Chapter 13 CHAPTER 013
Ari POV:
My feet padded the ground as I ran through the woods, away from the Tigreen. The fear was so intense it was almost a physical force pushing me forward, my heart hammering like a drum in my chest.
The air grew cold and the shadows grew longer, but I didn't dare look back. I could hear the creature's heavy breathing and the rustling of leaves as it pursued me. I knew I wasn't fast enough to outrun it, but I had to try.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the chase came to an end. I felt my legs give out beneath me and I tumbled to the ground. The impact of my jaw on the ground was jarring, but the pain was quickly overshadowed by the anticipation of the deadly jaws that would soon be upon me. I braced for the end, my eyes tightly shut.
But it never came. Instead, a thunderous crash echoed through the woods, and the ground trembled. A powerful growl ripped through the night, not my own, but from a creature much larger than the one I was running from.
I dared to peek through my eyelids, my eyes stinging with dust and fear. Before me, a massive werewolf, fur mottled with shades of grey and black, had the Tigreen pinned to the ground. The creature's fiery eyes met mine for a brief moment before it went limp. The werewolf's jaws tightened around its throat, and with a sickening crunch, the threat was over.
As the tension drained from my body, the werewolf, now free from the fight, shifted back into human form, revealing a very naked Harry. He was bruised and bloodied, but the ferociousness in his gaze had faded into a look of concern. "Are you alright?" he panted, reaching for a coat and pair of trousers on the tree that he wrapped around himself.
"I think so." My voice quivered as I took Harry's offered hand, allowing him to help me stand. My legs felt like jelly, and my chest heaved with each ragged breath.
"By the way, why are you out here all alone?" Harry asked as he made his way back to the dead Tigreen. The adrenaline had worn off, and his question brought back the cold reality of my situation.
"I needed some air," I replied, avoiding his gaze. The truth was, I had been planning an escape. But now, with Harry standing between me and the pack, I wasn't sure if that was such a good idea.
With a grunt, Harry hoisted the lifeless Tigreen onto his shoulders and started back towards the house. "Looks like we're having a feast tonight," he said with a grin, his teeth flashing in the moonlight.
I followed behind, the adrenaline slowly seeping out of me, leaving me with a feeling of disappointment. Perhaps, I would plan better next time.
"Why are you smiling?" Harry asked as he bent over a small clearing, setting the tigreen down gently, almost respectfully.
I bit my lips, watching Harry as he worked swiftly, starting a fire with a few twigs and dry leaves. He had always had this calming presence around me, one that I didn't understand, considering his association with Stone. "What were you doing out here?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Hunting," he replied nonchalantly, his muscles flexing as he skewered the tigreen onto a makeshift spit. "But it looks like I stumbled upon a more interesting prey than I had planned." He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes inwardly.
We sat in silence for a while, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows on Harry's bare chest and my own trembling hands. The smell of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the scent of the damp earth and the faint sweetness of blooming night flowers.
"So," Harry began, poking at the fire with a stick, "are you going to tell me what you were really doing out here?"
I took a deep breath, the warmth of the flames seeping into my chilled skin. "I was just...exploring," I lied.
"Mmhmm." Harry nodded, not looking convinced. "And what exactly were you planning to do if you encountered something like that?" He jerked his chin towards the roasting tigreen.
I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I don't know. I guess I was just going to keep walking until I found a way out."
"And what if you didn't?" Harry's eyes searched mine, a hint of genuine concern peeking through.
"Then I guess I'd be dead." The words slipped out before I could censor them, and a coldness washed over me. Harry's expression grew serious as he turned back to the fire, stoking the flames with a stick.
Harry paused, the stick in his hand hovering over the fire. "It's not safe for you out here, Ari." His voice was gentle, but there was a firmness to it that suggested he wasn't just trying to scare me. "The woods are full of dangers."
"What's even the point when you all don't want me in your pack? If I die, you all will only be relieved of the burden I pose to you." The bitterness in my voice was palpable as I watched Harry's expression change.
He sighed deeply, "The pack won't tolerate you getting hurt because you decided to sneak around." Harry's eyes searched mine, a silent plea for understanding. "Even if they don't like you as you said."
My stomach coiled as reality hit me in the face. "Yeah, right. I forgot." Then I stood and dusted my gown. Only that I heard branches rustling and movements caught my eye.
"What's that?"
Harry jumped up and got into defensive mode, claws out immediately. "What did you see?"
I shook my head. "I don't know." Harry's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surrounding area, his senses on high alert. After a moment, he seemed satisfied that we were indeed alone.
"You're safe," But the quiet was short-lived. The sound of twigs snapping and the rustling of leaves grew closer, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
My heart rate spiked, and I grabbed a nearby stick, ready to fight or flee. The woods grew eerily silent, and then, out of the shadows, emerged a pack of werewolves, their eyes glowing with a predatory light. My stomach plummeted.
"Ari!" Harry barked. The wolves circled us, their eyes narrowed and their teeth bared in a silent challenge. "It's our men."
My heart was racing as if it would tear out of my chest. The wolves' fur was as dark as the night sky, their eyes piercing through the shadows, reflecting the firelight. My hand tightened around the stick, ready to fight for my life, but Harry's firm grip on my wrist stopped me. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice a soothing balm to my panic. "They're from the pack."
As if on cue, Alpha Stone emerged from the shadows, his eyes glowing with an anger so intense it could have set the woods alight.