DAMIEN

Exhaustion hit me like a wave. I slumped down on the bed next to her, my body heavy and unsteady. A sharp, draining sensation tugged at my core. I felt hollow, as though something vital was being siphoned from me.

The wolf paced restlessly beside the bed, its now golden eyes flickering between Keilah and me.

“Sit your furry ass down,” I muttered, my voice hoarse and low. “She’s fine now.”

The wolf hesitated but finally lay down beside the bed, resting its massive head on its paws, its gaze never leaving her.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to steady myself. The sharp pull of exhaustion still gnawed...