As they neared the alcove, a massive gray wolf lunged at them, its eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Dale felt that strange stirring in his chest again, but Juke intercepted the attacker mid-air before he could react. They crashed to the ground in a tangle of fur and fangs, rolling close to the edge of the corridor, where it dropped off into darkness.
Dale's heart leaped into his throat as he watched Juke grapple with the larger wolf in his human form. Why hadn’t he transformed? Despite Juke's skill, the gray wolf's sheer size gave it an advantage. If Juke shifted, his wolf would be larger. They teetered on the brink, locked in a deadly embrace. Dale couldn’t let them enter the darkness.
“Why aren’t you shifting?” he asked Juke through the mind-link.
“Right now, I can better protect you in human form. My wolf has limitations. Besides, I’m stronger than this wolf, even as a human.”
It didn’t seem that way to Dale. Without thinking, he lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of the gray w
