The cry of the wolf

Previously

…Carter looked down at the wolf, at the intricate, glowing markings that now seemed to pulse with a quiet strength, a promise of protection. The forest had revealed a part of itself to him, a part that was both beautiful and dangerous. And he, Carter, a simple cabin dweller, had somehow become its protector. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with unknown perils, but one thing was clear: he wouldn’t face it alone. The wolf, the guardian, was with him. And in the quiet darkness of his cabin, surrounded by the ancient magic of the woods, Carter felt a strange sense of peace, a readiness for whatever mysteries lay ahead.