L Y C A N

3.

Thanks to @nietisabelle for your support :) ! 

Alexandra stood in a line of girls before the edge of the forest in nothing but a plain white dress a fourth night later, the dress barely protected her against the cold harshness of the night, her eyes shifted uncomfortable across the expanse of the night, her lack of ability to see much further than the beginning of the forest reflecting perfectly her view of the future, it was like she was being blind folded and blindly led through life.

The distant half moon hung in the sky, giving little light and little guidance, Alexandra waited impatiently for the order from the Elder, her heart hammering in her chest as the silence stretched on, she clung to the pendant on her necklace that as far as she was concerned had been with her since the start of her new life.

It was custom for the chosen ladies to be chased by the King himself upon their arrival, it was a barbaric game, one that had survived years of reforms, one that entailed the maidens being ravished and or killed, after centuries it was altered to fit the tastes of the period and now all Alexandra had to do was make it back to the castle without being caught by the King.

She couldn't look behind her, she was compelled only to look forward until the start of the chase and she felt her body burn with apprehension and lack of oxygen from her laboured breathing.

"Run"

She sprang forth without a second thought, the voice of the Elder forcing her into motion, in her peripheral vision she saw a few ladies shifting into their wolf forms, their furs glistening under the faint light of the moon, as they glided into the skin of a mystical creature.

They landed on all four, their paws hitting the ground with rhythmical thuds, when the cover of trees complete enveloped her an eerie silence filled the forest and she pushed harder, knowing her only way to get out of this unscathed was to make it to the castle.

It was times like this that she wished she could shift, that she wished she had the calming presence of a wolf with her but she was alone, and as much as she knew the chase had changed overtime she had heard stories of women dying and if the King wanted them, he would have them without consent and consequence.

That was the world of the wolves, men were incharge, men ruled.

A growl so deep it vibrated through the forest startled her and her foot twisted on a broken branch, causing her to land with a painful thud in the undergrowth, the wet grass and leaves clinging to her skin upon impact.

She turned when the air seemed to build with pressure that forced the air from her lungs, eyes blazing a molten red gazed at her through the dark cover of the trees, and she knew from the predatory glint in his eyes that his main focus was her, that she was his prey.

Her body trembled fiercely at the revelation and she stood abruptly, throwing caution to the wind as she turned on her heel and began a fast sprint that she hoped would put much distance between her and the prowling beast, she knew it was a stupid move – they loved the chase.

A snarl tore through the night as a weight rammed into her, sending her to the ground again with a painful thud, Alexandra lay on her back, heart pounding furiously as the beast dug it's claws into the flesh of her stomach to keep her still, every breath left a burning sensation in her chest and every beat of her heart sent a painful jab through her system. The beast snarled as it ran its nose along the length of her body and she squirmed uncomfortably, shifting ever so slightly, her heart seemed to lodge itself in her throat when the beast sniffed her neck and growled lowly in approval.

Her body went rigid, and she grunted when his paw continued to burrow in her flesh, she felt tears sting her eyes, her mind running wild with possible scenarios, she felt its nuzzle move to her neck, felt his long, warm rough tongue lick trace the side of her neck, she chanced a look at the beast looming over her, but all she could see was thick black fur and feel the weight of its heavy paws on her stomach.

A moment that stretched for eternity passed, with her laying rigidly on her back, heart pounding as the beast held her still with its paws, she knew if she even tried to move an inch the sharp claws would rip through her stomach and she hated feeling so helpless, so defenseless.

With a movement so swift Alexandra missed it, the Wolf latched on to her neck and a riveting scream that echoed through the deathly quiet forest and nearly deafened her tore through her throat.