The forest was alive with the sounds of panic—shouts, screams, and the thunder of footsteps. Luke stood at the cave entrance, his grip tightening on his large black battleaxe. The humans were closer now, their figures visible through the trees. But something was wrong. These weren’t soldiers or adventurers. They were refugees—women, children, the elderly—their faces twisted with fear as they stumbled through the underbrush.

  Luke’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the group. What are they running from? His question was answered a moment later when a low, guttural growl echoed through the forest. The ground trembled, and the trees shook as a massive black wolf emerged from the shadows. It was enormous, far larger than the alpha wolf Shiki had fought. Its fur was matted with blood, its eyes glowing with a feral, unnatural light. This wasn’t just a wolf—it was a force of nature.

  The wolf lunged at the fleeing humans, its claws slashing through the air. A young woman screamed as she was knocked to the ground, her child clinging to her side. The wolf’s jaws snapped shut inches from her face, but she managed to scramble away, dragging the child with her. The other humans scattered, their cries of terror filling the air.

  Luke’s heart pounded as he watched the scene unfold. The wolf was relentless, its movements swift and brutal. It wasn’t just attacking—it was hunting. And it was driving the humans straight toward the cave.

  “Chief!” Grut shouted, his voice trembling. “What we do?”

  Luke didn’t answer immediately. His mind raced, weighing their options. They couldn’t fight the wolf—not with so many female goblins and children in the cave. But they couldn’t let the humans die either. And then it hit him. The wolf pups.

  He turned to Grut, his voice urgent. “Get the wolf pups. Now.”

  Grut’s eyes widened. “But chief—”

  “Just do it!” Luke barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

  Grut hesitated for only a moment before darting into the cave. Luke turned back to the forest, his eyes locked on the black wolf. It was closer now, its massive form cutting through the trees like a shadow. The humans were almost at the cave, their faces pale with terror.

  Luke stepped forward, raising the battleaxe. “Stay back!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Get behind me!”

  The humans froze, their eyes darting between Luke and the wolf. For a moment, it seemed like they might turn and run, but the wolf’s roar shattered any hope of escape. They surged forward, scrambling toward the cave. The goblins inside watched in stunned silence, their fear of the humans overshadowed by the greater threat outside.

  Luke stood his ground, his muscles tense as the wolf closed the distance. Its eyes locked onto him, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of doubt. Can I even slow this thing down? But he didn’t have time to second-guess himself. Grut emerged from the cave, clutching the four wolf pups in his arms. They squirmed and whined, their tiny bodies trembling with fear.

  “Here!” Grut shouted, holding the pups out to Luke.

  Luke took them carefully, his mind racing. This was a gamble—a huge one. But it was the only chance they had. He stepped forward, holding the pups out in front of him. The black wolf froze, its glowing eyes narrowing as it caught sight of the tiny creatures.

  “Easy,” Luke said, his voice low and steady. “I’m not your enemy. I’m giving them back.”

  The wolf’s growl deepened, but it didn’t attack. Luke took a cautious step forward, then another. The wolf’s massive body tensed, its claws digging into the earth. But as Luke set the pups down on the ground, something shifted. The wolf’s anger seemed to fade, replaced by a strange, almost maternal calm.

  The pups whined, their tiny legs carrying them toward the massive wolf. She sniffed them cautiously, her glowing eyes softening as she recognized their scent. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by an eerie silence. The humans and goblins alike watched in stunned silence as the wolf nuzzled her pups, her earlier rage replaced by a quiet protectiveness.

  Luke let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. It worked. But his relief was short-lived. The wolf raised her head, her eyes locking onto Luke once more. For a moment, he thought she might attack. But instead, she turned and began to drag the pups toward the cave.

  “Wait—no!” Luke shouted, but it was too late. The wolf pushed past him, her massive body breaking through the makeshift barricade as if it were nothing. The goblins inside screamed, scrambling out of the way as the wolf entered the cave. She ignored them, her focus entirely on her pups.

  Luke followed her inside, his heart pounding. The wolf settled in a corner of the cave, curling her massive body around the pups. The goblins watched from a distance, their fear palpable. Even the humans, who had taken refuge in the cave, seemed too terrified to move.

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  “Chief…” Grut whispered, his voice trembling. “What we do now?”

  Luke didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the wolf, his mind racing. This wasn’t just a temporary solution—it was a disaster waiting to happen. The wolf had claimed the cave as her den, and there was no telling how long she would stay. But for now, at least, she wasn’t attacking.

  “We wait,” Luke said finally, his voice low. “And we hope she doesn’t decide we’re a threat.”

  The cave was eerily silent, save for the low, rhythmic growls of the massive black wolf as she nursed her pups in the far corner. Her glowing eyes flicked occasionally toward the goblins and humans, her massive body radiating an aura of primal danger. The goblins huddled together, their weapons clutched tightly in their hands, while the humans kept their distance, their faces pale with fear. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade.

  Luke stood between the two groups, His large black battleaxe resting against his shoulder. His eyes never left the wolf, his mind racing as he weighed their options. The wolf hadn’t attacked—yet—but her presence was a constant reminder of how precarious their situation was. One wrong move, and the cave could turn into a bloodbath.

  He glanced at the humans, their ragged clothes and hollow eyes telling the story of their ordeal. They were refugees, not soldiers, and their fear was palpable. Luke knew he had to do something—but what?

  Taking a deep breath, he stepped toward the humans, his grip tightening on the battleaxe. The goblins watched him warily, their expressions a mix of confusion and suspicion. The humans flinched as he approached, their eyes darting between him and the wolf.

  “Stay back,” Luke said, switching to the Diomanum dialect. His voice was calm but firm, cutting through the tension like a knife. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  The humans stared at him, their faces blank with shock. Most of them didn’t understand him, but an elderly woman stepped forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. Her face was lined with age and exhaustion, but her eyes were sharp and wary.

  “You… you speak our tongue?” she asked, her voice trembling.

  Luke nodded. “I do. What happened to you? Why are you here?”

  The elderly woman hesitated, glancing back at the other refugees. They nodded silently, their faces filled with a mixture of fear and hope. She turned back to Luke, her voice low and shaky.

  “Men in black robes… they came to our village,” she began. “They killed everyone they could find. Burned our homes. Took our food. We… we were lucky to escape. We’ve been walking east for days, trying to reach another town far from here. But then… that wolf found us.”

  She gestured toward the black wolf, her hands trembling. “It chased us. Relentlessly. We thought we were going to die. And then… we found your cave.”

  Luke’s jaw tightened as he listened. Black-robed men. It couldn’t be a coincidence. The same cult that had attacked the goblin village was now targeting humans. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

  “Do you know who these men are?” he asked, his voice low.

  The elderly woman shook her head. “No. They didn’t speak. They just… killed. Like monsters.”

  Luke nodded, his mind racing. He glanced back at the wolf, her glowing eyes fixed on him. She hadn’t moved, but her presence was a constant threat. He turned back to the elderly woman.

  “What will you do now?” he asked.

  The woman sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Our destination was another town further east of here. But the wolf… it found us before we could get there. We don’t know if we can make it now. We’re exhausted. Hungry. We have nothing left.”

  Luke’s chest tightened as he looked at the refugees. They were weak, desperate, and vulnerable. Letting them stay would be the compassionate thing to do—but it would also be a risk. The goblins were already uneasy around the humans, and the wolf’s presence only added to the tension. Past hatred and discrimination between their races could easily boil over into violence.

  And then there was the wolf. She was a wildcard, unpredictable and dangerous. If she decided the humans were a threat, there was no telling what she might do.

  Luke took a deep breath, his mind made up. “You can’t stay here,” he said finally. “It’s too dangerous. The wolf… she’s not going anywhere. And my people… they won’t accept you.”

  The elderly woman nodded, her expression resigned. “We understand. We’ll leave. But… the wolf. What if it follows us?”

  Luke hesitated, his conscience warring with his sense of duty. He wanted to help them, but he couldn’t risk the safety of the goblins. “The wolf won’t follow you,” he said, though he wasn’t entirely sure of that himself. “She’s focused on her pups now. If you move quickly and quietly, you should be able to get away.”

  The woman nodded again, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you. For sparing us. For… showing us kindness.”

  Luke’s chest tightened as he watched the humans gather their meager belongings. He felt a pang of guilt, knowing they might not survive the journey. But he also knew he couldn’t risk further conflict or betrayal. His first responsibility was to the goblins.

  As the refugees filed out of the cave, the elderly woman paused at the entrance. She turned back to Luke, her eyes filled with a quiet strength. “You’re not what we expected,” she said softly. “A hobgoblin who speaks our tongue. Who shows mercy. Perhaps… there is hope for your kind after all.”

  Luke nodded, his expression grim. “Good luck,” he said simply.

  The woman smiled faintly before disappearing into the forest with the others. The cave fell silent once more, the tension slowly dissipating. The goblins began to relax, their weapons lowering as they realized the humans were gone.

  But the wolf remained, her glowing eyes fixed on Luke. She hadn’t moved, but her presence was a constant reminder of the danger they were in.

  Grut approached, his expression troubled. “Chief… humans gone. But wolf still here. What we do now?”

  Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We wait,” he said finally. “And we prepare. That wolf isn’t going anywhere, and neither are we.”

  He sat down by the fire, his mind racing. The weight of his decision pressed heavily on him. Letting the humans go might have been the right choice for the tribe, but it didn’t sit well with him. He couldn’t shake the image of the elderly woman’s face, her quiet gratitude a stark contrast to the fear and hatred he’d come to expect from humans.

  As the fire crackled softly, Luke stared into the flames, his thoughts a whirlwind of guilt, determination, and uncertainty. The wolf’s glowing eyes watched him from the shadows, a silent reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.

  He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but he was resolved to protect his tribe—no matter the cost.