Ivy's POV
I hurried back down the stone steps into the depths of the cave, the ancient book clutched in my arms. It was unexpectedly heavy, like it contained more than just pages and knowledge—like it held the weight of history itself. The burden slowed me as I squeezed through the narrow entrance and back into the winding tunnel.
My pace quickened to a run, an irrational feeling of pursuit nipping at my heels. Just as I reached the bottom of the exit stairs, a howl tore through the silence—not an ordinary wolf's cry but something deeper, darker, with an eerie dual tone that raised goosebumps along my arms. Even Killian became alert while Astrid cowered.
"What the fuck is that?" I spun around, flashlight beam cutting through the darkness, revealing nothing but emptiness. "It sounded like it was breathing down my neck."
