*The Hunting Party*
Had the wolf followed the hunting party rather than Brynn, Garan would indeed have been first in line for its vengeance. Maeve and Cormac pulled him through the forest a few yards before Cormac let go and ran ahead alone.
Maeve remained at his side, tucked under his arm to support the weight his injured leg could not. The going was slow, but she was strong and determined to see him to safety. Still, she would have been no match for the wolf’s fury.
Vesta and Trevor crashed through the trees, veering from each other as the landscape shifted them separately. Soon, they lost all sight of each other.
Even though the group was scattered, save for Maeve and Garan, they all paused at almost the same moment to listen. The forest was quiet. There was no growling, snarling, or howling. They heard no snapping twigs or rustling branches to signify a pursuer.