His Dark Howl

Prologue

    She ran lightly through the field, her bare feet barely kissing the damp earth as the tall grass whispered gently against her legs. Run, Bria. Run faster. Run. Something deep inside of her sensed a danger, a force of nature trailing her every step. She didn’t know what she was running from, she only knew that she needed to keep moving.

    Spirit of the Air, guide my steps. Spirit of the Earth, set my path. Bria’s dark hair streamed behind her as she ran, a dark banner unfurled over the field of tall grass and wildflowers. The air was warm, and the moon was full, its light shining over Bria’s body. She always felt so alive, in this moment.

    She knew what to expect next. A howl sounded from somewhere behind her, echoing in the wind that caressed her body, and sending a chill running up from the small of her back to her neck. This was where she usually awoke, but tonight, she didn’t. She was approaching the edge of the field, a dark forest looming in front of her. The next moment, the feeling of hot breath grazed just below her left ear. This sensation was new. This was uncharted territory. Can you feel me, Bria? This voice was not her own. This voice was new, dark and velvety. This voice was danger and madness and passion.

    She only needed to keep running, but there was no longer anywhere left to run. The forest was not familiar to her. It did not heed the call of her voice. Spirit of the Earth, set my path. The trees stood too closely together, bushes and bracken thwarting her attempts to enter the forest.

    She stilled suddenly, wondering why she could not awaken, and frightened where this dream might take her. You cannot outrun me, in my own forest, the voice told her, you cannot outrun me at all, Bria. The voice was strong and male and impossible to ignore. She felt a sudden flush of warmth around her, as strong arms wrapped around her, pinning her arms gently to her side. Her breathing was rapid, and her heart raced. Who are you, and what do you want? Bria asked. You know who I am, and what I want, he replied.

    Bria struggled to awaken, his body pressing against her back sending a flush of warmth across her face. Part of her wanted to stay in the dream, the same part of her that felt a tingling pulse flow through her body at the heat of his contact. This is only a dream, she reminded herself. I will wake up, and I will be alone. Dreams could be dangerous though, she has been warned of this since childhood. She knew better than to write this dream off as an innocent fantasy. She knew there was real danger, real darkness, here.

    As if in reply to her thoughts, his voice prodded her mind again, Now I see you, Bria. I am coming for you. She shivered against him, feeling his lips graze her earlobe, the sensitive part of her neck right below it. She wanted to stay, but she needed to leave. She wasn’t in her right mind, with that smooth, dark voice whispering into her, with those strong, shadowed arms wrapped about her. Who is he? Who has been pursuing her in her dreams, night after night, for all this time? She turned, sudden courage filling her with a resolve. To see his face. She just had to see his face. She slipped from his grasp, turning, and looking up. All she could see, as she woke, was two eyes, burning like golden embers at the base of a fire.