He began walking slower, lingering within sight of the animal. It didn’t advance nor retreat. Its amber eyes seemed to measure him, with cold calculation rather than aggression. Adrian felt himself weighed and dismissed, as though he were irrelevant to whatever vigil kept the beast rooted.
Curiosity pushed him closer. He stopped at the edge of the river, water lapping against the stones. The wolf’s gaze snapped to him instantly, shoulders tensing. Adrian froze, heartbeat pounding in his throat. The animal’s jaws parted slightly, teeth flashing white in the fading light.