thick and sweet, as Lyanna pushed through the dense undergrowth. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs, not from fear, but from the exertion of chasing her six-year-old sister.

“Harper, stop running! I mean it now!” Lyanna called out, her voice a strained whisper against the rustling leaves. Harper, a blur of motion ahead, only laughed, her delighted shrieks echoing through the trees.

“I want to catch the white bunny, Ly! He is so cute! I want the bunny, faster Ly, faster!” Harper chirped, oblivious to their deepening venture into the unfamiliar woods. Lyanna sighed, a mixture of exasperation and adoration for her sister. Harper was her soft spot, the bright, innocent core of her world since their mother’s passing had brought them to their uncle’s pack in Norway.

They had been running for an hour now, and Lyanna’s lungs burned. “We’ve been running for an hour now, sweetie. The bunny has no plans of being caught. Stop now, please!”

Halt. Harper stopped abruptly, a full three meters ahead. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the forest, followed by others, deeper, more menacing. Harper shrieked, a terrified sound, and sprinted back, burying her face in Lyanna’s legs, trembling uncontrollably. Lyanna scooped her up, her own breath catching. This was not good. Had they crossed a border? A cold dread seeped into her bones as five massive wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes burning with an unsettling intensity. They snarled, a clear warning. Lyanna hugged Harper tighter, her mind racing for a way out.