Chapter1
The big, full moon lit up the dark woods as Ella ran as fast as she could. Her once clean white dress was now red with blood, stuck to her skin as she pushed through the bushes. Every hard breath hurt her chest as a wolf's scary howl followed her through the trees, making her heart beat even faster with each step she took.
"No, no, no," she said, her voice breaking as she tripped forward. "This can't be happening to me, not tonight."
The path got smaller until she hit a big rock wall. No way out. Ella's heart beat hard as she turned around, her back against the cold rock. Her fingers pressed into the stone behind her, feeling for any way to escape.
"This can't happen," she thought, her hands shaking. "Someone help me, please!" Anyone!"
The wolf emerged from the dark, his body stuck halfway between man and animal. He stood up like a man but had long arms and legs, rough hair all over his skin, and a face that was part man, part beast. His yellow eyes looked happy to catch her, staring at her like she was dinner.
"Got you at last," he said, his voice rough and scary. "Nowhere left to run now, is there?"
Ella's pretty face, now with deep cuts on her cheek, showed fear but also anger. Even though she was shaking all over, she raised her head high.
"I'm a lawyer," she said between cries, trying to sound strong and brave. "If you touch me, I swear I'll make sure they kill you." They'll hunt you down like the animal you are."
The creature's mouth made what looked like a smile, showing his sharp teeth that could tear her apart in seconds. "Oh really?" He stepped closer, the leaves crunching under his feet. "That's nice. A cute lawyer with a bad temper... makes me want you even more. I like it when they fight back."
Ella breathed fast, scared as he got closer and closer. She could smell his awful breath now, like raw meat and dirt. In one quick move, he jumped at her, pinning her against the rock with strength no human could have. His body was hot against hers, making her skin crawl with fear.
"You'll be mine tonight," he whispered in her ear, his hot breath making her want to throw up. "Even if you're not meant to be mine forever. One night is all I need."
Ella didn't think. Her hand felt around on the ground until she found a stick, her fingers wrapped around it tightly. With a loud scream that hurt her own throat, she hit him hard on the head. It made a bad sound, like hitting wet wood, and for a moment, his grip got loose.
"Get off me!" she screamed, pushing against his chest.
She pushed past him, but after just two steps, he grabbed her arm, pulling her back so hard she yelled in pain as something in her shoulder popped.
"Stupid human," he growled, blood running down his face before the cut started closing up right before her eyes. "Don't you know wolves can heal themselves?" He twisted her arm behind her back, pulling her face close to his. "You can't hurt me. It's not possible. Your puny stick means nothing."
His mouth started changing more, his teeth getting longer and sharper, coming closer to her neck. Ella closed her eyes tight, waiting for the pain that would end her life.
But it never came.
Instead, a loud crash filled the clearing as something big hit her attacker, sending both of them rolling across the ground. Ella fell down hard, her eyes blurry as she watched two werewolves fighting with amazing speed and power, tearing at each other like wild animals.
"Get away from her!" the new wolf roared, his voice deep with rage. "You picked the wrong woman to hunt tonight!"
The new one moved like he knew exactly what to do, each hit strong and aimed well. Blood flew onto the leaves as he pushed the other wolf back, not stopping his attack for even a second. The fight ended with the bad wolf pinned down, the new wolf's claws at his throat, ready to kill.
When the winner turned to look at Ella, the last thing she saw before passing out was gray eyes in a face that was both handsome and scary, like nothing she had ever seen before.
Ella kept waking up and falling asleep, hearing bits of talking through the fog in her head. Her body felt heavy and light at the same time.
"—an honor to lose you," a strained voice said. "But why would Avalon Green, leader of the Silvermoon pack, come all this way just for me? I'm nobody important."
She felt herself being pulled up roughly, making pain shoot through her body like fire. The sudden move woke her up and she made a small hurting sound that sounded far away in her own ears.
"This isn't your land," her attacker went on, his voice clearer now as he held her up by her hair. Ella tried to focus and saw he had changed back to a man with dark hair and a face showing both respect and anger. "You should be careful, even with your... big name. Others might not be so happy to see you here."
The other man—Avalon—stood tall, the power coming off him in waves you could feel in the air. His voice was deep and controlled, but you could hear anger under it, like thunder in a storm.
"Bad wolves like you do all kinds of evil stuff," he said coolly. "Teaching lessons to dogs who don't know their place works anywhere I choose to be." His eyes got narrow, his hands curled into fists. "Let the girl go. Now. Or the next thing you feel will be your own heart in my hand."
Right away, her attacker pushed Ella forward and ran into the dark, disappearing between the trees. She stumbled, her legs giving out like wet paper, but strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.
"I've got you," Avalon said softly. "You're safe now." He won't hurt you again, I promise."
Avalon carefully put her down on the forest floor, his touch surprisingly gentle as he took off his jacket and put it over her shaking body. The warm coat smelled like pine trees, smoke, and something wild she couldn't name, but that made her feel safe somehow.
"Can you hear me?" he asked, his voice much softer now like he was talking to a scared child. "Stay with me." What's your name?
Ella tried to answer, but the world was going dark again, blackness coming in from the sides of what she could see. The last thing she felt was gentle lips on the back of her hand, followed by a strange warmth moving through her body, healing her cuts and making a link she didn't understand yet.
As she passed out completely, she didn't hear Avalon whisper.
To himself:
"She's our mate."