The Stranger In The Forest
1002 Words
Chapter Two
Daniella held tightly to the wolf's fur as it raced through the forest.
She had no idea where they were going.
She didn't even know if she was safe.
But for the first time in twelve years, she wasn't inside those castle walls.
That thought alone kept her from jumping off.
The wind whipped against her face as the creature moved between the trees with impossible speed. Branches passed above her head, moonlight appearing and disappearing between the leaves.
Behind them, the sounds of the guards had faded.
Daniella looked over her shoulder.
Nothing.
No torches.
No shouting.
No footsteps.
She turned forward again.
The wolf suddenly slowed.
Daniella's grip tightened.
"Please don't throw me off," she whispered.
The wolf didn't react.
It continued deeper into the forest until the trees became thinner and a small stream appeared ahead.
Then it stopped.
Daniella carefully climbed down.
Her feet barely touched the ground before the wolf moved toward the water.
She stepped backward.
"Wait."
The wolf stopped.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Daniella studied it.
It was enormous. Far larger than any ordinary wolf she'd ever seen. Its dark fur almost disappeared into the night, except where the moonlight touched its back.
"Are you going to hurt me?"
The wolf tilted its head.
Daniella almost laughed.
Of course.
She was talking to a wolf.
"What am I even doing?"
The creature walked into the stream.
Daniella watched in confusion.
Then something strange happened.
The wolf began to change.
Daniella's eyes widened.
Its body shifted, fur disappearing as its shape changed beneath the moonlight.
She immediately turned away.
"Oh!"
She covered her eyes.
"What are you doing?"
A moment later, she heard a splash.
Then a man's voice.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."
Daniella kept her back turned.
"Are you human?"
There was a pause.
"Mostly."
That answer did absolutely nothing to calm her.
Daniella glanced over her shoulder and saw a man standing in the water with his back turned toward her.
He was reaching for something near the edge.
"Don't look," he said.
"I wasn't!"
"You were."
"I was checking if you were still a wolf."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"I'm not."
Daniella looked away again.
"There's a cottage nearby," he said. "Go inside. There's a wardrobe. Bring me some clothes."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because if I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have saved you."
Daniella went silent.
He had a point.
Still, trusting anyone wasn't easy anymore.
She walked toward the cottage.
It was small, hidden between the trees, with a faint light glowing through one of the windows.
She opened the door.
Inside was simple.
A table.
Two chairs.
A fireplace.
A small kitchen.
And a wooden wardrobe against the wall.
Daniella opened it and found several sets of clothes.
She grabbed a dark shirt and trousers and carried them back toward the stream.
She stopped several feet away.
"Here."
A hand appeared from behind a tree.
She placed the clothes in it and quickly turned away.
A few minutes later, she heard footsteps.
"Thank you."
Daniella turned.
And froze.
The man standing before her looked nothing like the creature that had carried her through the forest.
He appeared to be in his twenties, with dark hair, sharp features, and an expression that was difficult to read.
He looked strong enough to have fought the guards without breaking a sweat.
Daniella immediately became cautious.
"Who are you?"
"Kelvin."
"Kelvin what?"
"Just Kelvin for now."
She frowned.
"That's suspicious."
"So is running around a vampire kingdom in the middle of the night."
Daniella looked down at her torn dress.
"I had a reason."
"I figured."
Kelvin glanced toward the forest.
"They'll keep searching."
"I know."
"You can't go back."
"I'm not going back."
"Good."
He turned toward the cottage.
"Come inside."
Daniella didn't move.
Kelvin looked back.
"What?"
"You haven't told me why you saved me."
He studied her for a moment.
"Because you needed saving."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting tonight."
Daniella narrowed her eyes.
She had spent twelve years surrounded by people who always wanted something from her.
There was no such thing as a free favor.
Eventually, Kelvin sighed.
"Fine."
He leaned against the doorframe.
"I need something from you too."
Daniella's stomach tightened.
"What?"
"I need a mate."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"I need you to pretend to be mine."
Daniella actually laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh she'd had in years.
Then she realized he wasn't joking.
Her smile disappeared.
"You rescued me just to make me your prisoner?"
"No."
"Then what is this?"
"A deal."
"I don't know you."
"Exactly."
Kelvin folded his arms.
"My pack expects me to have a mate. My position makes it... complicated."
"Then find someone else."
"I could."
"Good."
"But I don't want someone else."
Daniella's expression hardened.
"Then that's your problem."
Kelvin didn't argue.
Instead, he said quietly, "If you leave this cottage tonight, you'll be caught before sunrise."
Daniella looked toward the forest.
She knew he was right.
"You don't understand," she whispered. "They won't stop looking for me."
"I know."
"They'll take me back."
"I know."
"And if they do..."
She stopped.
Kelvin's expression changed slightly.
He didn't ask her to explain.
"Stay here tonight," he said. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to my pack."
Daniella looked at him suspiciously.
"And the mate thing?"
"You can decide tomorrow."
She hadn't expected that answer.
"You're not going to force me?"
Kelvin shook his head.
"No."
For the first time since she had met him, Daniella felt a tiny piece of tension leave her shoulders.
She stepped inside the cottage.
Kelvin followed.
The door closed behind them.
Neither of them noticed the shadow moving between the trees outside.
A pair of red eyes watched the cottage from a distance.
Then disappeared into the darkness.
Daniella had escaped the vampire kingdom.
But she hadn't escaped the danger.
She had only entered a different one.
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