The forest passed by in a blur as Gabriella ran through the trees, flashlights swinging wildly from her hands as she jumped over obstacles in her path.
The heavy footsteps and growls of the wolves grew closer, filling her with a fresh wave of fear.
The camera bounced against her chest, thorny branches scratching at her skin, the pain barely registering in her mind as she pushed herself forward. Her lungs were burning, her legs screaming in protest, and the sound of the approaching wolves was the only motivation for her tired legs.
She looked back to see how long she had before they gained on her.
Big mistake.
"Oomph!"
A raised root caught her foot, sending her crashing to the floor, pain shooting through her knees.
Her breath came out in ragged short gasps as she leaned against a nearby tree.
"Great," Gabriella muttered. "I am going to die a disfigured wolf meal. I should have stayed home and cleaned the house, for one thing. Damn it, Ella. Why did you have to come to the woods at night?"
A brown wolf stepped out from the darkness, dark gaze fixed on her, fangs bore in defense.
Gabriella instinctively reached for the silver locket around her neck, the runes glowed as she asked for whatever her grandmother believed in to save her. Suddenly the locket emitted a bright light which bathed the forest in a shimmering blue glow.
The wolf snarled and lunged towards her.
"No!!" Gabriella raised her arms to shield herself from the radiant light and the beast that wanted her in its jaws.
Nothing happened.
She blinked her eyes open slowly and watched in awe as the shimmering blue energy wrapped around the wolf, immobilizing it in place with a mystical force.
The predator's eyes gleamed, whimpers rising into the air as the other wolves looked on in bewilderment, keeping a safe distance between her and the glowing locket.
Gabriella's hand shook around the delicate locket, the warmth pulsating out of it felt soothing and familiar, almost like she had seen this before, yet none of this made sense.
"What...what the hell is going on?" She murmured, her voice barely audible amidst the crackling energy enveloping her.
The wolf growled once more, pulling her focus back to its frozen form, as it pushed against the invisible force field, the light from the locket still strong. The atmosphere was tense, heavy with power that danced on the tops of her fingers. Her instinct said she should look for the alpha, the black wolf that caught her attention, yet preservence said she should keep her eyes on the wolves in front of her.
"What are you?" She inquired, her tone more steady than she felt. Her hand dropped from the locket and the glow dimmed, freeing the wolf from its hold. She pushed up against the tree in fear as the beast advanced on her. She was without protection; holding the locket again, she rubbed against it, hoping that would bring it to life.
Nothing.
"Shit!"
A deep commanding voice broke through the trees. "Enough!"
Gabriella turned towards the sound, her heart racing with fear. The voice exuded power and authority, sending shivers down her spine.
It was the man from before, the alpha wolf. He was now in his human form. Gabriella gasped as the man stepped fully into the light.
He was handsome. Dark hair slicked over the chiseled jaw, black-eyed holding her captive in their walls. She was drawn to him. Something inside told her he would keep her safe, but from what?
"You should never have come here, little mate." He said in a low tone.
The wolves retreated as he walked up to Gabriella, who clutched tightly at the locket, as though it would save her from his intense glare.
"Who are you?" She asked as he came to a stop before her, lowering himself to meet her brown gaze.
The man's lips twisted into a slight, emotionless grin. "The most important question right now is… what is a witch doing on my pack lands?" His gaze shifted to the locket, a spark of recognition appearing on his face. "I thought the last of your kind died out years ago, little mate? How is it that you are still alive? And with that cursed thing no less?"
Gabriella's mind raced with questions. Witch? Died out? Cursed? What the hell was he raving about? She had to figure out a way to leave this place before she was killed.
"Look, I didn't mean to cause any trouble," She murmured, tossing her camera at his feet. "You can have the camera. The pictures and everything are in there. I won't report this to anyone. I will leave town today and never come back. I will even… I will join a silent monastery if you want. Just please, let me go."
"Well, I can't do that, little mate." He murmured, his tone gentler but still authoritative. "You came here on my land and you harmed one of my own with your magic. I have to make sure you won't be a danger to my people."
"Are you crazy?" The words came out from her lips before she could stop. Handsome or not, was this jerk planning to kill her to cover up the fact that his wolf pack was terrorizing the town. "I just said I would leave town! What the hell is this about making sure I won't be a danger to your people? And, why are you calling me "little mate?"
The man's face darkened, his jaw clenching. "Because you are my mate. My greatest gift from the gods and the biggest weakness I will ever have. You were supposed to be dead! I never wanted to meet you, yet here you are. My mate. A witch! This must be another way the ancients want to screw me over."
"Since you hate me that much, then let me go. After all, no one will believe me if I say I saw… what are you people anyway?" She asked with a firm voice.
He remained silent, plump lips curving into a sardonic smile as he replied. "Allow me to introduce myself, little mate," He rose to full height, wide shoulders casting a shadow between the trees, dark hair shining in the moonlight. "My name is Rocco Salvatori. Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. What is your name, little mate?"
Gabriella winced as she rose to a standing position, holding onto the locket around her neck. "Farris. My name is Gabriella Farris, and as I have told you before… I am not a witch." She stuttered, taking a tentative step back.
His head tilted, his eyes focused on the locket. "If you are not a witch, then why do you have that locket?"
"It was my grandmother's. I found it when I moved back into her house." She answered in haste, her words rushing out in a jumble. "It is a stupid locket that glows. It doesn't mean anything."
"You have no idea the power of the power that runs through your veins," Rocco said with a flat grin. "It might not belong to you, but the locket recognizes you. It knows the blood coursing through your veins. That is why it is protecting you. You are a witch and your presence here will put us all in danger."
Gabriella held the locket tighter, heart racing. "Stay away from me! I am not a witch. I came here for pictures and I will leave this cursed town first thing tomorrow."
Rocco paused, his black eyes flickering with a golden glow for a brief moment, almost as though he was having a conversation inside his head before being replaced with a cold gaze. "You are not going anywhere." He spat out. "I may not like the idea of a mate, but I won't leave mine unprotected especially when she is an unawakened witch. You will be dead before daylight if the rogues sniff you out. I can't risk you getting hurt and fucking up my life. Let's go."
Panic surged through her as he reached out with surprising gentleness to touch the locket around her neck. A jolt of energy passed through them as his fingers grazed hers still around the locket. Gabriella gasped, collapsing to the floor as she momentarily lost her vision. She barely noticed Rocco's pain-filled expression, the veins in his jaws bulging out in pain. After what felt like a century, her vision cleared and she looked up at him.
He looked at her, jaw set in a hard line. "What did you do?"
Gabriella shook her head, struggling to speak through ragged breaths. "I'm case your wolf eyes are fucking blind… I didn't do anything! I am in pain as well." She retorted with a trembling voice.
His gaze shifted between her and the locket, his expression unreadable. Taking a step back, his eyes narrowed. "You are coming with me. We need to undo whatever spell you have cast and we can only do that if we are on safe grounds."
Gabriella shook her head decisively. "I am not going anywhere with you, wolfman. So get lost!"
A humorless smile played on Rocco's lips. "That was not a request."
He moved fast before she could react. One minute, she was leaning against the tree, his warm hand wrapped around her wrist, the simple touch sending a surge of electricity through her, causing her legs to grow weak. His touch sent a surge of electricity through her, causing her to gasp and her legs to weaken.
"What do you think you are doing? Let go of me?!"
Rocco didn't budge, his face set in a hard gaze. "I am saving your life."
With those words, he pulled her into the darkness.