Chapter 19 A Strange Wolf
I flinched, my bag flying from my hand as I fell to the ground from the strong push of the wolf. Its heavy weight pressed me down, and its sharp claw dug into the flesh of my hand.
A shaky breath escaped me before my bones cracked, and I shifted into my white wolf. My claws were sharp, my body strong, but nothing compared to the massive black wolf pinning me. I let out a loud howl and threw myself at it, fighting with everything in me, but it barely budged. It grabbed me by the neck and hurled me across the clearing, my body crashing hard against a big tree.
Pain exploded through me as I hit the ground and rolled.
I forced myself up, growling, but the wolf charged again. I jumped aside at the last second, but it still clipped my side, sending me tumbling. My vision blurred as its shadow towered over me, teeth bared, saliva dripping, eyes full of rage I didn’t understand.
I whimpered and called out for help through the mind-link, but nothing answered. Only the rustling around us… warning me there were more wolves in the woods. Watching. Waiting.
My heart pounded as the wolf aimed straight for my throat, ready to kill me.
Just before its jaw snapped around my neck, another wolf slammed into it from the side, growling fiercely.
They tumbled across the dirt, fangs clashing, claws tearing. The new wolf moved fast and protective, he lunged again and again at the black wolf, forcing it to back away from me. I dragged myself up weakly, breathing hard, as they circled each other.
Then, with one last snarl, the black wolf leaped into the shadows of the trees and disappeared.
The forest went quiet.
I let my wolf form fade, collapsing on the cold ground, my body bare and shaking. The wolf who saved me shifted too, and when he walked toward me, my chest tightened.
“Mark?” I whispered.
He knelt beside me, his brows drawn together as he looked at the scratches on my neck and arm. “Diana, are you okay?”
I nodded weakly. “I… I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding,” he muttered, helping me sit up. He wrapped an arm around me carefully and lifted me to my feet. “We need to leave now before that wolf comes back with more.”
The urgency in his voice made my stomach twist. I leaned on him, my legs trembling as we hurried through the trees. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding as we stepped onto the road where his car was parked.
Mark opened the trunk and pulled out a cloth. “Here,” he said, handing it to me without looking away from the dark woods. “Put it on.”
I wrapped it around myself and breathed out shakily. “Thank you… I don’t know what just happened.”
Mark shut the trunk, his eyes narrowing. “It’s been years since anything like this happened. Why were they after you?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered, wiping the blood from my arm. “It might be… my late parents’ enemies. Their rival pack.”
Mark shook his head. "That war ended years ago. It can’t be that.”
I swallowed hard, unable to shake the fear crawling up my spine. “Then who are they?”
“We’ll figure it out later. Right now, you need to get home.”
I climbed into the passenger seat, still shaking. Mark slid into the driver’s seat and started the car quickly, speeding down the road. I turned to look out the back window and froze.
Three black wolves, just like the one who attacked me, were running behind us. Their eyes glowed in the headlights as they chased the car… until suddenly they stopped and watched us disappear down the road.
My breath caught in my throat.
Mark’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Diana… seriously. Who are those wolves?”
“I told you… I don’t know,” I whispered. “But I think they’re connected to my parents’ rival pack. Who else would want me dead?”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Mark muttered. “If they were out there, someone would’ve known. Something is wrong, Diana.”
“I know,” I murmured softly, staring out the window. “I just want to go home.”
When we reached the apartment, Mark got out with me and followed me inside. The lights flickered on, and the quietness of the place made the whole night feel even heavier.
“Thank you,” I said gently as he walked into the living room with me.
Mark sat on the couch, rubbing his hands together as if trying to calm himself. “Is Layla around?”
I shook my head. “No. She went on vacation for two weeks with Tonia and the others.”
Mark lifted his head sharply. “Layla didn’t tell me she was going on vacation.”
I frowned. “You two… haven’t been talking?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “Ever since that day I dropped you guys home, she's been distant. I thought she was just busy.”
The uneasiness in his voice made my stomach drop.
I replayed his words in my head and felt cold all of a sudden. “Mark… what do you mean she's been distant, Layla told me she went to stay with you three days ago, that you were sick?”
He stared at me. “That day I dropped you both off… that was the last time I saw her. I’ve been trying to reach her since then. She hasn’t picked up my calls or replied to my texts. That’s why I came here. I thought maybe something was wrong.”
My mouth went dry. “What? Why would she lie?”
A tight panic wrapped around my chest as I stood still in the middle of the room.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
“Mark…I think something is wrong, Layla might be in trouble,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “After what happened tonight, I don’t think we’re safe anymore.”
Mark stood up slowly. “It’s strange for Layla to behave like this. Something is definitely happening.” He sighed brushing his hand against his forehead. "I'll try and see if I can get through to Tonia, and I'll also look into the matter of the wolves that attacked you."
"Thank you, Mark," I said wrapping my hand over my chest. "Please let me know if you're able to get through to her."
“Okay, it’s late. I should get going.” He walked toward the door before turning to me. “Will you be okay staying here alone?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure. “Yes… no one knows I stay here.”
“Lock the door,” he said firmly. “And be safe.”
When he left, the silence felt too loud.
My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone and dialed Layla’s number. It rang once before going straight to voicemail, I tried the second time same thing.
After trying for several times, I dropped the phone on the table thinking of what to do. My chest tightened as I picked up the phone and sent her a message.
{Layla, where are you? Why aren’t you answering? I’m worried. Please call me back.}
But the screen remained quiet.
Nothing.
Not even a single reply.