Howl of the Forgotten

Elinor’s Point of View The basement was cold all the time, but tonight the heat was oppressive. I tossed the blanket that was over me aside as I rolled and turned in hopes of finding some relief, but nothing helped. I sat up and looked out at the quarter moon through the small window above my bed before I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Wasting no more time, I rose from bed, threw a light shawl around my shoulders and tiptoed to my room door here in the basement. The door creaked as I opened it and closed it again before going upstairs. The pack house was as silent as usual at this time of the night because everyone was asleep. I rushed to the back door of the pack house and stepped out into the freezing night, the cold wind embracing my heated body. I exhaled and strode away from the pack house with all its black windows as the stillness wrapped itself around me like a blanket. As I walked further away to my usual spot, I realized the usual night sounds of crickets chirping and owls hooting were not there. The world was silent. My fists clenched at my shawl a little harder as I edged towards the trees. I drew in deep breaths, trying to calm myself down, but I froze as a strange scent lingered in the air, and made the hairs on my arms rise. With the smell, came low voices and footsteps. I had turned at the sound and seen five of the pack warriors coming out from behind the line of trees with their eyes burning in the darkness. They were not welcoming-looking, and my body tensed, my wolf growling deep at the back of my head. I should have turned around. It was too late. What's an omega like you doing out here alone?" One of them said, his voice full of amusement. My pulse pounded in my ears. I backed away. "I—I just wanted some air." The tallest one tilted his head, his grin widening. "Fresh air? In the middle of the woods?" I took a step back, my breathing quick, but they moved nearer. The atmosphere around us thickened, as if fog had rolled in. I was frightened as I imagined that something was going to go horribly awry and nobody else would be present to help save me. My heart thudded in my ears as I looked them up and down and noticed I could not fight them, not by myself at least. “You shouldn’t be wandering alone.” Another said, his tone mockingly sweet. “Bad things happen at night.” “Stay back.” I attempted to whisper, but my voice trembled. They laughed, their warm breath on the back of my neck as one of them reached out, his fingers wrapping around nothing. My heart thudded against the inside of my ribcage as I ran harder despite the searing in my legs. I ran between the trees, ignoring their branches which lashed at my skin, my lungs heaving for air. I didn't turn around or look back out of fear of being able to see them coming behind me. My heart was pounding like a drum, my legs aching as I sprinted while the noises of the footsteps behind me were becoming louder. Panic clawing in my throat. I wasn’t strong enough to fight them as I hadn’t been trained to fight, but they on the other hand were trained, seasoned warriors. All I could do was push myself to increase my speed and get away from them as far as possible. And then, boom! I crashed into something solid. Strong arms caught me before I could hit the ground, and held me steady. I gasped for breath as I began to struggle out of the hold. However when I looked up, I froze. I blinked severally as I couldn’t believe who it was, and my heart raced as I stared into the eyes of the familiar icy blue eyes of Lucian Blackthorne, the Alpha. “Alpha Lucian...” I gasped and immediately threw my head in front of me in a bow. “Elinor, raise your head.” I heard him say I kept my gaze on the ground covered with leaves. I swallowed and did as he said. Sure enough, I heard footsteps pause behind me. Turning, I saw that the warriors paused behind me, their smug grins wiped off, replaced with unease at the sight of the Alpha. Lucian didn't flinch. He didn't need to say a word. His voice was low and commanding, and it made something inside me tighten in a way I couldn't quite explain. “What do you five think you’re doing right now?” Lucian’s tone was as cold as ice, his gaze directly on the warriors. “Alpha, we were…” “We just thought…” “We saw someone out here and thought it was a rogue or something.” They all scrambled to explain and I nearly scoffed as their lies made their way into my ears. “Leave.” Lucian growled in a very authoritative tone. I turned around to see the warriors hesitate. One of them started prying open his jaws in protest, but Lucian snarled low in his throat. The snarl sent a shiver down my spine, and without another word, they all lowered their heads and melted into the forest. Lucian’s gaze fell back on me. “Are you hurt?” I shook my head forcefully. "No, no, I'm not, thank you." Lucian stayed skeptical but failed to object. He crept forward in earnest as he scouted through the forest a final time prior to closing again. "What are you doing out here now?" "I. I couldn't sleep." I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "I always come out at night when I'm not able to sleep." He stared at me for a second before nodding, as if agreeing with my reply. "Then, I suppose we should take a walk."" He said with a small smile that sent a strange warmth through me. “Let’s walk.” I hesitated. To be alone with Lucian was dangerous—dangerous to my heart, at least. But in the tone of his voice, the fact that he simply stood there waiting, it was impossible not to respond. I nodded, a mix of emotions as we walked together side by side, the only sound between us the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The stillness of night pressed down upon us, but Lucian's presence was comforting. My heart still raced from before, but having Lucian at my side felt safe, the same as he always did when he defended me against pack members in the past. He had forever fascinated me, and now here he was, sitting next to me. I trailed behind him, realizing that we had gone way beyond the packhouse, and now, we were standing at the border of the forest, in front of a little cave. Lucian entered it first, glancing back at me. “It’s safe here.” He said softly before entering it. I paused for a moment before I nodded and trailed after him. The cave was small, hardly space for both of us, the coolness a pleasant change from the heat outside, and the walls were smooth beneath my fingers. Lucian leaned back against a rock, his gaze on me, and I suddenly felt shy. “I like you.” I blinked and my eyes slowly drifted onto his face as I wasn't certain if I had heard correctly. Perhaps, it had to be the wind outside fooling my ears. "Did you say something, Alpha Lucian?" I inquired. He stared at me for a moment before he gradually came closer to me. The nearer he came, the harder my heart beat in my chest. "I said, I like you, Elinor." This is time, it was clear and there was no mistaking it. He had said it. My heart slammed against my ribs as I thought I was imagining things. “You’re joking.” I murmured. “I’m not.” Heat rushed to my cheeks and I held my shawl tighter. “I—” “You’re nervous.” His lips twitched slightly, like he was amused. I shook my head quickly. “I’m not.” “You are.” He stepped even closer, and his woodsy scent wrapped around me. He put up his hands and the second his fingers grazed my cheek, I inhaled sharply. I didn't realize what was occurring before he bent forward and kissed me. I was rigid for a moment. Then gradually, I started moving my lips on his. With the deepening of the kiss, his hands caressed my body, and sent shivers down me. “We shouldn’t…” I whispered, pulling back. “Someone might see you with an omega.” Lucian began to trail kisses down my neck and a soft moan escaped my lips. "No one will see us." He whispered on my skin before pulling away for a second and looking at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes of his. "And even if they did, I don't care." His words awakened something in me and before I could say another thing, his lips were back on my neck as his hands slid under my clothes. His touch made me dizzy, and my body responded to him in ways I did not expect causing the resistance I had against him to stop. So, when his hands drew down my pajamas, I did not fight it. I let him.