Tempt; A Twisted Wolf Tale

by Rene Folsom

  “Cody,” I said, his name spilling from my lips slowly, placidly. “Let go of my arm.”

  “Not until you actually tell me what the fuck is up with you!” he barked, shaking me violently. “I’m tired of these games, Rosetta. Tell me why you’ve been ignoring me, right now!”

  His tone of voice, the way he stared directly into my eyes, and how he dug his fingertips into my bicep almost painfully set me off. The burning that originated from the three scratches on my chest radiated throughout my entire body, spreading to my very toes like a wildfire of wrath. I could feel it coalescing in the center of my chest, forming into a raging inferno of pure, unadulterated fury.

  I didn’t feel fully aware of myself in that moment. The edges of my vision blurred, my form trembling, as I lunged at Cody, my sights set directly on him. His expression was that of surprise as I tore his hand away from my arm and brought my fist up, smashing it against the bridge of his nose. He roared out in pain as blood spurted from both of his nostrils, his nose bending awkwardly to the left. Flailing for a moment, he stumbled backwards as crimson continued to spill over his lips and down his chin until his feet tangled together and he fell over the edge of the embankment. He slammed headfirst to the ground, rolling until he was sprawled out just on the cusp of the waterline.

  Almost immediately, I realized what I had done and yelled out to him. Racing down the slope to his side, I kneeled next to him to make sure he was all right. I pulled him onto his back, wincing as I saw the now-crooked shape of his nose and the blood that continued to ooze from his nostrils. To think I had done that… I was almost sick.

  Cody was unconscious, I deduced, as he didn’t respond to me calling his name. Frantically, I felt around his body, making sure nothing else was broken. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found nothing out of place.

  “What the hell just happened to me?” I whispered to myself, frustration taking over me. I slammed my fist into the ground, growling in time with the loud thump. I had been overcome by my anger, had succumbed to the rage that flooded my system. Now Cody was unconscious with a severely broken nose, all because of me.

  What was I to do?

  A strange rumbling noise above caught my attention. I quickly turned, my eyes widening at what I saw.

  Eyes, shining the color of gold, stared at me from the top of the embankment. My throat constricted at the sight of the wolf from my dream, standing proud over me with her sandy brown mane rustling in the breeze. She was even more magnificent in real life, with her regal stance and the elegant slope of her body. Her fur looked soft and clean, unlike the coarse mange they depicted wild wolves having. I was suddenly taken with the urge to walk up and run my fingers through her beautiful mane…

  Her eyes darted quickly to the prone form of Cody, sniffing the air tentatively, as if seeking something. She met my gaze once again, then bowed her head and turned away.

  “Wait!” I called, jumping to my feet, my unconscious boyfriend forgotten. “Don’t go!”

  The wolf glanced over her shoulder at me, something akin to playfulness glinting in her shimmering eyes. She gave a huff, and then bolted.

  I didn’t hesitate for even a second.

  I gave chase.

  The wolf was swift, agile. She loped along the street with elegance, avoiding the eye of the town’s people with practiced ease. Except me. She always made sure to slow whenever I was starting to lose sight of her.

  She was playing with me, I realized. She kept glancing back at me, her eyes shining with joy, almost as if to sing, “Come and get me!”

  I pumped my legs as hard as I could. I had discarded my heels in favor of running on my bare feet, the sound of them slapping against the concrete like a hand to the face. I felt strangely wild, almost carefree. The wind whipped against my face, my hair and cloak blowing behind me like the cape of a superhero. I felt invigorated. As if I were enjoying this little game of cat and mouse.

  The wolf gave a wide berth to the festival, which was a relief. I didn’t think an oversized wolf running through a crowd would go over well with the partygoers. I watched with amazement as she zigzagged through the streets, the sun beginning its descent—kissing the horizon. Night was quickly approaching, the outline of the full moon starting to solidify high in the eastern sky. I quickened my pace with this thought, not wanting to lose her in the darkness of night.

  For a while, I didn’t know where the wolf was going, but then it dawned on me just as we turned a sharp corner and the light of the surrounding lanterns illuminated the tree line ahead.

  The Shrouded Wood.

  The wolf disappeared into the crowd of trees, and, for the first time since I started chasing her, I hesitated. Everything had started with the Shrouded Wood. The mysterious scratches, the dreams, the mood swings… all of it began while I was walking through the forest on my way to my granny’s house.

  “What do I do?” I wondered aloud, uncertain of myself.

  As if in answer, I heard a howl resonate throughout the air, settling into my soul and spurring me on.

  “That’s that, then.”

  Dislodging one of the lanterns from its post near the tree line, I held it in front of me to illuminate the way as I pressed on into the Shrouded Wood.

  I’d barely made it a few yards before the sun finished its descent and the full moon’s light blanketed the forest in a sea of blue. I was glad for my forethought with bringing the lantern. Otherwise, I’d be trying to navigate the path with minimal illumination. Although, I was wishing I had kept the heels, because my bare feet were starting to sting from stepping over the dead leaves.

  Holding the lantern over my head, I walked along the forest path in search of the wolf. She disappeared within the brush and had yet to reveal herself as I called out.

  “Please, come back!” My voice echoed throughout the Shrouded Wood, bouncing off the trees and back at me, as if I were being mocked. “Please?”

  A voice in the back of my mind pointed out that I had no clue what I would do once I actually caught the wolf. What could I possibly get out of this? A wolf couldn’t tell me why I’d been having these feelings.

  Or could it?

  I felt like I had left my world and entered some sort of alternate dimension. Where wolves played games with you, attractive women haunted your dreams, and your boyfriend turned out to be a huge dick…

  Oh shit!

  I stopped walking as realization dawned on me. Cody. I’d just left him there! His nose was broken, and he might have a concussion from his fall. I cursed aloud at my own stupidity. I’d been so enamored with catching the wolf that I didn’t stop to realize I should’ve called for help.

  “I’m such a fucking moron…” I muttered, swiping a hand over my eyes in exasperation. I stood there for a while, feeling like a total idiot as the weight of my situation came crashing down on me.

  I abandoned my boyfriend after hitting him to chase a wolf into the Shrouded Wood, barefoot and with nothing more than my dad’s cloak and a lantern. And for what? The hope that the woman from my dreams was real?

  Tears threatened to escape me as I stood there in the middle of the forest. I felt more alone than ever in that moment and feared a full-on nervous breakdown would overwhelm me.

  Rosetta…

  I gasped as the voice from my dreams called out to me. Her voice seemed stronger somehow, almost closer.

  Swinging the lantern around to light the area, I searched for the source of the voice. I heard rustling from within the body of trees and aimed the lantern toward them, my eyes widening as the wolf stood, in all of her glory, in the beam’s light.

  “You’re back,” I said, unsure of what else to do.

  I will always come back for you, Rosetta.

  My breath caught in my throat, shock paralyzing me. I stared at the wolf in awe, watching as she took a few steps closer to me from out of the shadows.

  “What…?” I found my voice, swallowing thickly as I fought for the right words. “Was that… you? I
n my head?”

  Yes, the voice spoke again. I told you we were connected now. I meant it.

  “But… how?” I questioned. My eyes widened further as I reached up to touch the scratches over my heart. “It was you, wasn’t it? That marked me? Just like my gran said…”

  I did, she said. I marked you. And by doing so, I am able to speak to you in your mind.

  “But why?” I asked. “Why would you mark me?”

  She was silent for a moment, her eyes trained directly on me. I felt naked under her gaze, exposed. A chill ran down my spine as I waited for her to answer me.

  I’ve watched you, she finally said. I have seen you on your way to your grandmother’s many times.

  “You’ve been watching me?” I gasped, my voice sounding flustered and distant.

  I had never been as bewitched by someone before as I was… as I am… with you.

  My heart thudded wildly in my chest, my grip tightening on the lantern’s handle.

  “I have bewitched you?” I asked incredulously.

  Unimaginably so… She moved closer to me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. I realized I should have taken a step back, moved as far away from the female wolf as possible, but I didn’t. I was fighting the urge to step closer.

  “So, what?” I said, pulling the top of my corset down with my free hand to expose the scars. “You marked me, for what? To claim me?”

  A low growl rumbled in the back of her throat as she spoke.

  It’s the way of my kind, she explained gruffly. It is the only way for us to connect.

  “Connect in what way?” I asked. “You keep saying we’re connected… but how? In what way are we connected?”

  I can communicate with you, she said.

  “But there’s more to it than that,” I accused. “You’ve done something to me, changed me, haven’t you? All of these strange feelings I’ve been having…” I paused, considering everything that had happened to me since she scratched me. “And the cut on my forehead. It healed incredibly quick, because of you.”

  She was quiet for a moment, her ears flickering as she seemed to be mulling over her words carefully.

  Yes, I have changed you.

  “You admit it.”

  I will not lie to you, Rosetta, she said gently. I indeed changed you, marked you, claimed you. But, let me ask you this…

  “Yes?” I urged.

  Do you resent me for it?

  I opened my mouth to speak, but then stopped and closed it. Her question threw me off guard, not because of what it was, but because of the answer that undoubtedly popped in my head.

  “No,” I said quietly. “I don’t resent you.”

  You’re strong willed, she said. You fight because it’s in your nature. But, for just this once… why don’t you give in to your true desires?

  I watched as the wolf’s form shuddered, her sandy brown fur standing on end as she closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. The fur along the slope of her back began to shrink into her body, her four legs shifting as her paws began to expand and lengthen into fingers, an extra toe sprouting forth to form the thumb on each hand. Her tail sunk into her rear, disappearing completely. Her snout began to flatten against her face, her ears shrinking into the normal shape of human ears. As her hind legs began to lengthen and reshape themselves, she stood tall on them to expose the small, white tuft of fur on her stomach that I hadn’t seen before. It too shrunk into her body, revealing smooth skin underneath.

  I marveled as the wolf transformed in front of my eyes, dropping the lantern to the ground in surprise, the light spreading without my having to hold it up. She shed the form of a wolf and took on the appearance of her.

  The woman from my dreams.

  A quick intake of breath was all I could manage as I took in her appearance. “You’re so beautiful,” I whispered, staring at every inch of her. And she was… breathtakingly gorgeous.

  I marveled at her long, blonde hair, which seemed appropriate considering her fur was a sandy color. The locks were straight and came down below her hips in what seemed like beautiful beams of sunshine. Her slender body was bare, standing before me with confidence and authority, as if she were possibly some sort of royalty among her kind.

  To touch her in that moment would’ve been the epitome of pleasure. Seeing her stand before me in such a vulnerable state, yet so poised all in the same breath, made her even more attractive in my eyes.

  With slow, measured steps, she approached me, her movements so graceful and fluid, as if she were floating on air. The atmosphere between us had a charge to it, an energy that strengthened our bond somehow, and made a series of tingles explore every surface of my skin. The connection between us seemed so much stronger now that we were together in the waking world rather than in my dreams.

  Aching to touch her soft skin, I raised my hand toward her, but then hesitated. Was it okay for me to touch her? After all, she did just transform from being a wolf to… to a beautiful woman. I’d only ever touched her in my dreams, and even then, she was the one to initiate contact. Yet, my fingers tingled at just the thought of joining with her cheek—skin on skin.

  Noticing my hesitation, she nodded, adding a smile to her words as she said, “Go ahead. I don’t bite.” The quip didn’t go unnoticed.

  Following her acceptance, I tentatively closed the distance and pressed my palm to her cheek, cupping her stunning face in my hand. The jolt of pleasure that seeped through to my heart increased as she closed her eyes and leaned further into my touch, telling me she enjoyed it as much as I did.

  With butterflies filling my stomach, I took one step closer so our bodies were nearly touching, my thumb tracing a light path along the corner of her mouth and across her bottom lip.

  Opening her eyes, she looked at me with lust and adoration in her gaze. The color of her irises was both shocking and mesmerizing, making me wish I could spend eternity staring into their depths.

  “My, your eyes are such a stunning color of gold,” I admired, staring into them with the utmost reverence and amazement.

  “Better to look upon your beauty with, Rosetta,” she answered, fluttering her lashes as her eyes rolled and closed, continuing to enjoy my thumb tracing the ridge of her mouth. The rich, red color of her lips had my gaze following the path of my thumb in pure, spellbinding hunger.

  “And your lips, they’re so amazingly soft and plump,” I revered, continuing to feather my touch over the smooth, plush surface.

  “Better to taste you with as I kiss you,” she explained, never taking her eyes off me as I sustained caressing her with both my fingers and my stare.

  Bringing her hand up to lay on top of mine, I noticed those stunning claws adorning her fingers—the same ones I admired in my dream—the same ones that looked so sinfully amazing against my skin. They were long, sharp, and simply stunning.

  “And I just love how your claws match my scars,” I said, taking her hand in mine and placing light kisses against her knuckles, fingers, and everywhere else I could manage to put my lips.

  “Better to feel you with, to trace along your skin, and to make you writhe with pleasure beneath me, my dear,” she said in a near whisper, her body now flush up against mine. Heat radiated between us as we stood in the middle of the Shrouded Wood, her naked and me just dying to get my clothes off too, so there’d be nothing between our hearts but flesh.

  Without another word spoken between us, she closed the distance, her kiss filled with a passion no simple words could express. I matched her vigor as my fingers tangled in her hair, worried that if I let go, it would end way too soon.

  “Ahh,” I cried out between breaths, the claw marks on my chest burning as our tongues tangled together, igniting a fire deep inside me at the mere touch of this woman—so stunning, so sensual.

  “I want you to stay with me,” she panted, her breaths just as ragged as mine, our lips still locked in a heated passion one only finds in a romance flick. Her words echoing in my mind had me slowing, pu
lling away to catch my breath as I contemplated her words. There was only one answer I could give her—one answer that wouldn’t make my heart break in two—one answer that would keep me whole.

  “Yes,” I whispered, looking into her eyes to make sure she heard the quiet, one-syllable word that meant more than the world. The joy in her eyes told me it was the answer she’d been hoping for all along. All I could do was lay my head on her shoulder, as if a huge weight had been lifted off mine, and I suddenly felt free to be me.

  Standing in each other’s arms, staring up at the full moon lighting up the sky, I wondered what would come next for us. How would we make this… arrangement… work?

  As if I spoke the question out loud, she caressed my hair and said, “Don’t you worry. Things have a way of working themselves out.”

  “But why me?” I blurted, looking into her eyes for some sort of sincerity, some way of knowing that I was worthy. “What’s so special about me?”

  Her gaze bore into my soul, each little flick of her eyes telling me she was examining every aspect of my face as I asked those all-important words. Her features softened as she spoke and said, “Oh, Rosetta, I’ve been waiting so long, just for the right time to be with you.”

  “But why?” I repeated. “Why me? There are so many others…”

  She placed a clawed finger gently against my lips to silence me. “Hush, darling,” she whispered tenderly. “You are the one I choose. I know there are others that I could have, but I don’t want them. I want you.”

  I felt my insides nearly melt at her words. Leaning up, I captured her lips again, my stomach twisting in knots as an unimaginable amount of joy filled me. My skin felt hot as I touched her, my fingers dancing over her biceps. She reciprocated the kiss, holding me tight as if I were going to run away. How could I possibly even think of running away from her?

  It was then that I realized that my skin was growing even hotter, more so than was comfortable. I pulled back from her, a gasp leaving my lungs in a huff, the knot in my stomach revealing itself to be more than just butterflies as it throbbed, feeling a strange sensation radiate throughout my body. I looked into her eyes, questioning, pleading for some answers.