From behind us, the soft crunch of paws on snow. Danny spun around to point the rifle at the two wolves who were creeping forward. But now the one to our side was closing in, and the one in front had started moving again. By switching rapidly between them, Danny managed to keep them at bay. But how long would they stay scared of the rifle, if he couldn’t actually fire?

Even as I thought it, the wolves started to edge forward. “We’re going to have to push through,” Danny said. “Stay right beside me.”

I pressed tight to his side. He began to walk straight towards the big wolf in front of us, forcing it to make a choice: stand its ground or let us through. As we got closer, it began to growl. It wanted us to stop, so we’d stay inside the closing circle. My legs were going shaky with fear: it could cover the distance between us in a few seconds and it was easily big enough to take us down if it pounced.

Danny squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Get out,” he snapped at the wolf. “Away!”

The wolf stayed where it was. The growl deepened. We were close enough that I could see the saliva dripping from its jaws. I imagined them closing on my throat.

“Move!” snapped Danny, still edging forward. The wolf bared its teeth and my stomach lurched. I could hear the other wolves following behind us, waiting to see what happened.

Danny pointed the frozen rifle right between the wolf’s eyes. And with every bit of that cocky, swaggering confidence, he told it, “I will end you, you bastard, if you don’t get out of my way.”

The wolf growled, glared…and backed away.

We slid past it, turning and walking backwards so that Danny could keep the rifle trained on it. I could see now how close the other wolves had been behind us, just feet away. They joined their leader and stayed there, watching us, as we retreated.

We walked a half mile like that, watching the trees for any sign they were following. When we reached a clearing and everything was still quiet, we finally allowed ourselves to relax. I let out a long groan and leaned against a tree. I was soaked with sweat. Danny’s shoulders slumped in relief and he chuckled. “When we get back, I’ve got to tell Cal that—”

A shot rang out and Danny fell to the ground.

34. Danny

34

DANNY

White-hot pain exploded in my thigh and my leg crumpled under me. I crashed to the snow, grabbing at my thigh, and saw the white fabric turning red under my fingers.