The Wolf On The Other Side

Chapter 9

I have never felt hopeless in my life.

Blinking through the fog behind my eyes, I take in a deep breath but the unwavering jabs on my sides ache further, I hear loud noises from inside the woods, the sudden urge to witness the consequence of the action about to be taken. I steady myself enough to force my legs to walk and my eyes to clear, the crunch of the dried leaves lays bare under my feet when I stride forward to see the commotion. The sounds of mewling and growling emits from the paradise of the forest.

I wish I never had to go through this...yet I can't help but be fascinated of the world I tumbled to. The werewolf world of my dreams.

The log firm in my grasp and I halt the second my eyes meets Alaska's indefinite eyes towards a larger man that has fire in his irises as if he wants to rip Alaska to shreds by lowering him further to the ground. The man looks fierce enough to devour the entire earth, he has bigger guns on his arms and buffed up chest that could crack any human skull, one of his hand is good enough to keep Alaska in place, they appear to be fighting and I need Alaska to be alive to answer my curious questions.

"Stop it right now." I utter, my voice surprisingly gets confident enough and for a moment, I feel in power. They both deter their attention to me, the man snarls as his pointed face morphs into courage and his fearless eyes take in the intrusion I just caused.

"Aspen, you need to get out of here." Alaska shouts over in the distance as he wheezed, his face muddles into the ground as the man digs his heel onto his back, my chest almost tugs out from fear and my adrenaline skyrockets. Even with all of that happening, I can't run from the truth.

I need the answers that I have been waiting for.

"No, I will not go, I've always wanted to know." I say as another burst of confidence shreds through me when I near the man. Alaska groans even more when the man stomps on Alaska's back, threats gleam in his eyes when he looks at me as he breathes through his nose, irritated that I am in front of him. The log shakes in my hold when the man gives me a deadly stare and I try to keep my stance, my eyes moulds into his competitively.

The flock of birds rush above us, their chirps high in the sky. He had a ruthless aura to him as he removes his leg from Alaska and grabs him by the back of his neck.

"Tell her the truth, Alaska." His gruff voice commands Alaska. He closes his light orbs and opens them again, his hair flat on his forehead from the sweat that forms on his structured face, his contemplating, hesitant eyes tells me there is something I need to know.

"This is my dad and we are from Alcayas pack but we were destroyed, our first golden rule is that we don't ever expose ourselves to humans." He scratches out what is remaining of his breath as his dad growls out in fury once again.

"And this is what you did, you exposed us when I am out there making treaties with packs," he kneels down to his tired son, and seethes, "you are a disgrace." Alaska's eyes droop in a flash of sadness before he returns back to his stern face, he stands up as his dad retreats further into the woods.

I feel guilty over something I didn't do. If it isn't for him meeting me, he wouldn't have been in trouble with his dad. Glancing at Alaska as he brushes off his sweat with his arm, I gnaw on my lower lip as my eyes recklessly trail all over his state, from his taut abdomen to his inked neck and settle onto the blissful waves in his eyes. I try not to blush when he passionately meets my eyes and I forget everything I want to ask him.

"What are you doing here?" He breaks the silence as his shoulders stiffens as if he is on alert to everything around us, his ears perks up and his hair rises with the forest wind.

"I was worried that you-you were in danger," I stutter weakly, I place the log on the ground and grip my other arm.  "Are you okay?" I ask.

What is wrong with you? I reprimand myself internally. Ofcourse, he is okay, he is the Arctic wolf.

It feels like whenever he is around, I get somewhat self-conscious, I have a newfound sensitivity whenever he is around. It's like I sense him everywhere.

Everything appears pretty: the color of the wood and the sun glows on the daisies that hangs around on the sides around the trail of dark soil.

"Everything is fine." He answers warily as he blanks out as if he is talking to his werewolf, my steps grow closer to him as if it's the norm to be near him, a different Aspen approaches him in confidence.

I take both of his cold hands in my warm ones, his lips exhales slowly as if he gets relief out of my fingertips, it feels like the world stops, like we are the only ones as the forest sings for us.

"Let me help you, you did enough for me." I whisper and he catches the hidden message. His eyes widen in a cute way that makes my heart flutter.

He dazingly pulls his hand away to brush my hair, his eyebrows frown in seriousness as he presses on his lips. "Aspen, the only way you will be helping is to stay away-" he starts.

"No, I know I can help, just tell me what to do." I command and he tilts his head, proud of me with a small smile plastered on his face before he stubbornly interchanges to determination.

"Come with me," he sighs out and walks in front of me, I instinctively follow him through, "I have something to show you."

"Wait, how come you don't have an accent anymore?" I raise an inquisitive eyebrow at him and he nervously scratches the back of his head.

"Yeah, about that, I kinda lied to you." He quirkly answers, I can see a hint of pink on his cheeks when he avoids my eyes.

I laugh at his embarrassed state and he narrows his eyes at me with crossed arms.

"I change my mind then. We aren't going."

"No, please. I promise I won't laugh." I zip my lips with my hand after I tell him that.

The playful glints in his gorgeous eyes matches his smiling lips and we go to discover the surprise.