STRANGER DANGER
My eyelids flicker open, barely cracking apart to reveal the blurred blues, blacks, and whites of the night forest. A searing pain ignites my neck, like razor-sharp canines sinking into my flesh and winning a brutal tug-of-war with gravity. I'm bleeding, and the warm liquid trickles down my skin, a stark reminder of the danger that lurks in the shadows.
Where am I being carried to?....
A bitter cold wind slashes against my face, cutting through my clothes like a knife and sending shivers down my spine. I reach out blindly, my hand grasping for anything to anchor me to reality.
Instead, I find warmth - soft, luxurious fur that tickles my palm and sends a jolt of electricity through my chest. Memories come flooding back: a giant wolf bursting from the darkness, its roar thundering through the forest like a primal scream.
My heart races as I realize I'm not alone. The wolf's fur is still beneath my hand, and I can feel its warmth, its life. I'm not sure if I should be afraid or grateful, but I know I need to open my eyes, to face whatever is happening.
A sort of drugged, calm fear comes over me. I don't want to face this thing, whatever the hell it is. So I close my eyes and let the safety of the darkness seep back in.
I wake up to a pounding ache in the left side of my skull, right above my temple. My eyes open, which makes the pounding worse. Out of instinct, my hand reaches up to the source of the pain.
Instead of oozing blood like I'd expected, I'm surprised to feel the soft gauze of a bandage wrapped securely around my head. The realization sends a wave of confusion washing over me. What happened? How did I get here? And, most pressing of all, where is "here" exactly?
I roll my head to the side to take in my surroundings. Through the trees, in the distance, a bright orange flicker stands out against the night. The bonfire. I can barely see it through the trees. How did I get out here so far?
Sitting up, I close my eyes tightly as I wait for the spinning to stop and the nausea to pass. The world seems to be tilting around me, and I feel like I'm going to vomit. I take a few deep breaths, willing myself to calm down.
When I finally open my eyes again, my heart stalls. In front of me, a pair of piercing yellow eyes stare back, their intensity making my skin crawl. I try to scramble backward, but my body feels heavy and unresponsive. I'm trapped, and I know it.
A stranger's gaze holds mine in a piercing lock, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. I feel like I've been struck by a thunderbolt, my senses reeling from the impact.
As our eyes connect, my entire being resonates with a sudden, intense awareness. My heart races, my skin prickles with goosebumps, and my mind goes blank. I'm paralyzed, unable to tear my gaze away from this enigmatic figure.
His scent is intoxicating, a heady mix of masculine cologne and the earthy aroma of a forest glade. I find myself breathing deeper, trying to absorb more of the alluring fragrance. And the fact that it makes my stomach twist with anxiety unnerves me. I don't know what's happening, but I sense I need to be cautious around this stranger.
His eyes seem to penetrate my very essence, and I can feel his gaze like a palpable touch. I'm trapped, unable to move or look away, as he continues to regard me with an unblinking intensity that's both mesmerizing and unsettling.
My focus is entirely consumed by him, and him alone. His aroma, his features, and even the soothing cadence of his pulse, which resonates in my acutely sensitive hearing. Or perhaps that's just my own heartbeat pounding fiercely in my chest. He sits in a cross-legged pose on the forest floor, leaning forward with an air of curiosity, as if to scrutinize me more closely.
His eyes are a deep, glossy ebony, and they bear an unsettling similarity to the radiant crimson orbs I dimly recall. His unkempt locks are a rich, burnished auburn, matching the thin layer of neatly trimmed stubble on his chiseled jawline. Even from a short distance, it's evident that his physique surpasses that of an average individual. Not to mention his impressive muscular build, which appears to be triple that of a normal person.
His gaze holds mine with an unyielding intensity, as if attempting to penetrate the depths of my very soul. I remain transfixed, unable to tear my eyes away from this enigmatic figure, whose presence seems to command my undivided attention. The air is heavy with an unspoken tension, and I sense that my fate hangs precariously in the balance. I can't even try to think straight. He's attractive in a way no one person should be allowed to be.
His fingers contract and release, the tendons in his wrists bulging like taut cords, accompanied by the prominent veins in his forearms. Based on the sheer force evident in that simple motion, it would be devastatingly easy for him to extinguish a life. Those hands appear capable of unleashing destruction in multiple brutal ways - and I sense that they have. Yet, inexplicably, I feel an overwhelming urge to reach out and make contact with them.
The pulsating sensation intensifies, heightening my focus on him to the point where everything else fades into the background. My attention is riveted on him, and I find myself mesmerized by the raw power and strength that radiates from his every move. The air seems to vibrate with an almost palpable tension, and I sense that my fate hangs precariously in the balance.
My lips part slightly, but my voice is frozen. Instead, the unspoken phrase echoes in my mind, hovering on the cusp of my tongue. I'm paralyzed by silence, unable to give voice to my thoughts.
He makes a move to rise, and I scurry backward on my hands, battling against every instinct that urges me to draw nearer. My body reacts involuntarily, responding to his sudden movement with a startled twitch. I'm trapped in a tug-of-war of conflicting impulses, my mind and body at odds with each other.
Gasp!
My back comes up against the sleek trunk of a snow-covered, fallen beech tree, halting my retreat. I let out a heavy sigh, resigned to my fate. As if things couldn't get any worse, he's now approaching me with a deliberate slowness that makes my breathing catch.
From his towering stance, his physique appears even more formidable, exuding an aura of unyielding power. His nostrils flare as he scents the air, and a low, menacing rumble builds in his chest, growing louder as it rises to his throat.
"You're tiny," he sneers, forcing the words out through clenched teeth, his disdain palpable.
Tiny? What the heck!
Is physical stature all he can focus on?
"And you reek of a damp animal," I shoot back, my retort swift and sharp. But the truth is, that's the most brazen lie I've ever uttered. He exudes a captivating aroma, a heady blend of masculine cologne and the earthy essence of a pine forest. And the fact that his scent sends my stomach into a nervous flutter unsettles me deeply.
His gaze sears into me, warning me that I've made a grave mistake. The dark depths of his eyes seem to flicker, like a tempestuous flame burning within his irises. It's as if a fierce inner struggle is underway, a battle between his rational mind and the primal instincts of his inner beast.
His gaze burns into me, telling me I made a mistake. The lighting in his dark eyes seems to dance, like a black and grey fire burning in his irises. It's as though it signifies a battle of some kind... like he's fighting with his own inner wolf.
"Is this a bonding ceremony?" he inquires, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, his voice still laced with a low, menacing rumble.
"Don't you have brains?" I retort, undaunted by his imposing stature.
He takes another step closer, his hands curling into tight fists before plunging them into the snow, a movement that elicits a nervous whimper from me. "I asked, is this a bonding ceremony?" he repeats, his tone unyielding. I remain silent for what feels like an eternity, hesitant to reveal the truth.
A part of me is reluctant to admit my misfortune and sorrow, but also, I sense a strange feeling of disloyalty, as if speaking the truth would somehow betray him.
"Who are are and what do you want?" I ask instead, trying to change the subject.
His shoulders visibly tense, as if I've made him uncomfortable. For the first time, he breaks eye contact.
The way I see it, he doesn't have the right to be uncomfortable in this situation. I do.
He remains silent, leaving my mind to spiral with unanswered questions. My gaze drifts past him, and my throat constricts at the sight before me.
The snow is trampled and scattered, an eerie quietude hanging in the air. I scan the area, trying to shake off the fogginess in my mind and piece together my memories. Bright splatters of crimson mar the once-pristine white landscape.
Amidst the chaos, my eyes fixate on a vibrant pink fabric lying in the distance - a bracelet. I muster the courage to look further, my gaze venturing beyond the immediate scene.
It's a body! And it's not moving. It's laying in it's own pool of blood and of course, I recognize the body.
I feel a shiver run down my whole spine, goosebumps cover my skin like a carpet.
"What did you...?" I don't need nor want to finish the sentence.
He follows my line of vision before answering with a simple, emotionless reply.
I swallow hard, feeling my hands start to shake. Goddamn it, why am I so nervous? If he wanted me dead he would've killed me while I was unconscious.
"W-Why...?"
"I did it for __" he focuses his eyes on mine "for you"
My hand moves spontaneously to touch the wound covering on my head. This action sparks a disquieting awareness: he appears to be troubled by my condition. The unspoken question hangs in my mind, unanswered, like a lingering puzzle.
No explanation comes to mind, and for a valid reason. Everyone detests that individual for her corrosive and pernicious behavior. It's no surprise I'm left bewildered. I survey my surroundings, noticing an unusual lack of people outdoors. Instead, they're all congregated in the windows, observing us like onlookers, their eyes fixed on us with an unnerving intensity. It's as if they're apprehensive of something - or someone.
What exactly happened here I was roaming in darkness? Where is Astrid?....
I'm conveyed swiftly through the village center, directly to the imposing residence at the far end; the one infamous for being the Pack Leader's abode. The stranger transporting me - my companion? - appears utterly untroubled.
He proceeds with confidence, as if this territory is his dominion. He crosses the entrance threshold with ease, carefully adjusting his stride to ensure my feet clear the doorframe.
I know that door sound, I have never been scared about it shutting but now I am more especially now that the room is engulfed by darkness.
In the mercy of the darkness, alI could think of was my fate.
What will he do to me?