My Christmas Wish Alpha

Trapped and Vulnerable

Neviah

Whoever made up the phrase “fight or flight” was sadly mistaken about the concept, or at least they’d never been a woman out on a desolate road in the middle of a snowy forest with a man the size of a linebacker holding her with a whole lot of... somethings closing in on them.

Because I’m not fighting or flying away. I’m frozen like a bag of peas, my legs like tree roots anchored to the ground, my lungs having given out of me so I’m choking on my own air. I can’t even think about running or screaming or anything that might save me from whatever those things are.

Their yellow eyes grow closer.

Trembles of terror move down my nerves.

Luckily, whoever this man is knows all about the “flight” part. With one fast swoop, he has my feet off the ground and is barreling toward the snowy forest faster than I think any man should know how to run.

At least, this might be lucky. Or this could be the unluckiest thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life. Sure, he’ll probably get me away from whatever those things are coming at us, but then... what will he do to me?

But an odd feeling comes over me while he’s running us through the forest, leaping over fallen trees in the snow-covered forest like it’s an Olympic sport and he’s a shoe-in for the gold medal.

I feel... comfortable with him.

It’s not something I can explain, especially right now with all those... whatever they are... on our tail. But I’m definitely making a mental note to explore that further.

We make a turn, and I foolishly sneak a glance over his muscle-bound shoulder to see if we’ve gotten away from whatever that was.

But that’s a mistake, and I instantly regret it. The bright snow reflects just enough light that I can spot them—a pack of gray wolves, snarling and keeping pace with my mysterious stranger.

I’ve never seen a wolf this close before... okay, maybe in a zoo. But those animals were far away in an enclosure behind steel cages. These are out in the open, at night, in a freezing cold forest... chasing us.

With their fangs showing.

They beasts are huge, to say the least, and fast. But this guy seems to be impossibly faster, and he seems to know this forest very well because he knows exactly which way to twist and turn to get through the trees.

After a while, the wolves seem to have fallen back, but I still see glimmers of their eyes in the distance.

And I realize I have my arms wrapped around this man’s neck.

And then there’s that weird feeling of comfort again.

Yikes.

But I don’t say or do anything, not yet, not when he has put some real estate between us and the attacking wolves.

And before I have a chance to think about anything more, he’s ducking his head into some kind of alcove and setting me down.

“Stay here.”

There’s nothing else—no explanation, no words, no gestures. He just takes off running in the same direction the wolves have been chasing us.

“Wait!” I say, not sure why the word is even coming out of my mouth, but it doesn’t have any effect anyway.

I glance around quickly to understand my surroundings, and it’s a bit too dark to tell exactly where I am. I’d say it’s a cave but it’s not very deep, though at least there’s no snow here. I back up further against the wall and sink down, wrapping my arms around my knees.

But I don’t have any time to think about how cold I am before I hear it.

The sounds that echo through the night are like something out of a horror movie: growling, snarling, scratching, tearing, and the cries....

Something out there wails with pain.

I back up further against the wall and try to scoot into the alcove more, but I can’t get in here any deeper than I am. My hands tremble, even with gloves on. My heart thunders like a jet engine in my chest. I try to force myself to breathe, but I just choke on the air.

The sounds continue until a final yelp bursts through the darkness.

And then... there’s nothing, just the same silence I felt when I first pulled over with the flat tire.

The man doesn’t return.

I don’t hear his footsteps or any sound that might be him.

Nothing.

So, I try to scoot back a little, rubbing my arms to keep out the cold. This coat wasn’t designed to be outdoors for extended periods. It’s just a cute little pink thing with fake fur on the hood that looks cute with my outfits. I’m never outside much anyway, just when I’m going from the car to wherever I’m headed.

And then I realize it.

They could come for me.

And here I am in this sorry excuse for a cave, or whatever it is, completely open to the elements and whatever might come after me.

I remember some of the other lessons Dad taught me, like to always have a weapon on hand. Right now, I have nothing but my bare hands, and I can’t fight off fangs with that.

In the glow of the white snow, I see a thick stick just outside the alcove.

But what if someone... or something, is out there waiting for me to exit?

I shake my head. If something was after me right now, it would just come in here where I’m trapped and vulnerable.

No, I need to get the stick.

Slowly, I rise, creeping forward and keeping my hands behind me, hugging the walls of the alcove. I get close to the edge and feel a wisp of freezing breeze hit my face.

Then I stop. It’s still quiet.

So, I chance it, leaping out of the alcove and reaching out my hand to grab hold of the stick.

My heart races.