In Love With A Lycan: The Missing Piece

six

Abigail's chest rose and fell violently as she stood frozen between two nightmares.

Ahead of her, the creatures emerged from behind the trees one after another. Massive beasts with glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws stepped into the clearing, their low growls vibrating through the ground beneath her feet. Saliva dripped from their jaws as they circled her slowly, never taking their eyes off her.

Behind her, the men burst through the trees.

"There she is!"

"I knew she couldn't have gone far!"

"Grab her!"

Abigail spun around, there was nowhere left to run.

She turned back toward the beasts just as one took another slow step forward. Its red eyes locked onto hers, its lips curling back to reveal rows of impossibly long fangs.

Her heart lurched and she took an instinctive step backward. The men were already behind her.

She took another step forward... the beasts.Another step back...the men.She was trapped, one of the men laughed cruelly.

"Looks like the forest made the choice for us."

Another scoffed.

"Either they eat her..."

"...or we sell what's left."

Laughter erupted among them and Abigail's hands started to tremble uncontrollably.

Her mind screamed at her to move, run, fight, to something, but her legs refused to obey. She had nowhere to go.

Tears blurred her vision. Was this really how it ended?

After surviving years on her own...after finally believing that life might become better and letting herself trust someone for the first time...This was the end.

That damn Brian, if that was even his real name. The thought of him twisted painfully inside her chest. She still couldn't understand Why. What had she done to deserve this?

The largest creature crouched low, itz muscles coiling beneath its dark fur, it was preparing to pounce on her.

The men slowly backed away, clearly unwilling to become part of whatever happened next.

One of them smirked.

"Looks like we won't be getting paid after all."

Another shrugged.

"At least we won't have to feed her anymore."

The beast growled and a second answered, then another. Abigail's breathing became shallow, this was it. She slowly closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, though she wasn't sure who she was apologizing to.

Maybe to herself or maybe to the little girl who had spent her whole life hoping someone would choose her...maybe to the dreams she'd never get to live.

A deep breath escaped her lips.

"I don't want to die..."

The words were barely audible.

Then suddenly.... a roar split the forest. It wasn't the growl of the creatures surrounding her.

This sound was deeper, louder and shook the trees themselves.

The ground trembled beneath her feet and every hair on Abigail's body stood on end.

The beasts surrounding her suddenly whimpered, the same monsters that had looked ready to tear her apart now sounded afraid.

Another roar echoed through the forest, it was closer this time and the air itself seemed to vibrate.

"What..."

One of the men's voices cracked.

"No..."

Another man sounded terrified.

"It can't be."

The next second, chaos erupted.

Something massive crashed through the trees and a deafening scream tore through the clearing.

Abigail flinched violently and kept her eyes squeezed shut. She couldn't make herself open them.

She heard another scream but this one ended abruptly before a sickening thud followed.

Someone shouted.

"Run!"

"No! Get back!"

"It's him!"

Heavy bodies slammed against trees and The sound of bones breaking echoed through the forest.

Another roar came closer, so close she felt it in her chest.

The creatures no longer growled but they cried out one after another. Some fled while others didn't get the chance.

Abigail covered her ears with her bound hands.

The sounds were horrifying and she had no idea what was happening, all she knew was that whatever had arrived...everything else feared it, including her.

Minutes passed or perhaps only seconds she couldn't tell anymore, time had become meaningless.

Her knees shook violently beneath her. the entire forest became completely silent and even the wind seemed to stop.

Abigail remained exactly where she was, too frightened to move.

Were they gone? Was it over? She didn't know, she didn't even want to know.

What if the thing that had killed them was now standing in front of her? the thought alone made her stomach twist.

She stayed perfectly still, she couldn't hear heartbeat in her head. Then the silence was disruption with a sound...footsteps, it was slow and steady.

They stopped directly in front of her.

Her breathing hitched. "Please... Please don't let this be another monster." She prayed

She felt tears rolling silently down her cheeks.

She'd fought so hard to survive only for it to end like this.

Something warm brushed against her arm and she gasped.

It was a hand...it was large....arm and strong. Unlike the rough hands of the men, this touch was surprisingly gentle.

It carefully wrapped around her trembling wrist and the unexpected kindness broke whatever strength she had left.

Her knees buckled and before she could hit the ground, another arm caught her effortlessly.

Abigail's entire body shook but she still couldn't bring herself to open her eyes.

"I..."

Her voice cracked.

"Please..."

She hated how broken she sounded.

"I don't have anything."

No answer came only silence.

She swallowed hard.

"If you're going to kill me..."

A sob escaped before she could stop it.

"...please make it quick."

The arm supporting her stiffened ever so slightly.

Several long seconds passed before a deep masculine voice spoke, it was calm and unexpectedly gentle.

"You're safe."

Abigail froze.

Safe? The word sounded so foreign she almost didn't recognize it.

No one had ever said those words to her before. She wanted to believe him, she really did.

But Brian had smiled at her too, he had spoken gently too, look where that had gotten her.

Her breathing remained uneven and she still refused to open her eyes.

The stranger seemed to understand and his voice came again, softer this time.

"...Open your eyes."

Abigail's fingers curled tightly against her palms, every instinct screaming at her not to.

But another part of her...The part that had somehow survived everything until now...Wanted to know and to see who or what had saved her.

With trembling lashes...she slowly began to open her eyes.