AMELIA POV
For a moment, I was helpless to do anything except recoil in response as I felt someone give me a bear hug from behind. It made me cringe and more nervous now. Who could do that to me? As I am sure that I was alone there! I continued to feel the burning sensation as though it were steaming my entire body, which prompted me to be quiet about the situation. The steady stream of tears that resulted from my sobbing suddenly stopped. I started turning around slowly, and the sight that greeted me frightened me to the core, to the point where I hurriedly leaped to my feet.
"W-What are you?!"
The eyes of a white wolf were locked on me as if I were his prey, and the only thing I could do about it gazed back at his eyes!
Is this one the killer?
The murderer with sharp fangs and claws?
However, the picture of the white wolf in front of me dissipated like a bubble into the empty space as I blinked my eyes. It was as if the events had never taken place. And just a minute ago, it was gradually being replaced by the face of a handsome man who was intently staring at me with a set of lustrous grey eyes that seemed to be pondering something. I just had an encounter with a human being, not with the white wolf.
What are you thinking, Amelia?
He is a human, not a wolf!
Due to the fact that I was now preoccupied with the monster I had just seen for the first time, I thought that this might be the owner of the forest or someone significant that never came to mind. But also, I was under the impression that he might be one of the forest rangers doing his shift this time.
"Who are you? What are you doing in this place? Are you alone and only with yourself, or are there others with you lurking here without any permit?" It made me go back to reality.
I couldn't tell whether I was sweating now or sobbing because this man, who seems powerful, continued questioning me, and his inquiries were as chilly and full of authority.
"And who in hell gave you permission to go to this place? You must have been unaware that this one is now a private forest, right? Do you not have any idea, young lady?"
I quickly averted my gaze away from him in order to avoid giving a response. Looking at his eyes is like looking at his entire soul. The image of the wolf that I had seen earlier lingered in my mind after I had seen it now. It was scary, yet it seems we have a little connection, regardless of whether or not I recognize it from the bottom of my heart. I went through the story that my father had told me about a wolf a number of times in my mind when I was young. It does not lie.
In addition, I affirmed that they gave a hint that their story was genuinely true. The problem is that I do not have sufficient evidence and proof to establish that anything occurred, and it is unlikely that anyone will believe me even though I've told them repeatedly about what I've seen here.
"What brought you here only to sob in the first place? You don't have a house? Why do you need to come here if that was your only want?"
Even though I wanted to answer his inquiry, I found that I could not utter a single word no matter how many times I opened my mouth. My voice appeared to be stifled. I now became engulfed by forces that were beyond explanation as soon as I shifted my attention back to his well-known eyes. It was hard for me to believe those were the same wolf eyes I'd seen earlier because he was now a human in my eyes. I was also scared by people pointing him out or asking him if he was the white wolf. It's kind of rude, isn't it? As I said, I don't have any evidence that will prove that it was him. I don't want to be the laughingstock of a bunch of people or my friends while saying that I am a storyteller.
"Answer me! Would you give me that?" The man in front of me repeated his statement, even though he is hesitating between turning his attention back to me in front of him or forcing himself to focus on other things. "What are you doing inside this forest? How are you able to come inside despite the fact that coming here needs permission from the owner? Where did you get the guts to do that? Still not giving me the answer?"
I would be certain that I was hallucinating if I caught a brief glimpse of him in his wolf form and thought that he was a wolf. It was funny. I don't believe in those stories. It was only a made-up story to get kids to go to sleep early. And that was all only a product of my vivid imagination, as my father had told me those stories before. I am sure; I just have to adapt it.
Pull yourself together, Amelia. Wake up!
"Are you just going to stare at me? You don't want to answer my questions? I am waiting."
I bit my lower lip and looked away. He is too handsome, so it was hard to tell lies. Should I acknowledge that it was my fault? Then after this? Will he put me in prison as I did not get a permit before entering this forest? What if that thing happens? Will I be able to survive after the imprisonment? No, I won't tell him that this was my plan from the start. I should tell him that I was lost in this forest. Right, it was only a white lie, not just a lie.
"I am s-sorry..."
Then what's next? Your reason, Amelia! Tell him your reason!
His eyes still bore into my face. I could feel the heat and the uncomfortable feeling with those.
"
Look, this is not my intention, but it happened."