Enchantment of the Miss

Chapter 1

In this town where I grew, there's a tale every young maiden knows: "Never go into the woods where the beast lingers - a wolf disguised as a man whose favorite meal is a maiden's blood."

I struggled to find a path amidst the sea of weeds and shrubs. The sun will set soon and I have to get out of this forest or it will be harder to find a way out. Darn! I thought this would be my luckiest day. I didn't deliver a basket of strawberries to the Elites today just to be lost in this cursed forest. I took a step but my boot got tangled on some vines crawling on the ground.

"Ugh!" I groaned as I try to untangle my foot. "I hate this!"

I was able to untangle my foot but I'm still in a bad mood. If only those spoiled elites ordered earlier this morning I wouldn't have to go home this late. Then maybe I wouldn't be forced to pass through this bloody forest. I hastily walked through the shrubs, pushing away anything that's coming my way. I didn't care if my hands are already filled with gashes. I just want to get out of here!

Then, I saw the town. I'm so close... if only I wasn't standing on a cliff.

"Giselle, you're doomed!" I cried to myself as I fell on my knees, the hem of my knee-length blue dress resting perfectly on the ground. I'm so close. The town is so close but how am I supposed to get down this cliff. "I'm going to die!" and the sun is already setting. How am I supposed to go home?!

I'm still wailing in frustration when I heard a low growl. Something is walking through the wood and its coming my way. I gulped. This is bad.

I didn't give myself a time to think. I stood and started running. I followed the edge of the cliff. Maybe there's a safer way down somewhere.

I heard the growl following me. Crap. I didn't believe in that stupid legend about a beast in this forest. I should have listened to the elders. Then I heard the growl just behind me. I run faster. I don't want to die in here.

I gasped before coming into a full stop. The cliff ended in another cliff. Darn! It's a dead end. Now I have to go back into the forest. I turned around and came face to face with a wolf walking towards me. It licked its snout as if telling me I'm not going anywhere. Crap!

I'm not going to die here! I took a deep breath before sprinting to the forest. I can still hear the wolf following me. This is not going to work. It's going to catch up sooner or later. I have to think of something-

"Ah!" I cried when I felt something grip my left leg. It tightened and I felt the stinging pain of something sharp penetrating my skin. I wailed in pain as I fell to the ground.

The wolf caught my right leg. I tried to struggle but its fangs pushed deeper into my skin. I cried louder.

I don't want to die!

I desperately searched for something on the ground. Anything. A rock maybe? I don't want to die helplessly in a cursed forest and rest in peace in a wolf's belly!

I heard the wolves' growl and I wailed again when the wolf's fang tightened on my leg. Darn!

I heard a hiss coming through the trees before I felt the wolf's grip loosened. I looked back just to find the wolf lying dead with arrows stuck on its head. Its fangs are still stuck on my leg and I can see how my blood is watering the ground. I winced at the growing pain on my leg.

I turned to the sound of footsteps and saw a man emerge from the woods. He is wearing a leather trousers and a leather jacket. He is holding a bow in his left shoulder and a quiver is hanging on his back. I saw a hunting knife stuck on his hunting boots and another one is hanging from his belt. He stopped in front of me and looked down. I stared back at him.

...beautiful...

Then, I passed out.

I woke up with an unfamiliar softness on my back. I am lying on a huge bed with a white comforter covering me. I sat up and looked around. I am in a room as big as my house. The walls are covered with patterned blue wallpaper. There are two doors on the wall in front of me and another door is on my left. Two glass windows are on my right and through it I saw the moon. It's night already! How long have I been unconscious?

I tried to remember what happened after I saw the wolves dead on the ground. A man came from the woods. Then I passed out. I can't clearly remember his face but I saw his eyes. It's as blue as the cold ocean but as fierce as burning hell. It is... beautiful.

...a wolf disguised as a man whose favorite meal is a maiden's blood.

I gasped. What if he's the beast? Then, why am I still alive? Where am I anyway? I pushed away the blankets and saw my left leg wrapped in bandage. I tried to get out of bed when something hit me. I'm wearing a male's upper garment. Crap! I'm wearing ONLY a male's upper garment. Where are my clothes?! I hugged myself. Who touched me? Then I saw a tray of food resting on the table beside the bed. I gasped. They want me to eat before they eat me. I shivered on the thought. I have to get out of here.

I noticed my sandals at the foot of the bed. I wore them and tried to stand straight. My foot is still throbbing but I endured the pain as I tried to balance my weight. I took a deep breath. I can do this. I have to save myself. I limped my way to the door on my left since it's the closest one. I was about to reach for the doorknob when it turned on its own and the door opened.

Blue eyes.

I stepped back on instinct as a man about a foot taller than me walks into the room. He's skin is slightly tanned. He has those perfect jawlines with stubbles slightly growing on them. His shoulder length black hair is tied in a half ponytail... and those eyes... I swallowed. Why can't I look away?

He stepped forward and I responded by limping backwards. Why am I stepping back anyway? I instinctively reached for the knife I always hid on my dress' waist band when I remember I am not wearing my dress anymore. Darn! I stopped when my backside hit the bed. Should I try to run to the other side of the bed? But he'll be able to reach me. He's getting closer... and closer. Giselle! Think of something! Then I saw it. On the table where the food is set, I saw a knife. Without a second thought, I grabbed the knife and stabbed the man.

Well, I 'tried' to stab the man.
I found myself lying on the bed with my wrists held above my head. I didn't know how it happened but he grabbed my wrist before the knife could reach him. Then he easily pushed me to the bed. The man is now hovering above me.

Darn-! My breathing stopped when I realize how awkward our position is.

He is kneeling astride me and I am only wearing an oversize polo which is already exposing my lower thighs. I can feel the heat of his body, so close to mine. I can feel his soft breathing as it gently fans the hair on my face. I can feel him.

My heart stopped but it started beating again-it started beating fast when I stared back at his eyes. It isn't his blue eyes or the long eyelashes surrounding them that held my gaze. It is the way he looks at me. He's like a wolf who has set he's eyes on the prey-me.

He's going to eat me!! My mind screamed back to reality.

"Don't you dare eat me you stinky beast!" I spat at him. I am lying of course. He actually smells so good. He smells like minty kind of masculine. It's actually addicting.

He smirked, glint of amusement evident in his eyes. "What can you do if I want to?"

Darn! Why does he have to sound so manly? And why the heck am I having this kind of thoughts towards this beast?

"I'm going to kill you," I struggled against him but he only pinned me harder on the bed.

Darn! Too close.

My face turned red at the realization of my thoughts. Gosh! What is wrong with me? My heartbeat is beating at full speed now and I'm stopping myself from gasping for air. Seriously, where did all the oxygen go?

He smiled. He smiled so dangerously that he looks so good on it. Crap! I'm so doomed.

"I like you,"

I gaped at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"I've decided,"

I swallowed at the dangerous look in his eyes.

"You're going to be my wife."