The wind trembled as the wolf stared.
Jayden remained frozen, his muscles tense, but not from fear.
"I think I should be strong enough to defeat it." he contemplated. "But still... what if I'm not?"
Jayden's mind reeled back to the fight with the C-Rank Wolverine Stalker. If not for his sudden transformation into the Hybrid Lupine... he would have been totally screwed.
And even with how his stats had taken an incredible boost... this was a C-Rank beast. One who had an elemental ability and the title 'Alpha' attached to it's name. That alone made it a feared and formidable creature.
Jayden knew he had to be on guard.
But the Winter Wolf didn't bare its fangs. It didn't crouch in a pounce. It didn't move like it was defending territory or challenging him for dominance.
Instead, it just watched Jayden.
Its sapphire eyes locked with his, deep and glimmering—not with bloodlust, not with survivalist instincts. But with something far more human.
