Chapter 5: The Wolf, the Waterfall, and the Stranger
980 Words
Mystic hummed happily inside Aurora's mind as she raced deep into the heart of the forest. Her wolf was practically bouncing with excitement — it had been nearly three months since they last visited the refreshing waterfall, and today Mystic’s excitement was impossible to ignore. Even when Aurora tried to block her thoughts, she could feel her wolf’s restlessness, her longing to be free. So here they were, finally giving in.
They reached the waterfall, its crystal-clear waters glistening under the morning sun. Mystic was ready to shift immediately and leap in, but Aurora quickly stopped her.
“Oh no you don’t!” she warned. “At least let me strip first. We didn’t bring any spare clothes with us!”
Mystic growled playfully but waited. Aurora stripped out of her clothes, folding them neatly on a dry rock. The second her last piece of clothing hit the ground, Mystic shifted mid-air, the white fur landing gracefully in her wolf form and sprinting toward the water.
The cold splash of the falls hit them like a burst of freedom. They swam wildly, diving under the water, floating on their backs, laughing without a care in the world. For a while, time seemed to disappear — just them, the rushing sound of the falls, and the gentle hum of the forest.
But then Mystic stiffened. Someone was near.
Mystic caught the scent first — a stranger approaching. Luckily, the wind blew in their favor, hiding their scent. Aurora quickly swam toward the rocks, climbing out as quietly as she could. In one swift move, she shifted back into her human form and reached for her clothes, struggling to dress herself.
But before she could fully cover herself, a figure stepped into view.
Aurora froze.
He was devastatingly handsome — tall, with dark hair that curled slightly at the edges, a firm, muscular build, broad shoulders, and piercing emerald green eyes that seemed to strip her soul bare. Her mouth fell open in shock, unable to look away. She barely remembered to pull her shirt down in front of her.
The man stared at her just as intently. His gaze darkened, lingering on the curves of her wet body, on the pale, glistening skin, and the way her silver hair clung to her like a second skin. His jaw tightened, and something raw flashed through his expression.
But then, he scoffed.
“If you're trying to seduce me,” he said coldly, “you’re wasting your time. I don’t f**k sluts, no matter how pretty they are.”
Aurora gasped, the insult hitting her like a slap. She flushed crimson, yanked her shirt down properly, and glared at him with pure fury.
Without thinking, she marched right up to him — and slapped him hard across the face.
The crack echoed through the clearing.
Breathing heavily, Aurora glared up at him. “How dare you?” she spat. “I wasn’t trying to seduce you! Not every girl you meet is throwing herself at your feet. Arrogant jerk!”
The man blinked in surprise, rubbing his cheek, and for a split second, he actually looked amused. But then his eyes gleamed wickedly.
“You better run, little girl,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “Before I change my mind… and devour you anyway. You smell delicious.”
Aurora’s stomach twisted at the dark promise in his tone. Not waiting another second, she scooped up the rest of her clothes and bolted, running as fast as her legs could carry her into the forest.
“Mystic!” she mindlinked in panic, “Why didn’t you do anything? He was so arrogant!”
Mystic giggled inside her mind. “You know the rule — no shifting in front of strangers. Besides, admit it, Aurora. We admired him a little, didn’t we?”
Aurora huffed, slowing her pace slightly. “Maybe… just a little. Okay, a lot. But still! That was humiliating.”
“He was hot though. Definitely drool-worthy.” Mystic teased.
Aurora laughed despite herself. “Maybe Luke is rubbing off on us. Maybe we’re just weird around hot guys because we barely interact with any males.”
The thought made them both giggle like teenagers. But then Aurora noticed the time and swore under her breath.
They sprinted back toward the pack house, trying to beat her parents’ arrival. Unfortunately, fate wasn’t on her side.
The moment Aurora slipped through the front door, she came face-to-face with Madeline. Her sister had just put down the phone, her sharp gaze pinning Aurora in place.
“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” Madeline sneered. She marched toward her — and slapped Aurora hard across the face.
“Where have you been, you little b***h?” she hissed. “Sneaking around? Sleeping around?”
Aurora’s cheek stung, but she bit back tears. Mystic growled low in her mind, demanding to be unleashed, but Aurora forced herself to stay calm. She mindlinked quickly, "Please, Mystic. Not now. We’ll only get in more trouble.”
Mystic grumbled but obeyed.
“I just… went to the forest,” Aurora said quietly. “I swam at the waterfall. I lost track of time. I wasn’t doing anything bad, I swear. Please don’t tell Father and Mother.”
Madeline narrowed her eyes, then smirked. “Fine. But you owe me. Now go to the kitchen and cook something special for dinner. Something worthy of a real Alpha family.”
Aurora nodded and fled upstairs to drop her things, feeling utterly exhausted.
When she returned to the kitchen, she pulled her silver hair into a tight bun and started cooking, pouring all her pent-up anger and sadness into her work.
As always, it was easier to endure the pain when her hands were busy — and her heart remembered that somewhere, somehow, freedom was still waiting.
- Writer
