The Encounter
912 Words
(Lara’s POV)
My left shoulder was pierced.
Emma helped me up as I groaned in pain, barely able to move my arm. We stumbled outside.
“We need to find somewhere to hide,” I said, breathing hard.
Emma followed close behind. We ducked behind an old fence, crouched low.
“How did you know he was coming?” I asked, still clutching my bleeding shoulder.
She was trembling. “We met for our first date. I can’t remember much… but we ended up at his house, and his family was there. And then, I realized, he was really trying to lure me in so they could kill me.”
“You ran?” I asked, eyes wide.
She nodded slowly. “Yeah… but that’s the thing. It felt like they let me go.”
That’s when it hit me.
“They’re using you,” I whispered. “It was a trap… for me.”
It didn’t take long. They found us.
I hadn’t transformed in so long—but now? I had no choice. For the first time in years, I shifted.
My first wolf form. Half-wolf, half-human.
I stepped forward, growling, trying to scare them.
Nothing.
They didn’t flinch.
We ran bolting into the woods.
Everything felt sluggish. Somewhere between running and bleeding, my body started to slow down. My limbs felt heavy. My body started to slow. The wound burned.
“There they are!” one of them shouted.
They were surrounding us.
Desperate, I mustered every ounce of energy I had and howled.
A real howl.
Emma gasped beside me, but just as I turned to her, she threw herself in front of me.
THWACK.
A harpoon meant for me, buried in her back.
“I’m... sorry… for getting you into this… mess…” she whispered before collapsing.
Panic.
My wolf form wasn't enough. I tried fighting back, but they overwhelmed me.
Then, something surged through me.
Raw power.
My body shifted again, this time into my true form.
A massive, dire wolf—bigger than a car. My second wolf form. My mystic art had finally awakened.
The hunters backed off in shock.
“She’s turning again,” one of them said. “The drug is working, this is our chance.”
Another voice spoke—older, commanding.
“She’s a born alpha. We’ve struck gold. Get her.”
I didn’t know what he meant. My head spun. I was dizzy. Weak. Slipping.
Emma’s hand gripped my leg, barely hanging on. I knew I didn’t have much time either.
In that final moment, I used my art. Mind-Link.
With the last of my strength, I howled, calling out through the bond, hoping someone, anyone, would hear me.
Then, everything went black.
I dropped to the ground, back in human form. Conscious, but completely paralyzed. Couldn’t even lift a finger.
The leader of the hunters walked toward me.
“Any last words?” he sneered, lifting a sword, almost bloody-looking, above my head.
I stared at him with disgust, silently saying goodbye to my mom… and to Emma.
Then suddenly.
A flash. The man was sent flying like a rag doll. Someone had stepped between us. Power radiated off him.
He destroyed them all in under a minute. Like they were nothing.
I saw his silhouette walking toward me…
And everything faded.
The next day
I woke up.
I blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling. My mom sat beside me.
“You’re in the hospital,” she said gently.
I sat up, holding my head. “What... happened?”
She explained the attack. I remembered bits and pieces.
Then it hit me. “Where’s Emma?!”
“She’s fine,” Mom said, placing a hand on my arm. “She’s right here.”
I looked over. Emma, still unconscious but breathing.
Mom smiled. “You healed up fast. Looks like you’ve awakened a healing mystic. You saved both yourself and her.”
She stood, grabbing her bag. “Let me grab you something to eat. Oh, and this isn’t a normal hospital by the way. So relax.”
Then she paused at the door.
“And... congratulations on manifesting your mystic art.”
She left. I looked at Emma, but memories from last night came flooding back.
After saving me, the man walked toward me.
“So you’re the one who called me,” he said.
He crouched in front of me, studying me.
“You’re a pureblood alpha,” he continued. “Close to the rank of a grand alpha... but still weak. Not even beta level.”
He tilted his head. “But I can make you strong.”
He glanced toward Emma.
“She’s dying. Do you want me to save her?”
I nodded.
“Then make a contract with me,” he said. “I’ll save your friend. I’ll give you strength. And in return…”
That part… it got blurry.
I remembered my mom and Uncle Max arriving.
The man no where to be found.
“Lara! Emma! You’re safe now!” Uncle Max shouted.
“We have to go! They need treatment!”
And I can barely remember what the contract was about or how it even happened. I might be delusional because he was strong, handsome, and he saved me. My brain might be playing tricks on me, but I remember him saying,
“Now you’re my wife and partner. Grow strong. And call me anytime you want… I’ll wait.”
- Writer
