Howl~ Ruby Lucas x OC

Chapter 4

The forest floor felt soft beneath my paws, the damp earth clinging to my fur as I raced through the trees, following the scent of my prey. The sweet scent of succulent human flesh made my mouth water, and I could hear the racing heartbeat of the boy as clear as a bell, his sharp breaths of terror flooding my ears, as he tripped and crashed into the obstacles I avoided easily, gaining ground on him with my inhuman speed. I snarled in rage and bloodlust, closing the last few inches of distance in between us, then leapt on top of him, my jaws aimed for his tiny throat, the tang of his blood and sweat mixing together in a flavorful aroma, as my hot breath blew his hair back from his face. Instead of flesh, however, my jaws closed tightly around the leather bound book in his hands, causing me to jerk back in surprise, then yelped, as he slammed the book into the side of my head, backing away.

As I shook my head to clear the slight dizziness from it, he scrambled to his feet, and raised one hand towards me, shaking with fear. I couldn't understand his human words in that state, never having been able to control the wolf once it had been released, the sounds only serving to anger me more. I leapt at him again, my claws sinking through his jacket and into his skin, and I snarled, saliva dripping from my fangs as he cried out in pain, the sound like music to my ears. I ripped the book away from him, as he tried to hit me again, and I felt my fangs tear into his soft flesh, hot blood flooding into my mouth from his arm, his shrieks of pain turning to painful sobs. As I went to tear into him, my body jerked, a noise of surprise coming from me, my jaws releasing his arm, the sound of shouting voices around me, white hot pain erupting through my body, before another silver arrow buried itself into my side, making me yelp in agony, my flesh burning, the silver burning in my blood.

I lifted my head, and looked into the eyes of the hunter I had been trying to avoid for so long, the one I had run home to escape from, his gaze cold and merciless, as he raised his bow again. He glanced behind him, as the sound of the brush being crushed underfoot came closer, and he raced off into the night, leaving me standing above the boy, bleeding and wounded badly, all the people of the town coming into view, holding flashlights and weapons. While my wolf self didn't recognize them, it knew it was in danger, and I growled deep in my chest, my ears flattening against my skull, my fur bristling with anger and pain. They all seemed to recognize me, and began shouting in anger as they saw the boy and me, save for one girl with brown hair, her eyes filled with sadness and empathy. She glanced between me and the townspeople, and seemed to throw herself in front of them, as they raised their weapons in my direction, confusing me, and then, a familiar voice raced into the clearing, coming from her. My wolf mind didn't know her, or care, only wanting to kill and eat, but it knew well enough that she was able to hurt it even more than it already was, as it backed away.

I began feeling dizzy and weak, my legs giving out, as I watched the woman race over to the boy, tears in her eyes, as she began examining the damage I'd done to his arm and shoulders, before she picked up the book off the ground, her icy gaze turning towards me. She stood, and stormed over to me, her wicked glare and the scent of rage causing my wolf mind to freeze with fear, a whine coming from me, before she took her heeled foot, and slammed it into the arrows buried in my side, a howl of agony tearing from me as the arrows sank deeper, piercing a few organs, panting as it became hard to breathe, wheezing breaths coming from my snout, as my body twitched. As the boy I'd hurt yanked on the woman's arm, pulling her away from me, I saw her snap out of her rage, a look of guilt and also regret crossing her face for an instant as she looked at me,before it turned cold again.

Her eyes trailed to the blood dripping from the boy's arm, and that rage seemed to take over her again, as she grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, and somehow easily flung me across the clearing, making me slam into a tree, my ribs breaking, and I yelped, trying to get up, as it suddenly seemed to get cloudy above us. The moonlight faded behind storm clouds, and as thunder rumbled overhead, I became myself again, the pain intensifying immensely in my human form. I couldn't move very well, but I forced myself to stand, my shaking hand grabbing the arrows sticking out of me, and as I glanced at Henry, seeing what I'd done to a little boy who hadn't deserved it, I could swear I heard Regina shout, "Bella, no!" It was too late, and I yanked the arrows free, causing my organs and flesh to tear, hot blood gushing from between my lips, as I choked on it, and fell to the ground, everything going black and cold, the townspeople still shouting faintly, as I fell unconscious.

I woke up shivering and sweating, my entire body feeling like it was on fire, my vision blurry, but realized I was in what seemed to be City Hall in the middle of the night, Ruby kneeling in front of me, a sad smile on her face as she gently dabbed my forehead with a wet towel. "It's okay.. Don't move- You're hurt pretty badly. I'm sorry I didn't find you before the town did, but Granny kept a close eye on me. I caught your scent the second I stepped foot in the forest.. You could've told me, you know? I'm not so different from you." I chuckled dryly at that, then began coughing hard. "Yes, you are.. I know all about you- Your Granny and I have known each other for a little while. You can control your wolf, but I can't. Yours comes from your mother, but mine? Well, I guess it comes from my mother too, in a way.. But I'm cursed- Just like the legends say. And silver really does hurt me, if you can't tell. And if I had told you, you'd probably react like they are, and hate me."

I glanced around me at the towns people gathered in front of Regina, their shouts of anger and fear reminding me of my past, causing me to flinch, and look down in shame. "Regina, how the hell could you let that thing into our town??", "Don't you know who she is?", "She's the Big Bad Wolf!", "Our families aren't safe with her here!", were just a few of the things I heard, and I felt hot tears trickle down my face, Ruby's gentle fingers brushing them away. "Hey, what you are isn't your fault. You didn't mean to hurt Henry, or- Or whatever you did to all of them." Regina sighed, and tried to maintain control, her voice full of power and a commanding tone. "Who I let in or out of here is none of your concern, and yes, I am very well aware of who and what she is. The Big Bad Wolf? So you people really believe those children's stories? Perhaps she ate some livestock here or there, but killing entire villages in one night? A demon? You people are so gullible. Why would I allow someone that dangerous into my home? Around Henry? What happened tonight was just an accident.."

Ruby glanced up, as her Granny pushed her way to the front of the crowd. "Enough of your lies, Evil Queen! If you're defending her, then both of you are up to no good! I say we put a silver bullet right between her eyes. I've seen what she can do with my own two eyes.. She killed my husband. That's the truth of what happened to him. Not only that, but she acted as if swords and arrows cutting into her were nothing, save for silver ones. No one could stop her.. She murdered children, and tore apart families and homes. If you won't do something about it, Regina, then we will! She has been a danger to most of us here, not just me! She is the demon of the Enchanted Forest! She doesn't deserve mercy or pity.. Ruby, step away from her." Ruby froze, glancing between me and her grandmother, still wiping my face, and then, shook her head, the town gasping in shock, as she put her body between me and them protectively, clenching her jaw. "You people were the same way about me for so long.. You too, Granny. But just because of what she is, it doesn't make her a demon, or a monster. Look at her- She's terrified, and hurt, and probably feels all alone in this world. We can't just put her down like some rabid animal.. Like you wanted to put me down. Just give her a chance.."