Mary returned to Winterfell with Shadow by her side, her tail wagging furiously as she carried one of the tiny direwolf pups in her arms. The strange, alien gaze that had lingered in the forest had vanished the moment they stepped beyond the tree line, but Shadow couldn’t shake the unease it had left behind. Whoever—or whatever—had been watching them, it had felt cold and calculating, as if appraising their worth in this world. Shadow’s glowing eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon, but the forest was silent, its secrets hidden once more.


    When Jon returned from the hunting trip, Mary was waiting for him in the courtyard, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement. She growled softly, tugging at his sleeve before darting off toward the godswood. Jon followed, his curiosity piqued.


    In the heart of the godswood, nestled beneath the ancient weirwood tree, lay Mother Wolf and her five pups. Jon’s eyes widened as he took in the sight. The pups were small but fierce, their golden eyes glinting with a wild intelligence. Mary knelt beside them, her tail flicking happily as she nuzzled one of the pups with her cheek.


    “Mary found them,” Shadow explained, his voice a low whisper in Jon’s mind. “Mother Wolf was injured, but we helped her. Now, she and her pups are part of Winterfell.”


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Jon approached cautiously, his dark eyes filled with wonder. One of the pups, a small one with dark fur and steady eyes, padded toward him. Jon knelt, holding out a hand, and the pup sniffed it before licking his fingers. A smile broke across Jon’s face, and he gently scooped the pup into his arms.


    Mary let out a soft growl, her tail wagging as she watched Jon bond with the wolves. She tilted her head back and let out a howl—a sound that was surprisingly melodic despite her usual growls and yells. The pups joined in, their tiny voices rising in unison. Jon hesitated for a moment, then joined them, his howl deep and resonant.


    Shadow watched from the shadows, his glowing eyes soft with something akin to pride. He wanted to join them, to howl with the pack, but he realized with a pang that he had no voice. He was a shadow, a silent guardian, and though he could guide and protect, he could never truly be part of their world.


    As the howls faded into the night, Jon turned to Shadow, his expression thoughtful. “Will you teach me more about the wolves?” he asked. “About how to care for them?”


    Shadow nodded, his form rippling with approval. “They are part of your pack now,” he said. “And a pack looks after its own.”


    Mary growled in agreement, her tail wagging furiously as she nuzzled one of the pups. Jon smiled, his bond with the wolves already growing stronger.


    But as Shadow watched them, his glowing eyes drifted back to the forest. The gaze that had watched them was gone, but its presence lingered in his mind.