Chapter 36

VALENTINA Again, that roar boomed through the woods. My heart leapt again, and I frantically searched for my wolf's connection, but weirdly, I felt nothing—like it was some other spirit, not mine. “He-ello?” My voice strained and trembling, barely registering a whisper; a profound sense of unease washed over me as I tried to look through the woods. As if in response to my call, another howl tore through the forest depths. And then, came a voice… “It's you…” The spirit communicated, and at that moment, I understood why I hadn't sensed a connection. It wasn't Kira, but an unfamiliar spirit; a male wolf spirit. “Wh-who are you?” I called out this time, surveying my surroundings, but I saw nothing at all. “I'm Czer, I…” His deep, raucous voice resonated again, then cut off. The sound was there, but too hazy for me to grasp. “I can’t hear you, Czer. Where are you?” But then I heard nothing as if it had never happened. No, no, no! I must know who he is. I closed my eyes and slowly let my ene