7
1549 Words
ISLA
“What the fvck?”
I screamed as I saw him standing there. My heart slammed in my chest as I scrambled off the bed and rushed to the door. My hands shook as I grabbed the handle and twisted it.
Locked. I tried again. Still locked.
I stepped away from the door slowly, my breathing hard. It didn’t make sense. My door was locked, I made sure of that. I checked my windows next. They weren’t locked. Not like it mattered.
I lived on the second floor. There was no way anyone in their right senses would climb up here and step inside like it was nothing.
There was no way in hell anyone could do that.
And yet…..
I turned slowly to where he stood.
Somehow he managed to crawl his way into my tiny apartment.
Kade stood near my dresser like he owned the room. He was calm. Too calm. His dark hair fell over his forehead, his broad shoulders filling the small space. His eyes, those eyes were fixed on me, glowing in the dim light.
My chest tightened.
“What are you doing here? How did you get in here?”
He smiled.
“What do you want from me?” I asked again, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound strong.
Silence.
He didn’t move. He didn’t even attempt to come closer. He just stood there, watching me like he was studying every breath I took.
“It’s time to come home,’ he said finally, in a low tone.
Home? My stomach twisted.
“Home? What are you talking about?” I snapped. “This is my home. Here. With humans. Not with…with monsters.”
The word tasted bitter in my mouth as I said it but I didn’t take it back.
Kade frowned for a moment, his jaw tightened but he remained calm. Too calm for someone who had just been called a monster.
I moved away from it, my shoulders brushing against the wall. “I warned you to stay away from me,” I said. “I meant every word I said.”
“I know,” he replied. “That’s why I’m not touching you. I just want you to listen to me.”
He really wasn’t moving. Not even an inch. His countenance scared me, it made my breath hitch.
I avoided his gaze occasionally not because of fear, but because every time our eyes met, I felt this sudden pull. It was deep in my chest like an ache. I hated it so much. I hated how I reacted to him without him even getting close.
Why was this happening to me? Why was my Christmas complicated?
I was supposed to be out there having fun with friends and family. Opening gifts. Drinking hot chocolate while watching stupid movies with friends. Not standing in my bedroom with a man who claimed to be a werewolf and broke into my dorm like it was nothing.
This was all his fault.
No….my ex’s fault.
If he had stayed loyal to me like I was to him, if he hadn’t humiliated me like that, if he hadn’t cheated on me.
I wouldn’t have gone into the woods late at night. I wouldn’t have met Kade. I wouldn’t have known anything about werewolves. And I wouldn’t be standing here right now, terrified, confused and angry.
So yeah, it was my ex’s fault.
“He ruined my life,” I muttered under my breath. “He caused all this mess.”
“He hurt you,.” Kade whispered, his eyes darkened.
“Yes, he did,” I said sharply. “But now you're doing the same too. Just in a different way.”
The room fell silent.
”I’ll explain everything you need to know,” Kade said calmly. “Every question you have. But you need to come with me.:
I burst into laughter. “You want me to leave my life behind and go with you?”
“Isla, you’re not safe here anymore,” he said,
My anger rose. “Don’t you get it? I’m not going with you.”
His gaze softened. “Isla….”
“Don’t you dare say my name,” I snapped. “You’re not human. You’re a werewolf, so you don’t get to sound like you care.”
Kade inhaled slowly, like he was trying so hard to control himself. “I care not because I want to but because I don’t have a choice.”
“Well, I do,” I said, “I choose to stay.”
“I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you,” he said, hoping to convince me. “It is my sacred duty as your mate.”
I scoffed. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
For a moment, I thought he was going to force me to leave with him. He stood there, his gaze fixed on me, his face wearing a smile. It wasn’t his usual mocking smile, not a cruel one but a sad smile.
Knowing the kind of powers he had, I knew it was easy for him to drag me along.
“I know you’re scared,” he finally said. “But trust me. You’re safer with me than here alone.”
I laughed, louder this time. “Safe with you? You broke into my house. You’re a werewolf.”
He sighed. “Call me whatever you want,” he said calmly. “Monster. Beast. Nightmare. But we need to leave now.”
“I said no.”
The word came out so firm that it surprised me.
“I’m not leaving with you,” I continued. “I don’t care what you are or who the fvck you think I am. This is my life and you don’t get to drag me into your mysterious world.”
He studied my face for a moment, “You’re making a mistake, Isla.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
I could sense his unease. Something was changing in him, it was dark and restrained.
Then, all of a sudden, he stepped back.
“If anything happens to you,” he said. “I won’t forgive myself.”
I swallowed hard. “Your problem, not mine.”
I saw the pain in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it from me.
“Lock your windows,” he said. “Don’t forget to shut the door. Don’t open the door for anyone and don’t go out alone.”
I rolled my eyes. “And if I don’t?” I challenged.
“Then you’ll die,” he said.
I froze. Before I could say anything else, he turned.
One blink and he was gone.
Just like that.
I stood there after he left, my heart pounding in my chest. My room was suddenly very quiet. I checked the door once again and my windows too. Now locked, I slid down the wall and hugged my knees to my chest.
“Then you’ll die.”
His words haunted me. I was scared and what made it worse was that a part of me wished he hadn’t left.
I stayed indoors as Kade had instructed me. For two days, I didn’t step away from the door. I ignored my phone, ensured all the doors and windows were locked. Each night, I slept with the light on, my heart racing at every sound and shadow that moved.
But on the third day, my fear gradually turned into doubt.
Nothing happened as Kade said. No one tried to attack me. Maybe he lied. He probably wanted to scare me into leaving with him. The thought of it made me angry. Angry at myself for believing him.
I sighed and pushed myself off the bed, stretching my still limbs.
“Nothing is gonna happen, Isla. You’re being paranoid,” I whispered to myself.
Then, a loud bang came from my door.
“Don’t open the door for anyone.”
Kade’s voice suddenly echoed in my head.
My heart skipped. This time, gentle.
“Isla?” came a cheerful voice. “Open up.”
I froze. That voice sounded familiar.
Slowly, I moved toward the door. My hands vibrated as I peeped through the small hole in the door.
My close friend stood outside the door with her bright smile, holding a small gift in one hand.
“I come bearing gifts,” she said playfully.
I heaved a long sigh of relief. I laughed under my breath. It was just my friend, there was nothing to be afraid of. “Finally a good company,” I muttered.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“Thank goodness,” I said, stepping aside for her to walk in. “You scared me….”
The moment my friend crossed the threshold, she looked different. Her body suddenly twisted. Her bone cracked, her skin stretched. Her smile suddenly melted into a cruel one.
In less than a second, a strange-looking man stood where my friend once stood.
A tall man with broad shoulders. His smile was cold.
I stumbled back, fear gripping me.
The man tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Look who we have here.”
- Writer
