Friend or foe
1002 Words
KARENSA
I slowly opened my eyes, my eyelashes fluttering as I tried to make sense of where I was. I sat up on the soft bed and glanced around the unfamiliar room, confused. There was a thick smell of something in the air, sweet and inviting. The calming scent of winter made me want to relax on the bed and sleep for as long as I could.
I looked around, at the curtains, beautiful drawings on the wall and a carving by the door. It was so unlike the room I grew up in, which housed the pain I lived with for years. There was nothing like that dark house. The chamber was warm and inviting.
Where was I?
I wondered, looking around the place. The last thing I recalled was getting chased in the forest by unknown wolves. Waking up in an unfamiliar chamber was the least of my expectations. Not even the beauty of the place could take my mind off the danger that might be looming.
My eyes immediately went to my clothes, and I exhaled. I was still putting on the gown I wore when I escaped from the pack. The only thing missing was the cloak I stole from that kind maid.
My eyes immediately went to the door when I heard sounds. My heart skipped a beat as the doorknob turned. I was scared. Well, who wouldn't be in such a situation?
The door opened, and a man strode in. I didn't know what I expected, but it wasn't the man who stood by the door. He had his black hair tied up in a bun, accentuating the features of his face. His golden skin seemed to glow in the low light coming from the window.
“Oh, you are awake.” He smiled, looking extremely handsome. His black eyes sparkled like rare gems.
I have met different men since I was born, but none of them came close to the man in front of me.
However, I couldn't help but feel a bit of discomfort in the pit of my stomach. There I was, checking a stranger out without knowing whether I was safe or not.
“Who are you?” I asked, staring straight at him with my brows raised and my eyes narrowed.
“Me?” He gently closed the door behind him and strode in. The nearer he got, the more intense the scent I perceived when I woke up, grew. I could even swear he owns it. Could that be his pheromones?
“I'm Émeric, the Alpha of the hybrids.”
I froze. My heart stopped beating for a moment at his words. My mouth went dry, and it seemed like my soul was about to leave my body. Out of all the places I wanted to be in, the dark lands were the last on my list.
“… I'm in the dark lands?” I asked, stunning myself with how I spoke. I sounded stronger than I felt.
“Yes. You are in the dark lands. I found you when I was patrolling with my men. Sorry, Plank knocked you out. He carelessly used his powers on you.”
I gulped but didn't say a word, staring at him as if I were waiting for him to jump on me while showing off his claws.
“Are you okay?” He asked, gently looking at me. I could tell he knew what I was feeling.
Since I was a kid, I have heard different stories about the dark lands. Unlike regular Werewolves like me, the werewolves of the dark lands are hybrids. They have magic coursing through their veins, something that was considered taboo for normal Werewolves.
Not only that, I heard they feed on the flesh of the natural Werewolves, to amass great powers.
He smiled. “You don't have to look at me that way, my dear. I won't bite. Well, not unless you give me the go-ahead.” He winked.
Instead of his words calming me down, it made me panic. I gulped once more. Goddess, how the hell did I end up in this place? Of all the packs, why was it the one in the dark lands?
Could this be my last time on your green earth? Will I be eaten raw or cooked? What would happen to my hair? Would they use it as fur? But that doesn't sound right.
“What's your name?” He asked when he realized I wasn't saying a thing.
If only he knew the thoughts going through my mind. “Karensa.”
“Karensa?”
It sounded like he was tasting the name.
Could that be a kink of theirs?
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Karensa.”
There was a long pronounced silence between us after that. We didn't say a word as we watched each other, with different thoughts going through our minds. I was figuring out how to escape, while he must be probably thinking of how to eat me.
Cooked or roasted?
“Are you okay? Though the pack healer checked your injuries when you were unconscious, I'm worried you sustained more bruises.”
Checking your meat to be sure I was perfect, are we?
I narrowed my eyes at him as I tried not to make it look so obvious that I was glaring. I gulped, praying he would make it fast for me, so I wouldn't feel any pain during the butchering.
“Are you hungry? We can get something for you.”
“I need to go home,” I whispered, with my eyes partially closed, scared of the reply he might give to my request.
Would he laugh at me and call me a fool for thinking I could leave as I wished?
He sighed. “I won't let you return to where you came from. Obviously, you were running from someone. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been as weak as you were when we picked you up.”
- Writer
