by Olivia Harp
Claire jumped down from the rock she was standing on and Enzo extended his hand to help Audrey.
"It's fine," she said, "just a small—"
She jumped down and fell on a big root, twisting her right ankle so hard everyone heard it crack. She screamed loud enough to scare every animal in a three-mile radius away.
CHAPTER 23
"Get away, get away!" Enzo ordered as everyone gathered around her.
Audrey was on the verge of tears, but was tough enough to hold them back. She doesn't want her students to see her cry, Enzo thought as he knelt down to see the injury.
"Audrey.".
"I'm a freaking idiot!" she said, reaching out for her ankle and rubbing it.
She whimpered in pain just as she touched it.
"It was an accident," he said, "could've happen to anyone."
"No, I should have—"
"Listen," he said firmly, making her focus on his voice, "I'm going to check if there's anything I can do, or if we need to go to the hospital. It might hurt a bit. Are you ready?"
Mr. Dunley and the kids surrounded her, giving her just enough space to breathe. Enzo started to feel her leg from the knee down, saying "does this hurt?" every time he pressed his fingers on her skin.
She kept shaking her head until a flash of pain filled her and she let out a muted yell.
"Okay," Enzo said moving his hand to the side, "what about here?"
"Yes," she answered, biting her lip.
He moved his hands to her feet and did the same, until he could pinpoint exactly what the problem was.
"It's a bad twist, but I don't think it's fractured or sprained."
"Oh man, oh man," Mr. Dunley said, "listen, I can go back to camp and try to call 911. I've got no signal here."
"No," Audrey said, "don't call 911, it's nothing, I can walk."
Enzo looked down at her ankle. It was starting to swell, maybe it was worse than he initially thought.
"Just help me—" Audrey said as she tried to get up, but the moment she set her foot on the ground she yelped and had to get down again .
"I have a med kit in my tent," Enzo said to Mr. Dunley, "let's get there and then we decide what to do."
"But how are we going to—"
"I'm gonna carry her."
***
Despite her initial protests and the collective incredulity of everyone, Enzo carried her through miles of difficult terrain as if she weighted nothing.
He carried her on his back, and even though he tried to deny it, his bear cherished the feeling of being able to take care of her. Having her so close, especially out here in the forest, calmed the beast.
She fractured her ankle, I need to find a way to convince everyone that it was nothing before I can help.
"You all right back there?" he asked her in a playful manner.
"I'm so embarrassed," she answered her.
"Well, good thing we have this young man with us," Mr. Dunley said from the front, "you gotta send me your workout routine, man. It works."
"Are you implying I'm heavy, Peter?"
The students laughed.
Mr. Dunley turned around, his face red, "no, no! I didn't mean that!"
"You better not," she said, "I'll kick your ass if you do."
"I'm sorry!" Mr. Dunley said, making everyone laugh again.
"There it is!" Carla, an older student, said, "hang in there Miss Rodriguez!"
CHAPTER 24
They reached the camp. After explaining what happened and making every student go away instead of being a creepy onlooker, Enzo and Mr. Dunley got her to her tent.
Enzo helped her down on her bedroll.
"What can I do?" Mr. Dunley asked, "how can I help?"
Enzo looked at him all serious, "start boiling some water and bring it over."
"On my way. Hang in there Miss Rodriguez!" he replied as he jogged away to a small cooking fire they'd made that morning before leaving.
"Is it bad?" Audrey asked, wiping a tear off her face, finally able to let go of her tough attitude in front of the students.
Enzo examined her foot again, his fingers softly feeling the bulging ankle she had developed.
"Fractured," Enzo replied,
"Fucking hell!"
"Don't worry. I got you covered."
She cast a glance at him.
"No," she said, "don't try giving me a massage, it'll only make it worse."
"It's not a massage, and it will cure you," he said, his eyes completely fixed on hers, his voice flat, "but it might hurt a little."
She fell quiet. She'd seen what he could do. It was only a matter of trust. Did she trust him like that? He wouldn't do anything bad to her, she was sure of that.
"Maybe it's not fractured," she said, "let's wait for the water, see if it gets better."
Enzo shook his head, "the water is a distraction, I don't want anyone around if I'm going to do this. No one can know."
She stared at him with an intensity he hadn't seen. He was telling the truth. And it scared her.
"Okay, fuck it," she said. She couldn't move her foot or a million needles would sting her from inside. She was tired of it. Better to get it over and done with. "Let's do it your way."
Enzo nodded and put his hands softly over her ankle, making her wince in pain.
He started attuning himself to Nature. To the old ways. Started to feel the power flowing through him.
His bear was wild, clawing and roaring inside, trying to come out, but he couldn't let it. A warm light filled his insides, his body trembled.
He channeled the positive, non-entropic forces of nature. The forces of life. His gut clenched, his muscles hardened. It was an incredibly powerful force, its subtlety deceiving.
Everyone always thought the forces of death were stronger... but they weren't. For death and chaos to exist, first there must be order. Order and life are its masters.
"This will hurt, honey," he whispered.
His palms turned red as he clasped her ankle with impossible strength. He had to do it, envelop the source of her pain and let Nature do the rest.
She yelled out and covered her mouth. He felt every drop of blood flowing through his body, each of his muscles filling with an otherworldly power, his bones turning to steel, the synapses in his brain firing up faster and faster.
His bear was winning, it would come out, just as he always did when he channeled Nature like this. It was too strong. He heard himself growl, then closed his mouth trying to hold it in for a bit longer.
You stay inside.
His vision blurred, it was no longer the sight of a mere man, but something else. Something more. His animal was coming out, but he was happy.
Her fracture was gone, the swelling disappeared.
He let go of her and felt every pore in his body fill with that brown fur of the animal he couldn't keep inside.
He'd have to run away fast, before anyone saw him.
He might have just fucked up his career helping the students at Jefferson High. But only if they saw him.
He grinned as his heart beat faster and faster. She was no longer in pain. At least he had that.
***
The tingling sensation abandoned Audrey's body, the heat of his hands on her ankle faded away. When he first grasped her foot, she thought she was going to faint. But she didn't. She held on to consciousness as much as she could, and now, her injury looked completely healed.
She moved and pivoted her foot in every direction, it was better than ever.
What the hell did he do?
She looked up at him and saw him trembling, his ragged breath filling her tent, his shirt starting to give away at the seams, his muscles expanding.
His eyes were almost completely black, the smell of fur reached her and she understood. He's shifting. Oh my God.
She felt renewed, completely awake... healthy. Healthier than before. It wasn't just her ankle, it was everything in her.
She held his face, hands on
his cheeks, her fingers submerged in his dark hair.
"Enzo," she called, looking at him straight in the eyes, "you did it."
He let out a soft growl, his face tried to move away, averting her gaze, but she held on.
"Listen to my voice. I'm here for you. Relax, honey."
Enzo growled louder. She felt her sleeping bag move beneath her: he clasped at it with all his might. He was trying to resist. His clothes started ripping apart, she had to do something.
"Enzo," she said with a firmer voice, "look at me."
His eyes widened. She moved her face closer to his, her hands grabbed his traps and elbows, then went to his back and hugged him.
"I'm here," she whispered, caressing his hair, "listen to my voice."
It was barely noticeable, but she felt it. His huge torso turned from steel hard to something more... something more human.
Then his breathing. She could sense him controlling it through great effort, but still, he was in charge again.
He turned to her and his eyes shifted back to normal, the seams on his shirt stopped tearing and before she could say anything she was sitting on his lap, embracing him, their eyes locked, unable to look away.
He was a man again. He held the beast at bay. Their faces were mere inches apart.
He smiled.
"Thank y—"
She kissed him. She couldn't resist. It was an animalistic urge. She needed to taste him.
And he reciprocated. Their tongues found each other and before she knew it she felt his steel hard cock rubbed against her wetness, surprising her.
She wanted him, everything had been so... different. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, she needed to have him right now.
But they couldn't do it. Everyone outside was probably worried about her, what if someone came?
He laid her on the ground and ripped her leggings away, the scent of their fluids transforming the tent into a lustful, sexual spot. He entered her, she was ready.
This wasn't soft, sweet love. This was hardcore fucking.
"But the—" she moaned and saw that he thought the same thing and in a flash zipped up the entrance.
She tried to keep quiet but it was impossible, his member filled her, her juices dripped down to the sleeping bag, she hadn't felt so wild in a long time. She wanted this man... this beast to take her.
He was everything she ever dreamed of, her body responded as if trained to.
Everything was instinct. The delicious movement of his cock, sliding in and out, in and out, her clit crashing against his pelvis, electric bolts gathering at her center, ready to explode. They were one and the same, anticipating each other movements, losing themselves in the ecstasy.
She let out a raspy moan and covered her mouth, her legs wrapped him, her slit welcomed his shaft amidst ripped out clothes.
She didn't know how much she loved being handled like this, being controlled, taken. He did it harder, the wildness in his eyes challenging her to keep quiet, to let go and ride the electric tingling in her center, the hand in her mouth only giving her lust more fuel.
She trembled, about to orgasm. It was the fastest one she ever reached.
But if he kept going like this she—
Oh fuck, fuck!
An explosion of pleasure rippled out of her center, waves crashed throughout her body, making her shiver and cry out in delight.
He turned her around and penetrated her on her fours, she was about to moan out loud but covered her mouth just in time. Enzo growled and grabbed her arms, put them on her back as he wrapped her wrists in his hands. She was helpless, and she loved it.
She let go. She wanted him to use her, she wanted to use him.
He went faster, harder, a tingling pain deep inside her let itself be known, he's too big, she thought , but the pain seceded and only pleasure remained.
He moaned softly, almost whispering, and that was enough to put her on the edge again.
So fucking embarrassing, this man could make her finish several times in a row, he was a sex god, she was his slave.
An orgasm welled up inside her, far and faint, but there, unequivocally.
He moaned for a second time and she clenched her thighs to make him feel every inch of her crevice, to let him know that she could make him come whenever she wanted, and she would do it right now.
"Fuck!" he said.
She was ready to go, ready to come, just a bit longer and she would take him with her, this big, damn devil of a man would not get her to come two times before she could do it at least once. She would teach him, too.
His hands explored her back and a finger went down to her back entrance.
He didn't put it inside, but its presence stimulated her like she never thought anything could.
Her thighs clashed against his, her sex fused with his, and now his hand scratched her back before stopping right outside her forbidden area.
That was it.
She yelled and he covered her mouth so no one would hear.
She orgasmed and moaned in his hand, sitting on his cock again and again, he bit her neck and she felt him come inside, his hot sperm filling the deepest recesses of her body, quivering and letting go of everything he had.
The next moment she was on the ground, breathing hard next to him.
She saw the same face of surprise that she knew she had.
But it didn't last.
"Hang in there Miss Rodriguez!" Mr. Dunley said, his voice coming from just a few yards away, "I've got the water!"
CHAPTER 25
Audrey's eyes widened in surprise. Enzo sprang into action, Mr. Dunley would be here any second.
"Pass me my bag!" Audrey said and jumped to catch it when he did so.
Enzo turned and unzipped the tent's small window, jumped through it and rolled outside. His piece still hung out of his sports pants, which he pulled up to cover himself, listening to Peter Dunley approach from the other side of the tent.
Enzo kneeled and waited for him to speak again.
"Miss Rodriguez?" he called.
Enzo casted a glance inside the tent and saw Audrey finish putting on her clothes.
"Oh, you're there!" Enzo said out loud, pretending to be tying his shoes, slowly turning up to him.
Mr. Dunley saw him and got confused for a second, he had a pot of water in his hands, grabbing it with a towel so he wouldn't get burned, hot steam floated out of it.
"What?" He blurted out, confused, his eyes trying to solve a puzzle, "How's Audrey, what are we going to—?"
"Thank you for the water, " he interrupted, "she's great actually, it wasn't that serious."
Mr. Dunley frowned, "are you kidding me?"
Enzo shrugged, "take a look at her ankle yourself, if you want."
Peter tried to unzip the tent but couldn't so he passed the pot to Enzo.
Before he tried again, Audrey opened the flap.
"Hey, Peter, thanks!"
She looked over to Enzo, then back at the coach, she looked way too nervous. And her hair. Damn. He's going to know.
Mr. Dunley didn't say anything at first, just looked at her, then at Enzo, then at the pot he brought, then finally back to Audrey, shaking his head.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes!" she said, with a little bit more enthusiasm than she should have, "I just, I have to rest for a bit, that's all."
"But the swell—"
She sat on her butt and showed him her ankles. You couldn't tell which of them was previously fractured, both seemed in perfect condition. Enzo tried to hide his smile but couldn't so just looked away, the water still hot in his hands.
"Maybe we should cover your ankle with a wet towel, just to make sure," he said.
Audrey looked at him, then Mr. Dunley, who started scratching his head.
"I was worried we would have to bring a helicopter or something."
Audrey shook her head and was about to reply, but Peter spoke first.
"Can you walk, Miss Rodrigu
ez?"
"Yeah, no problem."
"May I take a look at your foot? I've seen a lot of students go through the same and it might look good at first, but—"
He knelt right next to her, she let him look at her ankle, hiding her smirk as he softly pressured some areas of it. His examination amateurish, but thorough.
Enzo put the bowl of hot water on the ground and cleaned his hands with the small green towel.
After a minute or two, Mr. Dunley scratched his head again, completely confused.
"Well, that's great, awesome! I'm glad nothing bad happened."
"Thank you."
"I'll have to throw away that water, then."
She stopped him, "no, it's fine, I think I'll wrap my ankle on a wet towel, just to be safe."
Enzo smiled, she didn't need to do that, but it made him happy to know she would do it just so the coach would feel he contributed to her recovery. That he made a difference and it mattered.
Crisis averted. Enzo thought as the coach finished working his remedy on Audrey's ankle.
"Smells kinda funny in here, right?" the coach said, nonchalantly.
Both of them froze. They never thought about the lingering sex-smell inside the tent.
"Don't you think?" Mr. Dunley said carrying on with his conversation.
"I don't smell anything," Enzo replied, pretending that he didn't, but now that he'd brought it up, he knew it was impossible to miss.
Audrey took longer to answer, Enzo could see in her face that she was fishing for something credible but nothing came to her mind, "me neither," she said with a cough.
She was so bad at this.
That's a good thing, I guess.
"How did you do it, Peter?"
"What?"
"Get boiling water so quick."
"Oh," he said with a shrug, "some kids wanted to make coffee, I had to confiscate the water. It was good luck."
Bad luck for us. He came back before I expected him to, what if I turned and he saw—
He stopped right there. His bear. It grumbled softly, pleased with itself. Enzo forgot about it. Just a few minutes ago, the damn beast tried to come out, but somehow, Audrey managed to calm it down, she gave him the strength he needed to push it back.
He'd never been able to do that. Every time he channeled nature to heal someone the bear overtook him easily.