I pivoted, preparing to bolt to the van, when a bolt of blue lightning shot from the shadowed man like a harpoon. My breath caught, and I shielded my face. It hit my stomach. I grunted from the impact, fighting to remain upright from the sucker punch.
Fighting through the shock, I looked down and gasped in horror. An iridescent turquoise cord pulsed with light like a breathing organism. My stomach twisted, and I lifted my shirt with shaky hands. The tube-like cord imbedded itself in my bellybutton, blue veins climbing quickly through my bloodstream. I screamed and tried yanking it out like a giant sliver, but my hand raked through it, swirling the pulsing cord into a misty fog that faded away into the night.
I blinked, my breath ragged as my hands rubbed my abdomen’s smooth skin, unable to shake the memory of the bluish tentacles racing through my body. But it was gone. Had I imagined it? Maybe he’d drugged me with some tipped dart I hadn’t felt prick my skin. I struggled to flee, but my feet refused. Even the scream building in my throat lodged midway. The lone shadow finally detached itself from the clump of trees and held out his hand, beckoning me to him.
“Come.” His voice was like deep rumbling thunder, sending a zing of fear through me. My feet stepped forward and grimaced at the loss of control over my limbs.
Clenching my hands, teeth, anything that was still left in my power, I resisted his pull, but my feet kept moving. Step after step my panic ebbed, replaced with an unexplained eagerness to do his bidding. I screamed inside my head, trying to break free of the sluggish fog that swam through my body. He must have drugged me. It was the only explanation. But then how was I so mentally conscious with no control over my own body? I quickly felt my grasp on reality fading, but I had to hold on.
I closed the gap between us and took his hairy hand. It closed around mine like a steel handcuff, and I shuddered. I was going to die.
His eyes solidified into a stunning iridescent blue—just like the cord—that penetrated deep inside me, as if searching my soul. The image of a magnificently powerful wolf flashed inside my mind. Its furry coat was streaked tan and black, dusted lightly with the same silver as the stranger’s eyes. My body was suddenly so tired, my eyelids fluttered as if the wolf was lulling me to sleep. Darkness clouded my mind, sucking me into an ethereal abyss.
Is this what death feels like?
Before my eyes shut, my life played in rewind: my family lounging under the stars and finding constellations, my cousins’ laughter when they won a board game, Grandpa brushing aside foliage to show me a wild orchid. Then, the dark swirls of syrupy anguish drowned out the happy moments. My soul twisted as images of Uncle Stan’s burned face flashed through my mind.
I gasped.
Pain knifed through the fog and the images faded along with the wolf. I stumbled backwards, tripping over my feet before scrambling to run away, now that my feet were my own again. Barely hearing the curse behind me, I ran for the closest thing of safety—my van. Footfalls pounded behind me until they abruptly fell silent.
Suddenly, deep, throbbing pain wracked my skull. With each step, my brain felt ground into hamburger, robbing me of all coherent thought. A small part of me screamed run faster! But I felt sluggish again, and my body ached to turn around. Only my determination to reach the safety of my van kept my feet moving forward. I stepped again, and a sharp pain ripped through my abdomen. It stole my breath, and I fell, doubled over in agony.
A bass voice vibrated behind me—the voice of a stranger. “The curse has claimed you.”
Curse? What in the world is he talking about?
I shook my head. Nothing made any sense: nothing but the urgency to run.
He continued, his voice filled with power. “Tayla, you must stay with—”
“How do you know my—” My words overrode his before trailing off as I lost focus on my van, and the impulse to turn around won.
My mouth dropped open, and I shivered, finally able to see him in the moonlight as he stalked toward me with his hood off. Was it even human? It walked upright, wearing an open hooded trench coat, thick black khaki pants, and a matching classy polo with a three button front closure at the neck. But his masculine face was so animal-like. Thick whiskers traveled from his neck to forehead, thinning around his eyes and nose. Only his lips and eyelids were naked, pale skin. His nose was flat and wide at the base with canine-looking nostrils. His human lips parted, revealing a row of sharp white teeth that gleamed in the silver moonlight.
A scream erupted from my mouth as terror flooded my veins. I sprinted the remaining distance to the van. My hand reached for the passenger side handle, but before I could yank the door open, the same gut-wrenching pain from before ripped through me like a bullet. I was jerked back by an invisible force, smacking the sidewalk. The pain was so intense that white streaks flashed through my vision. I felt my stomach, expecting to see blood from a wound, but my hand was dry. What was happening to me?
Any movement took tremendous effort. I struggled to roll over on my stomach and barely managed it. With my hands under my body, I pushed, but nothing happen. It was like all my strength was yanked away by that—beast. The need to run, to escape, was overwhelming, but my muscles refused. I’d never been so exhausted. Blood swished loudly behind my ears, my breathing shallow and labored.
Seconds felt like hours. My heart sped at the sound of soft footsteps approaching. With each padded thud of his feet, the pain racking my body lessened fractionally, and I summoned enough strength to turn my head and watch the creature’s slow and steady approach. His canine teeth flashed in the dark.
Was this how my life would end: murdered by a beast?
Wind whistled through the skeletal trees and the cold smell of concrete cradled my paralyzed body. Silently the creature walked to my side and lowered himself onto the sidewalk next to me. He winced as he settled on the concrete.
“Stupid girl,” he growled. “I told you to stay.”
I shrunk back, inching away. My eyes darted to a possible escape: the school, the street, the van.
He ran a hand through his matt of dark hair, mumbling to himself. “She’s supposed to be asleep.”
Asleep! The word sent adrenaline through my body. He was trying to drug me! I bunched my muscles and shifted to my knees, ready to crawl my way into a sprint. I jolted forward, but a hand seized my arm, and I tumbled back to the ground with a scream.
“Please, let me go!” I covered my face with my forearms and curled up in a ball, tears chilling my cheeks. “I don’t want to die.”
He gave a disgusted snort but didn’t relinquish his vice-like grip. “I’m not going to kill you.”
I blinked hard to clear my vision and found my trembling voice. “Then, let me go. P-please, let me go.”
The monster rubbed his hairy face. “I can’t,” he snapped, exasperated.
My soul sunk deeper in despair. “Wh-what do you want from me?”
He sat there for a moment, staring at the yellow blades of grass edging the sidewalk before he released my arm to look at me. “Hear me out or I will restrain you. You’ve already caused me enough pain for one night.”
I stared into his sad amber eyes rimmed with that inhuman silver color. Even though every ounce of my being screamed “danger,” a drop of ease drifted through me, like a calm breeze after a storm. My stomach itched as if bitten by a hundred mosquitoes. I rubbed my shirt into my skin. Maybe he’d shot some drug with a blow dart into my belly button.
“What’s happening?” My voice rose an octave. I was truly going crazy and didn’t know how much longer I could last before drifting back into the abyss. Tears blurred my vision, and a sudden wave of exhaustion swept over me. My mind flashed with faces: Natalie, Kyle, Todd, and this monster. I closed my eyes against the onslaught, wishing them all away, praying to wake from this nightmare. I bit down on my cheek, tasting blood.
Whimpering, I licked it with my tongue and peeked out of one eyelid to find the creature still there, staring at me. I rubbed my eyes with frigid
fingers, praying he’d disappear. I had to be hallucinating or having one trippy dream. Focusing my eyes again, I found him frowning at me, his amber eyes now devoid of that eerie silver glow.
“Ug, why won’t I wake up?” I muttered, feeling my sanity start to slip. “This can’t be happening.”
“Whether you believe it or not, we’re stuck together, bound by a magical cord.” His voice sounded dismal, as if depressed.
I cocked a disbelieving eyebrow at him and scoffed, “And I believe in fairies. Is this some sort of twisted game? First you drug me, then mess with my head?”
He smiled grimly. “I didn’t drug you and the magical cord is real and unbreakable. Don’t believe if you choose, but that doesn’t change anything. We are still stuck together and now it is time to go.”
I stared back into his serious eyes, my words stolen from me. He couldn’t be serious, could he? My thoughts swam and the world swirled in my vision. I caught him eyeing me as if waiting for something. Did he think I would faint?
Honestly, I might. I squirmed and rubbed my stomach, trying to erase the horrible image of the pulsating rope buried in my flesh. I checked the skin. There was no visible trace left now.
“My wolf has chosen you, and there is no way around it.” Beast’s voice broke through my thoughts, and my gaze flicked to him. “You must come with me.”
I felt the blood drain from my face, as one terrifying word sunk in. “Y-your wolf?”
Saying the word sent a ripple of fear through me. I scanned the trees for a snarling animal waiting to jump out and consume me.
“He’s not there.” His voice growled, making me jump. My hand flew to my chest. I seriously needed to stop watching wolf documentaries with Grandma!
“But you said—”
“My wolf is here,” he replied, pointing to his chest.
I looked at him sideways as my heart rammed my chest. Yep, he was a crazy psychopath. Maybe it was some demented metaphor to say, “I’ve got a freaky split personality.”
I waited for him to say, “Just kidding,” but the words never left his lips. Did he believe he was telling the truth? Was he a pathological liar, believing his fantasies as truth? Or maybe he was one of those crazy people who change their physical appearance through surgeries to look like the animal they felt connected to. If so he’d gone way overboard. No matter the reason, I had to find a way out of here before he forced me back to his underground lair somewhere.
“Who are you?” I was so tense sitting cross-legged on the cold ground that my legs cramped.
He gazed across the park. Out of the corner of my eye, I searched the park, but it was empty. Where was everyone? Please, the rehearsal had to get out soon. If I kept him talking maybe someone would come to my rescue.
“No one.”
“Did you escape from somewhere?” I asked unsteady. His head snapped up, scaring me. “I mean, there are people that can help.”
He grunted, giving me a sidelong glance. His lips arched upward as if amused. “Are there?”
I stiffened. That was stupid to say. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had to keep him talking. “Any family?”
“Not important.” He frowned, and I noticed how young he looked. Twentyish? Maybe more. It was hard to tell with that hairy face. With his two word answers, I was running out of things to say.
A slight breeze tousled his chocolate-brown hair, and suddenly his human features seemed more prominent. His pale skin was sun-kissed tan and his lips were strong and commanding. For that split second, I saw him as if he was a regular man, but the wind ceased, snuffing out the vision, leaving me shaky.
The revelation flooded my mind with everything my logical brain couldn’t process: the strange image of a wolf in my head, the iridescent cord, the pain exploding in me when I ran away, and the way my body revolted weren’t drug-induced hallucinations. Horror iced my blood, and I scooted further away from him. Was he even human?
“What are you?” I feared the answer.
He paused, shifting his eyes to the moon and breathing deep. “You already know the answer.”
Was he serious! How would I know anything about him? Slowly, the stranger turned his intense gaze on me. I shrunk from his grotesquely deformed face, so wolf like, so—
Suddenly, every legend Grandma had told me played in fast forward through my mind. My eyes widened in horror, and I choked on the word. “Werewolf.”
But they’re not supposed to be real!
The stranger’s eyes flashed with silver, as if validating my guess.
I leaned sharply away from him, seeking a different escape—a cop to be more exact, preferably with a large gun and silver bullets. But the park and road were still empty and eerily silent for this time of night.
I thought of making another run for it, but wasn’t sure I’d stay conscious through another painful round of body tug-of-war. If what he told me was true, he already held me prisoner. Even without the freaky bond, I was pretty sure he could catch me if he wanted to. The trench coat was open enough to see a thin tee stretched skintight over his ripped chest, and his thighs looked more like small trees than legs. I shuddered at his predator-like appearance.
Apprehensively, I waited for him to make the next move, knowing my chances were slim if he launched at me. His honey-brown eyes lifted to gaze into mine, and I found myself mesmerized as I watched a silver ring form around his irises. Tingling spread from my bellybutton to the rest of my limbs, leaching away my fears.
He stared at me with confusion, like I was a puzzle he couldn’t figure out.
Conflicting emotions rolled inside me. I ached to touch him. I leaned forward, like he held the embrace I’d been longing for, and yet a small part of me screamed not to give in. The image of a stalking mass murderer flashed across my blurry vision. But a tantalizing smell lured me in: cinnamon and pine. As warm and comforting as Christmas.
I brushed his sleeve with my hand, traveling up his arm. He was my new home. His hand stopped mine.
“Tayla, we must go now.” The tone was commanding, and heat flushed my cheeks as he laid my hand back on my leg. A breeze carried the scent away, and horror filled its void. I scooted away from him.
“What’s going on? How do you know my name?” The questions tumbled off my lips.
His eyes were intense. I could see him weighing whether or not to answer. “I’ve been watching you for some time now.”
Goose bumps ran up my arms, and I shivered, remembering the silver eyes I’d thought were a deer. “Why?” I swallowed. “Why me?”
“Your blood’s scent calls to me.” He shrugged as if bored. “I was forced to hunt for you.”
CHAPTER 13—I’m Dead
My eyes widened in horror, and I felt lightheaded. My blood called to him? Was he some sort of vampire-werewolf? I jerked to my feet, only to have him yank me back to the cement. I screamed, tugging against his hold, afraid he’d drink me dry right then.
A hand clamped down on my screams and his arm held me tight against his stone hard body. I struggled to break free, but couldn’t move. Tears trickled down my cheeks.
I’m not ready to die.
“Calm down,” he hissed. “I’m not going to hurt you. Or whatever your little mind has invented. Your blood is cursed, tethering us together. I have no more choice in this than you do.”
I shook my head. He was trying to confuse me with twisted lies. My head swam with images of his blood somehow linked to mine. Impossible. And a curse? He stood and gestured for me to do likewise, extending a large hand down to me. I eyed it, recalling the leech-like cord snaking through my stomach. I shivered. His hand hovered before me. It looked normal, minus the hairy knuckles.
I eyed him, calculating how to get more information from him while stalling the inevitable. “So you think I ticked off Tinker Bell and she cursed me?”
He snorted. “Girls and their fantasies.”
I glowered at him, my face warming with humiliation. Why did I care what he thought anywa
y.
“You didn’t start the curse.” He scoffed at my presumptuous statement. “An ancestor a thousand times removed cursed us all.”
My mouth dropped open. Was it possible? Considering the pain it caused, the image of the blue cord taking root in my skin was hard to discount. Its viperous roots spread through me, chaining my soul to his. Anger swelled as I thought of this supposed “ancestor” who had messed up the life I desperately tried to defend.
“We’ve stayed too long.” Beast startled me from my thoughts. He shifted his weight and glanced around the park.
I crossed my arms, refusing to go—willingly.
“Fine,” he snapped.
I flinched, waiting for the hand that would drag me off, but instead he spoke again.
“You’ll come. But remember, I warned you.” He turned heel and strode toward the museum.
Panic seized me as phantom pains licked my stomach with promise.
“Wait,” I called after him, but he kept walking. “Please!” He halted, throwing me a cold glance over his shoulder. My mind raced. I still didn’t know enough about this man or the curse that linked us, but the thought of being dragged off to who knows where was utterly terrifying.
The image of Aunt Lily grieving over my disappearance was too heartbreaking to ignore. There was a large butcher knife in the kitchen drawer I’d hidden from her on one of her darker days. Who would stop her suicidal tendencies if I left? Not to mention, what would my disappearance do to Cammie and Sarah?
Not knowing what happened to my mom almost drove Aunt Lily mad, and Stan’s death nearly succeeded. I wasn’t sure she would recover from the emotional blow if I disappeared, too.
“This curse, does it force us to a certain place?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if guessing at my game. “No.”
“So…” I clutched my hands. “We can stay here?”
He laughed, taking a step back toward me. “You are chained to a wolf, Tayla.” He jabbed his hand into his chest, for emphasis. “We are going to the woods, away from people.”
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