The Wolf's Bride (Pause)

Chapter 8

The next morning, when I opened the door, I found a crown of flowers laying on the porch. There was no one in sight that could've done it. I put the small gift on my desk and left it there for three days.

That had been seven days ago. Seven days on which I went completely insane from lack of activity. I watched the weekly pack dinner from the bedroom window, just a few hours ago, knowing that if I moved an inch from the window I would've ended up sprinting to them, to join them, whether or not my presence was wanted.

The world went on without my presence. Going outside without shoes again was out of the question, not when knowing how badly I would end up hurting myself, when my feet hadn't even healed completely.

Everything would've been great, I would've found a way to not go insane, if it weren't for the fact that I ran out of food two days ago and for the utter lack of anything to do. I ended up tearing the ruined dress to pieces and making dolls out of them. When I was sure no one was out to see me, I had lined them up on the porch, hoping some children would come and take them. I did that three days in a row, in my hands was the last doll I had successfully made from the dress, having ran out of buttons for eyes, and cloth for the bodies.

Another thing dawned on me, as I placed the small doll on the porch, next to other six nobody had taken. There was no one there to see me. Not even a soul was outside, not a single lamp in a house to pierce through the darkness, only the full moon above, and the light it offered.

With too much hesitation, I took a careful step off the porch, looking left and right at every rustle of leaves. No one. I kept going, relishing the soft grass under my feet and keeping well away from the stony paths and the sharp pebbles.

I looked around for some berries, walking through the surrounding forest, while my eyes adjusted to the lack of light. Maybe I would've been lucky enough to find some berries that weren't poisonous to humans, any berries at all would've been great. If I cared to be honest, I would've eaten a pinecone before asking Alekin for food. If the jerk forgot humans needed to eat in order to keep alive it was his fault. It would be his fault again if my health declined so much that I wouldn't be able to bear him a child. Not wanting to think that far, I pulled myself from my mind and searched my surroundings.

Not even a damn berry. Only darkness all around and an annoying pair of shiny green eyes watching me from a bush. I whirled to those eyes when I realized what was actually happening. It was too late for me to run to the house. Too far to make it, when the beast stepped out of the bushes, taking step after calculated step towards me. I had no knife on me, no weapon if it came to a fight. There wouldn't be a fight at all. Just a meal. The creature prowled into the light, it was a wolf. An extremely big wolf...

Dark fur covered its entire body, giants paws lined themselves one after the other while it made its way to me, too long claws puncturing fallen leaves and sticks. My breath caught in my throat, my mind racing with all the possible outcomes this encounter could have. The chance I would get out alive was too slim, too insignificant for my liking. And if it was one of the werewolves that hated me, I had no way out.

Step by step, I tried to back away, tried to put as much distance between me and the animal before I could scream for help and hope someone would come for me.

There was nothing to protect myself with. Nothing but leaves and useless sticks and the pine needles hurting the soles of my feet.

"Nice, nice wolf, would you happen to also turn into a human? You don't hate me, do you?" I talked to the animal, my voice as shaky as my breathing.

The beast just kept nearing. It was larger than the three wolves that escorted me here, by a lot. It's mouth was big enough to take my head off without any difficulty. Saliva drooled onto the ground, its too large, too dangerous teeth coated slick in it.