章節 23: Wolves Pt. 1

A loud howl could be heard in the distance. I peered up at the moon as it spilled its milky white beam of light in the snowy open field. I couldn't help but shiver. I knew there were animals in the country but there was something more about this baying that sounded ... mournful.

Without warning a flash of fur caught my eye and just as I was about to turn around, I was pummeled. I opened my eyes but all I could see were stars from the intense knockdown I had encountered.

Terrified, I sat up to gain a better handle on my defense. I focused on the environment around me with my head on a swivel. The sounds of heavy footsteps reached my ears, from behind. When I turned, I saw a man standing there. When he crouched to me, he said, "I've been waiting to take you as my mate. There was never a right time."

"Wh—What are you talking about?" I asked. He smiled, his left almond shaped eye squinting with his naughty half-smile, his beady brown irises darting all over my face. I was convinced he wanted to scare me even more with his crazed look.

"You're mine and you're coming with me!" he cried. I stood up but he was too fast and grabbed me tightly. At first, I was kicking and flailing but it was no use. He was too strong. Without the ability to fight back, I gave into his domineering manner and went lax.

I had heard about wolves living in this area. When people warned me to not going seeking things out I didn't understand, I would laugh at them, tossing my long black hair, haughtily. I was tired of hearing rumors about these supposed packs and magical beings. I wanted to see for myself.

Good one, Janessa.

Now, while in the arms of a beast-like man, picturing the bravado I'd embodied made me feel like a foolish woman. I guess I got what I'd asked for.

When we arrived at his mansion, I was shocked to see several wolves. My captor had taken me to his pack, apparently. Once I was on the property, they shifted into their human selves, fully clothed and just as normal looking as me.

"Who is that, Chase?" one asked pointing to me.

"This is my mate," my captor said.

"But I thought your mate was dead," another questioned.

Chase became incensed and shouted, "Leave us alone!" Immediately, they all cowered creeping backward from him. I stared up at Chase, shaking in my shoes. When our eyes met, he gave me that same half-smile with mischief in his eye.

"Come," he said wagging his fingers at me. I followed him into his house as he led me up the stairs. When we got to the second floor, he told me to sit on the bed. I shook my head, and he told me once more. Attempting a final refusal served to be costly as he shouted at me and threw me on down.

When he came over, he leaned and positioned himself to kiss me, but I backed away. Against the wall I saw a framed picture of someone who looked exactly like me.

"Who is that?" I asked hoping it would distract him. When he turned around to see what I meant, I was able to crawl into a corner. He stood and walked to the photo with deep sadness in his eyes. I watched him pull on his facial hair as he gazed at the image.

"She was my mate," he began. "We're fated, you know."

"What do you mean?"

"We wolves are fated by a higher power. Our mates are picked for us before birth."

"And she was yours?" I asked. He nodded again, pulling on his black chinstrap facial hair. "Can you get another?" I asked. He smiled wickedly at me.

"You tell me."

"Oh, god, I wasn't offering."

"God? We have no god here. Only goddess."

"Okay? I guess I meant, 'Oh, goddess."

"Forget all that. Don't you see, we are meant to be? You look exactly like my mate. You must be mine." When he dashed toward me then crawled on the bed inching closer to me. "You smell intoxicating. I don't ever want your scent to be gone. I could find your scent from miles away." With lustful vigor in his eyes, he reached out to grab me tearing most of my pants and shirt off. I cowered never imagining this being the way my first time would go.

Suddenly, the window to my right shattered and cold air came in with a whoosh. Chase turned his head toward the sound and raced to look outside. Without a word he leapt out the window shifting in mid-air.

I rushed to see what was going on. As the light was lowering in the winter sky, I could see the two wolves fighting. Chase's fur was black and shining in the moonlight where the second one's fur was silver and evenly dispersed like a common gray wolf. Their yowls and yelps of anguish intermingled with growling was intensely painful to hear. I could tell both were evenly matched, but it appeared that the second wolf was alone.

Chase's pack came around the corner all shifted and growling. The second wolf did not back down as his own pack rallied behind him. All twenty wolves began a deadly skirmish as each one took turns knocking the others down. The fur was sticky with blood, and I had to turn away.

I knew that if I wanted to escape, now was my only chance. I tiptoed down the stairs and found the front door. With a heaving shove I forced my way outside. I dashed down the hill to the right in the opposite direction of where I was taken from.

The snow was thick in this part of the field as no cars traveled here and animals didn't travel there to eat. I had to jump up to get through the several inches of packed, crusty snow. My legs were getting cut up and freezing. The more I tried, the harder it became but I had to get as far away as I could.

That man Chase was going to violate me.

As I got closer to the main road, I raced down the right side of the highway but then I twisted my ankle and fell into the mud and ice-filled ditch. I panted trying to catch my breath. It was getting darker and colder out.

When I got up on my feet, I fully expected to be able to walk off the pain, but it was worse than I thought. I had to wait until there was a long gap in traffic before I tried crossing. I could hear someone behind me. I had to make this fast.

By the time I was halfway across I could see the lights of a car coming at me. I hobbled with increasing speed hoping that I'd not be killed from the speeding vehicle. Just as I was about to be struck, I dove into the other ditch and rolled to the ground. As I did my head slammed on a rock.

Groggily, I crawled under the snowy brambles nearby. I could hear footsteps ever approaching. I stayed as still as I could but when this man was over me, I knew I was caught. When he bent down to me, the moon had turned him into a silhouette.

His gloved hands were around my face which startled me more. I turned my head and as he tried grabbing me, I quickly bit his wrist. He had multiple layers of clothing on along with gloves, but it wasn't enough to protect him completely.

"Ouch! Calm yaself! I ain't gonna hurt you." He pulled away at the bramble branches I was hiding under and snapped them, incidentally, ripping some of the roots up. His actions seemed aggressive. I tried to scurry away, but he grabbed at my legs and then my waist.

I screamed and kicked at him. Without much other choice he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I was hitting and biting him, while he held me closely to his body. "Easy tiger!" He gasped. "Bloody hell! You're strong!" He carried me for a few more feet but I was causing too much commotion.

"Ugh! Lemme go!" I shouted as I kept thrashing. I knew I didn't have a choice, however, even if I got away, I was helpless, especially with my injured ankle.

"Shh, shh. You must be quiet," he said as he set me down to face him, my feet on the ground, holding me firmly. "There's wolves out here." He pointed in a circle. I could see that he was sweating from our scuffle, his wet raven-black bangs were poking out just under his black knitted hat.

"What are you going to do to me?" I asked.

"I'm going to help you. You ain't in much more than ya knickers. You won't make it out here."

"Why should I trust you?"