"You'll be the alpha here," Mike said. "Live in this forest. Protect it. Don't harm humans unless they attack first."
The wolf met his eyes.
Then it lowered its head deeply.
Mike nodded.
"Good."
With that single decision, the forest around Spireheart City gained a silent guardian. In the future, travelers would speak of a great wolf that watched from the trees—one that drove away monsters and bandits alike.
Some would call it a guardian beast.Others would worship it as a forest deity.
But Mike wasn't there to see any of that.
Zephyr stepped to his side, tall and radiant, his spirit presence completely overwhelming the other wolves. With a final glance at the forest, Mike turned away.
"Let's go back," he said.
Zephyr followed without question.
They returned to Spireheart City before nightfall.
Back at the inn, Mike finally allowed himself to relax. He lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling as exhaustion caught up to him all at once.
