#Chapter 60: The Big Bad Wolf

Celeste The night had been calm, the serenity of the forest only disrupted by the chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves. But the sound that echoed through the trees was something else entirely—a growl, raw and guttural, the sound of a creature lurking in the dark. “Why do you want me to run?” I whispered to Matt, my voice shaking, the trepidation evident in my tone. The growl came again, louder and more chilling this time. It was closer, so much closer. Before I could react, Matt’s eyes locked onto mine, filled with urgency. “Just run, Rose!” he yelled. But I hesitated, trying to understand, to make sense of the sudden terror that gripped me. Why would a single coyote approach two humans? Yet another growl cut through my thoughts, a sound layered with menace, confirming the peril we faced wasn't singular. There was more than one. “Run!” Matt's voice cracked, jolting me from my paralysis. Without a second thought, I turned and fled, my feet