#11. Met
1037 Words
Grayson carried the unconscious woman in his arms, his jaw tight and his muscles wound with tension. Her head rested against his chest, her hair sticky with sweat and dirt, her ankle bleeding where the rogue had bitten her. He could still smell the beast’s stench in the air. The rogue had bolted the moment it saw him, but that didn’t matter, Grayson had seen enough.
This woman…
The same woman who had come into his hotel room.
The same woman who had climbed into his bed that night, trembling and frightened.
And now here she was again, unconscious, bleeding, and alone in the woods.
His grip tightened around her as he pushed through the trees and headed straight for his private cabin. When he reached the door, he kicked it open and carried her inside, lowering her carefully onto his bed. He pressed two fingers to her wrist. Her pulse fluttered weakly, but it was steady. She was only unconscious.
Grayson grabbed the small wooden box he kept tucked under a shelf. Inside were the few medical supplies he always kept on hand. He cleaned the wound gently, wiping away the dirt and blood, and dressed it carefully with the clean cloth he had. The bite was deep, but it would hold. She would survive.
He stepped back and watched her for a long moment.
What was she doing here?
Was she the granddaughter of that old man?
The rogue had nearly killed her. If he hadn’t appeared when he did… he didn’t let himself finish the thought. He could still see the wolf’s jaws around her ankle, still hear her scream echoing through the trees. His blood boiled at the memory.
He would find that rogue.
And when he did, he would tear him apart slowly.
Grayson stood up and finally tore his gaze away from the unconscious woman. With one last look at her sleeping form, he left the cabin.
-----
Betty woke up with a sharp inhale, blinking hard as her vision swam. The ceiling above her wasn’t familiar. Neither were the wooden walls or the thick blankets beneath her. She pushed herself up slowly, her head pounding.
“Where the hell am I?” she muttered.
Then she looked down and saw her ankle. The bite mark was wrapped neatly, but she could still feel the throbbing pain under the bandage. The memory hit her instantly, the huge black wolf, the blood dripping from its mouth, the way it had lunged at her. The way she had screamed. The way her body had given out.
Her heart raced as she looked around the cabin. Who had brought her here?
The door creaked open.
A tall man stepped in, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. He was striking, so striking she forgot to breathe for half a second. His face was sharp, his eyes cold but undeniably handsome. He looked powerful in a way that made the room feel too small.
She instinctively shifted back.
“Who… who are you?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Grayson’s eyes met hers, intense and unreadable. “I’m Grayson,” he said. “I found you being attacked in the woods.”
Betty let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Thank you so much. You… you saved my life.”
He dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment.
“Was that a wolf back there?” Betty asked, her brows furrowing. “It didn’t really look like… an animal.”
Grayson’s gaze sharpened just a little. “It was a wolf. Nothing more. And you need to be careful around here. We have a lot of wolves in these woods.”
“I definitely will,” she said. “Ugh, Grandpa must be worried sick. He told me not to wander into the woods, but I got curious. I’m such a fool.”
“No,” Grayson said, his tone unexpectedly soft. “You’re not a fool.” He studied her carefully then asked, “You’re the old man’s granddaughter?”
Betty gave a small smile. “Yes. I’m Grandpa’s granddaughter.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said and extended a hand.
She shook it gently. “Same here. And pardon me, I’m Betty.”
“Are you staying around here for a while?” he asked, slipping his hands casually into his pockets.
Betty nodded. “Yes. I’m here for some time.”
She looked toward the door. “I really have to go now. Grandpa will be so worried.”
“I’ll walk you back,” Grayson said.
“Oh—thank you. You don’t know how scared I am right now. If you hadn’t shown up…” She shook her head. “I don’t want to think about it.”
She stood and tried to walk, but pain shot through her ankle, making her stumble. Grayson bent down and swept her up into his arms effortlessly.
“Oh—no, no, I can man—”
She didn’t even get to finish. He had already lifted her. Her face burned instantly.
“You shouldn’t put weight on that leg,” he said. “I’ll take you back to your cabin.”
“Thank you…” she whispered.
Grayson carried her out of the cabin and through the woods. Her flowery scent rose around him with every step, pulling at something deep inside him he didn’t want to name. Why was she here? Why had she come into his room that night? And why did she affect him this way?
He didn’t have answers but he planned to find them.
When they reached the edge of the neighborhood, Betty touched his arm lightly. “You can drop me here. I don’t want Grandpa to get too worried seeing me like this.”
Grayson nodded and set her down gently.
“Thank you so much, Grayson,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he replied.
He watched her limp toward the cabin door and disappear inside.
Grayson’s eyes narrowed.
“I need to know more about you,” he murmured. “I’ll find out everything about you… and what led you to my room at the hotel that night.”
- Writer
