Chapter Twenty Eight

HECTOR

My hind legs had begun to creak and cramp as I shifted from my hunch in the shadowed enclaves of the caves’ rocky exterior.

“Where are you?” I rumbled lowly, raking my wolf eyes over the shadowed lowlands that were lined with white orchid trees that overhung ominously over the winding dirt path.

It was empty, with only the wind whistling a soft lullaby through the leaves as they sashayed up and down.

“Dammit.” I hissed, baring my teeth as the hairs rose on the back of my head before I leaped down soundlessly, with all the graceless ambling of a newborn pup, to the rocky mouth of the cave below.

If intruders were waiting on the surrounding hills, they stayed out of sight, the shadows on the top of each dune shapeless and void.

I realized I was humming a soulless tune as I patrolled the length of the dirt path, pausing to crane my ears violently to the side when I thought I heard the meaty crunch of an errant footstep behind me.

I whirled on the balls of my feet, my yellowed-gray