Chapter 2 — The Dying Wolf
2521 Words
The rain fell harder as Eva stepped beneath the trees.
She immediately regretted leaving the shelter.
The forest was darker than she had imagined.
During the day, the woods looked peaceful from a distance. At night, they seemed alive.
Every branch looked like a reaching hand.
Every shadow appeared to move.
Eva held the lantern tightly as she walked deeper into the forest.
"Hello?"
Her voice disappeared into the rain.
She stopped.
Nothing.
Only the sound of water dripping from the leaves.
Maybe she had imagined it.
Maybe it had been a fox.
Or a deer.
Or some other harmless animal.
She should turn around.
She knew that.
Yet something inside her urged her forward.
Then she heard the sound again.
A low, painful whimper.
Eva's heart tightened.
"Where are you?"
She followed the sound.
Her shoes sank into the wet earth as she pushed through bushes and low branches.
The further she went, the quieter the world became.
Even the thunder seemed distant.
Then her lantern flickered.
Eva stopped.
"Please don't go out."
The flame steadied.
She breathed again.
A few feet ahead, something moved.
Eva froze.
Two glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
Her blood turned cold.
She couldn't breathe.
The creature stepped into the faint light.
A wolf.
A huge wolf.
Much larger than any wolf Eva had ever seen.
Its fur was black, almost blending into the darkness around it. Its shoulders were broad, its claws long, and its eyes glowed an unnatural golden color.
Eva stumbled backward.
The wolf growled.
She nearly dropped the lantern.
"Easy."
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
The wolf stared at her.
There was something strange about its eyes.
Not just anger.
Pain.
The animal lowered its head.
Eva noticed blood dripping from its side.
"Oh."
She took a cautious step forward.
"You've been hurt."
The wolf growled again.
Eva stopped.
"I'm sorry."
She should have been terrified.
She was terrified.
But the sight of the blood made something inside her ache.
She knew what it was like to be hurt and ignored.
She slowly crouched.
"I won't hurt you."
The wolf watched her.
Eva placed the lantern on the ground.
Then she carefully moved closer.
"Let me see."
The wolf didn't move.
Eva reached out.
The animal suddenly bared its teeth.
She froze.
"Okay."
Her hand lowered.
"I understand."
She looked at the wound.
It was terrible.
A deep gash ran along the wolf's side. Blood soaked its black fur.
"What happened to you?"
The wolf's breathing was heavy.
Eva glanced around.
"Was another animal attacking you?"
The wolf suddenly collapsed.
Eva gasped.
"No!"
She rushed forward.
The massive creature hit the ground.
Eva dropped beside it.
"Hey."
She touched its neck.
Its heartbeat was weak.
Very weak.
"Oh, no."
She looked around helplessly.
There was nobody nearby.
No healer.
No doctor.
No one.
The village was far away.
She couldn't carry the wolf.
She wasn't even sure she could move it.
"Please don't die."
The wolf's golden eyes opened.
For one strange moment, Eva felt as though it understood her.
"I'm going to help you."
She looked around.
Maybe there were herbs nearby.
Her mother had taught her some basic remedies when she was young.
She knew how to stop bleeding.
At least, she thought she did.
Eva tore a strip from the bottom of her dress.
She pressed it against the wound.
The wolf growled.
"I know it hurts."
She pressed harder.
"Just hold on."
The blood soaked through the cloth almost immediately.
Eva's heart raced.
"You're losing too much blood."
The wolf's eyes closed.
"No."
She shook its shoulder.
"Don't sleep."
Nothing.
"Please."
She looked toward the village.
She could go back.
But if she did, her father would never allow her to return.
And even if he did, it would take too long.
The animal would be dead before she could find help.
Eva looked back at the wolf.
She had never been particularly religious.
But that night, she prayed.
"Please."
Her voice cracked.
"Whatever God is listening... please don't let it die."
The wolf suddenly moved.
Its body shifted violently.
Eva stumbled backward.
"What—"
Bones cracked.
The wolf's body twisted.
Eva screamed.
The creature's front legs stretched.
Its spine arched.
Fur disappeared beneath skin.
Eva scrambled backward through the mud.
"What is happening?"
The wolf transformed.
Not into another animal.
Into a man.
A naked man.
He collapsed onto the ground.
Eva stared.
Her mind refused to understand what she was seeing.
The stories.
The stories her father had told her.
The stories every child in the village had heard.
Werewolves.
They were real.
Eva covered her mouth.
"Oh my God."
The man's breathing was shallow.
He was tall.
Very tall.
His body was covered with wounds, his dark hair plastered against his forehead by the rain.
He looked young.
Perhaps in his late twenties.
But there was something powerful about him even in his weakened state.
Something that made Eva instinctively want to step back.
She should run.
Instead, she grabbed the blanket from around her shoulders and covered him.
"You're a man."
His eyes opened.
Golden.
Eva froze.
The man stared at her.
"You..."
His voice was barely a whisper.
Eva swallowed.
"Don't speak."
"Who..."
He coughed.
"Who are you?"
"Eva."
His eyes narrowed.
"Eva?"
"Yes."
He looked at the blanket around his body.
Then at the bloodied cloth in her hands.
"You helped me."
Eva nodded.
"I couldn't leave you there."
His expression changed.
"Leave."
"What?"
"Go."
Eva shook her head.
"You'll die."
"That would be better."
Eva frowned.
"Why?"
He closed his eyes.
"You don't know what you're dealing with."
Eva stared at him.
"You are a werewolf."
His eyes opened.
"Yes."
She should have been afraid.
Instead, she found herself strangely calm.
"Are you going to hurt me?"
"No."
His answer came immediately.
"Then I'm staying."
He looked at her as though she were insane.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
He tried to sit up.
His body immediately gave out.
Eva caught his shoulder.
"Careful."
His hand grabbed her wrist.
The moment their skin touched, something strange happened.
A sharp sensation traveled through Eva's body.
She gasped.
The man's eyes widened.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then he released her.
"What was that?"
Eva rubbed her wrist.
"I don't know."
He stared at her.
His expression was suddenly different.
Alarm.
Recognition.
Fear.
"What?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at her neck.
Eva instinctively covered it.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
He shook his head.
"It can't be."
"What can't be?"
He tried to stand again.
This time, he managed it.
Barely.
Eva stepped back.
He was enormous compared to her.
Even injured, there was an authority about him.
"What's your name?" Eva asked.
He remained silent.
"You're not going to tell me?"
"You need to leave."
Eva folded her arms.
"You've said that already."
"Then listen."
"I will listen when you tell me why."
The man looked toward the forest.
"We don't have time."
"For what?"
He looked at the blood covering his hands.
Eva realized something.
His wound wasn't healing.
Werewolves were supposed to heal quickly.
At least, that was what the stories claimed.
But this man was getting weaker.
His face had become pale.
Eva stepped closer.
"You are dying."
He looked at her.
"Yes."
"Then let me help you."
"There is nothing you can do."
"There must be something."
"No."
He looked toward the sky.
Lightning flashed between the trees.
For a moment, Eva saw his face clearly.
He looked exhausted.
Not just physically.
Emotionally.
As though he had spent years carrying something too heavy.
"Who did this to you?"
His jaw tightened.
"My enemies."
"Are they coming?"
"Perhaps."
"Then we should leave."
He almost laughed.
"You think you can walk me home?"
Eva frowned.
"No."
"Then what?"
"I don't know."
She looked around.
"Maybe there's a cave."
He stared at her.
"You should be running."
Eva shook her head.
"I'm not leaving you."
"Why?"
The question caught her off guard.
She didn't know.
Maybe because no one had ever stayed for her.
Maybe because she knew what loneliness felt like.
Maybe because she couldn't watch someone die when she might be able to help.
"Because you're hurt."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then something changed.
His breathing became ragged.
He grabbed the nearest tree.
Eva rushed toward him.
"Are you okay?"
"No."
He looked down at his wound.
Then back at Eva.
His eyes had become brighter.
Almost burning.
"Listen to me."
Eva nodded.
"If I ask you to run, you run."
"Why?"
"Because I may not be able to control myself."
Eva's heart began pounding.
"What do you mean?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached toward her.
Eva stepped back.
"What are you doing?"
"Forgive me."
Before she could move, he caught her.
Eva gasped.
His hand held her shoulder.
His face came close to hers.
She could feel his breath.
"Wait!"
His eyes met hers.
For one brief moment, she saw something almost human in them.
Regret.
Then pain twisted his face.
He turned his head.
His teeth lengthened.
Eva screamed.
The man bit into the side of her neck.
Pain exploded through her body.
She tried to push him away.
"Stop!"
His grip tightened.
The bite burned.
Not like an ordinary wound.
It felt as if fire was spreading beneath her skin.
Eva cried out.
Then suddenly—
He released her.
She fell backward.
Her hands flew to her neck.
"What did you do?"
The man stumbled away.
His face was filled with horror.
Eva touched the wound.
Blood covered her fingers.
The pain was already changing.
The burning was moving through her veins.
The man's eyes were wide.
"I didn't have a choice."
Eva stared at him.
"You bit me."
"I know."
"Why?"
He looked at the wound.
"Because I needed to live."
Eva couldn't understand.
"You said you couldn't control yourself."
"I couldn't."
He looked toward the sky again.
"Your blood..."
He stopped.
"What about my blood?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at her with an expression Eva couldn't explain.
Something had happened.
Something neither of them understood.
Then the man collapsed.
Eva rushed to him.
"Hey!"
She knelt beside him.
His breathing had changed.
It was deeper.
Stronger.
The bleeding from his wound had stopped.
Eva stared.
The gash along his side was closing.
Slowly.
But visibly.
"What..."
She couldn't finish.
The man opened his eyes.
His golden gaze locked onto hers.
For the first time, there was strength in it.
He pushed himself upright.
Eva moved backward.
"You're healing."
He looked at his wound.
Then at her.
"It worked."
"What worked?"
He stood.
This time, without help.
Eva stared.
He looked toward the village.
"We have to go."
"Who are you?"
He hesitated.
"Adrian."
"Adrian what?"
He looked at her.
"Just Adrian."
Eva frowned.
"Why did you mark me?"
He went completely still.
"You know what the bite means?"
"My father told me about werewolves."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"If your father knows, then you understand that you cannot tell anyone."
"Why?"
"Because if they discover what I have done..."
He looked at the mark on her neck.
"...you will become a target."
Eva touched it.
"What exactly did you do?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Then he said quietly,
"I marked you."
Eva's stomach twisted.
"Marked me?"
"It means my wolf has claimed you."
Eva stared at him.
"But I'm human."
"For now."
Her eyes widened.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian looked away.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I've never seen this happen before."
Eva took a step toward him.
"Then unmark me."
His expression became grim.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know how."
Eva stared at him in disbelief.
"You bite me, change my life, and then tell me you don't know how to fix it?"
Adrian looked genuinely sorry.
"Yes."
Eva wanted to scream.
Instead, tears filled her eyes.
She turned away.
"This can't be happening."
Adrian watched her.
"Eva."
She didn't respond.
"You need to go home."
Eva laughed bitterly.
"Home?"
She wiped her tears.
"They don't want me there."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"My family."
She looked toward the lights of the village.
"They left me outside because they thought I broke a vase."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"They left you alone in this forest?"
"No."
Eva pointed toward the direction of the house.
"They left me outside the house."
Adrian looked at her.
"Why did you come here?"
"I heard you."
He seemed surprised.
"You came into the forest because you heard an animal crying?"
Eva nodded.
"You could have died."
"So could you."
A strange silence settled between them.
Adrian looked at her.
Something in his chest tightened.
He had been hunted.
Attacked.
Bleeding.
Dying.
He had expected death.
Instead, he had found a girl carrying a lantern through the rain.
A girl who should have been terrified of him.
A girl who had saved him without knowing who he was.
And now she carried his mark.
He didn't understand why his wolf had reacted to her.
He didn't understand why touching her had felt like coming home.
But he knew one thing.
He could not leave her here.
"I will take you back."
Eva shook her head.
"No."
"You can't stay here."
"I'll go back in the morning."
"It isn't safe."
Eva looked at him.
"Neither is my house."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"What do you mean?"
Eva looked down.
"It's complicated."
He wanted to ask more.
But a distant howl interrupted them.
Adrian immediately turned toward the sound.
His entire expression changed.
"What is it?"
"People are coming."
Eva's heart raced.
"Your enemies?"
"Perhaps."
He stepped closer.
"You need to leave."
"Where?"
"Anywhere but here."
Eva looked at him.
"What about you?"
"I can handle myself now."
He had barely finished speaking when several distant howls echoed through the forest.
Adrian's eyes turned completely golden.
His posture changed.
The wounded man disappeared.
In his place stood something powerful.
Something dangerous.
"Go."
Eva hesitated.
"Adrian—"
"Go!"
Eva flinched.
He softened immediately.
"Please."
She nodded.
Then she turned.
She ran.
Branches scratched her arms.
Mud splashed her dress.
The mark on her neck burned with every step.
She didn't look back.
But just before she disappeared into the darkness, she heard Adrian's voice behind her.
"Eva."
She stopped.
She turned.
He stood beneath the trees.
Even from a distance, his golden eyes found hers.
"Forget me."
Eva stared at him.
Then she ran.
She didn't know why his words hurt.
She didn't know why she kept thinking about the way he had looked at her.
And she certainly didn't know that the man she had just left behind wasn't merely a werewolf.
He was the Alpha.
The most powerful wolf in the kingdom.
And before the night was over, Adrian would return to his palace.
There, an entire kingdom would be waiting for him.
And the elders would have no idea that their Alpha had just met the woman who would change the fate of the entire pack.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD