A Wolf's Curse (On Hold)

Chapter 3

Kay landed with a thud in the dirt. She scrambled behind a tall bush, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest. Silently cursing her clumsiness, she willed her breaths to be steady. The last thing she needed was Dr. Jekyll and his pets discovering her. Then a terrifying thought entered her panicking mind.

They can probably smell me.

"Oh, God..." she whispered.

She shot a quick glance down the direction she came, noting darkness and dead silence from the rest of the forest. It was as if other creatures sensed Dr. Jekyll's secret and did anything possible to remain aloof. She couldn't stick around to find out what would become of her. Kay needed to do the same. She was also pretty sure they heard her fall. A quick glimpse at her heels and she knew she would end up like the women in movies who fell and were caught from the pursuit of their killers. She made quick work on discarding them and bolted into the darkness.

Adrenaline fueled her body like never before. She tore through the forest, pounding the soil as skinny twigs pierced her steps. Ignoring the pain, she forced herself to stay focused. Safety was just several meters ahead. All she needed to do was keep going, despite the fire burning in her lungs and legs.

Galloping footsteps were hot on her heels, Kay dared not look behind her—no matter how tempting. The breeze cut at her skin like a sharp knife, making it all the more difficult to move her freezing muscles. A figure zoomed past her—followed by another. She knew that could only mean their master wasn't too far behind.

No, no, no...please.

Panicked breaths combined with low stamina was going to be the death of her. Terror clouded her mind at the thought of the gnarley talons swiping at her throat. There was no chance of escaping the animals. She had to throw them off her trail. In a split second decision, Kay took a sharp left through a pair of crooked trees—praying it didn't lead back to the trio. The footsteps weren't too far behind. She glanced at either side of her, her dark tresses partially wrapping around her neck and face as she pumped her legs forward.

The pathway grew brighter and the mansion's tall stone walls loomed into view. Hope bubbled in Kay's chest as she stole a glance at the full moon on display. Its radiance emitted a yellowish-gray tint against the black clouds. A stitch crept against her sides and her body began slowing down.

Al-most. Don't...stop. Can't stop. I have to... I'll...make.

The stitch spread across her ribcage, the cold air making it painful to breathe. Safety was close but not close enough. Irritation and doubt clawed at her mind. She had to make it, there was no other choice. A large wall wrapped around the home with a metal gate Kay hadn't noticed before. The gate was much larger and open when she walked out.

Oh no, no, no, no, no. Bullshit!

Somehow, she ended up around the side of the mansion which lead to the South gate. A closed gate with no security. The footsteps were imminent, surrounding her as they dexterously hid themselves in the shadows. They were keeping up, no doubt preparing themselves to pounce at the perfect moment. She heard a growl nearby, stealing a glance to locate the sound - only to instantly regret it.

Kay's ankle gave out, forcing her to limp but it wasn't enough to keep her steady. She shot her arms out instinctively to brace for the fall, sliding against the cold dirt on her forearms before rolling and landing on her back. Her lungs begged for air as her ragged breaths came out in coarse huffs. Stars swirled her vision, leaving her with a pounding headache and cotton mouth.

The animals howled—concealed in the thick of the trees. One after the other calling to their leader. A set of footsteps approached with a deliberate pace to them. Kay dragged her body backwards, using her hands and feet to crawl while warily eyeing the looming silhouette. She gasped when she caught the ominous yellow glow from his shadowed face. It was the only part of his body that seemed to have not transformed.

Her heart thrashed at the intimidating figure. She edged back further, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible. The howls ceased as he approached, stepping into the moonlight, one foot first—then the other. Shaken, Kay scrutinized the stout creature towering over her menacingly. Raven tendrils curtained his face. Although he was partially covered in shadows, she could still make out specific details like his wide jaw line dead set to kill. There was a strange sense of power surrounding him, an aura so strong something tugged deep within Kay.

She caught a glint of a peculiar scar on his left shoulder. He was much wider than she thought originally. Muscular wasn't enough to describe the veins rippling against the taut skin all over his naked body. The man was jacked like a freaking tank. It didn't ease her mind with the way he gaped at her like a fragile animal he was fixing to put out of its misery.

The wolves emerged from the trees, their tails wagging as he patted each on the head, greeting them as if they'd been long time friends. He muttered a bizarre language to the animals and they sat adjacent to him and listened as if they understood.

"Please—don't kill me. I-I just want to get inside. I won't tell anyone what I saw- I swear! My boyfriend—h-he cheated and I just..." She knew she sounded pathetic, tears streaming down her cheeks. The man's lip curled into a snarl as he tilted his head, studying her. Without a word, he turned, ambling toward the darkness until he disappeared into the trees. The silver tails of the wolves were the last thing she'd seen. Kay let out an exasperated sigh, relief flooding her body. "Holy hell." She let her head sink back to the dirt. The nocturnal cacophony of the forest resumed as if nothing happened.