Short Stories and Poems

A Wolf's Blood

"Do you know this place? Do you recognize it?"
I turn towards him. The cool air was crisp and tugged at my humanity. My eyes wandered around the golden leaves and white trunks of trees. The sweet smell of birch filled my nose.
"I don't know. I feel like I do. Everything seems so familiar."
Which wasn't entirely a lie. I knew this place too well. I had dreams of these very woods. But I never thought it was real. Just a land of my mind's imagination. I sniffed the air again, but this time I felt more. I picked up on the smallest of scents. I could smell the brook of in the distance, the leaves that had fallen to the ground, the wind blowing by and picking up my hair. I take a few steps forward. Those few steps turned into a few strides, and those strides turned into a sprint. I ran fast with no clear destination. I just ran. I heard so many things around me. It felt like a sixth sense leading me through the woods. I kept running until my feet left the ground. I believed I was flying until I saw myself plummeting downwards. I had tripped over a root from one of the bigger trees. It seemed to go by too fast to process. One minute I was sprinting, the next I was under water. I looked around. It was dark and cold. Colder than cold. My core froze like ice. A part of me didn't want to leave. But an ache in my stomach persuaded me to go. Before I could push myself out, a hand grabbed onto the back of my sweater and pulled me out. I laid on the forest floor looking up at the sky. I began to shake. It was too cold for my liking. My eyes moved about until I found Ben. I stared at him blankly.
"Hazel. Are you okay?"
I couldn't answer. A weak smile was spread across my face. I tried to speak but I couldn't. I was speechless. I had never felt like that before. I couldn't explain what happened. All I knew was that I was not in control, but it felt amazing. It felt like a part of me was hidden away and finally escaped.
"We need to get you inside. You're going to freeze."
Ben pulls me to my feet. I wobble a bit but he helps keep me up. The ache in my stomach gets stronger. I groan quietly and continue to walk. Despite the temperature, my whole body felt as if it was on fire. I stumble a bit but push myself on. We get closer to the house and I fully collapse. Pain is surging through my body. I whimper and dig into the frost covered grass. Ben takes hold of my arms and drags me to the door, where he pulls out his key. He struggles to get it into the lock, for his hands shake as well. But it doesn't take too long for him to open the door. I cry out into the trees, where my voice gets lost in its beauty. He brings me to the living room and places me on the couch.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to get you a blanket from upstairs."
He takes off with inhuman speed. The pain gets worse. I fall from the couch and roll around. I writhe in agony. My muscles tighten beyond belief. I drag my nails across the wooden floor, leaving semi-deep crevices behind them. I groan louder and grind my teeth, leaving a light dust that covers my whole mouth. Tears stream down my eyes as bile leaves my mouth. I catch a glimpse of myself in the tall mirror. My eyes have gotten darker and veins are popping from my neck. I bare my teeth to see razor-sharp canines. My wolf blood has finally caught up with me and the bitter cold of Winter is forcing me into my new skin. I hear Ben rushing down the stairs. I hide my face under my arms. He runs over to me.
"I got you a-"
He stops abruptly. I hear him shuffle around to the other side of me.
"Hazel?"
I slowly look up at him. His eyes widen as he looks at the veins in my neck and my darkened eyes. My breathing has quickened and become deeper. I could barely make out a whisper through my clamped teeth.
"Don't l-look.... At me...."
I averted my eyes from his golden ones and attempted to hide. He crouched down and took my hand. He gently squeezed it and wrapped the blanket around me.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were bitten? I could have helped you sooner."
I shrugged and clung onto the blanket with my life. Ben's hand traveled to my back. I sigh.
"I d-didn't want y-you t-to think less of me."
My jaw chattered while my whole body vibrated. He didn't speak anymore. He pulled me into a tight hug. His warmth felt nice against my body. I clung to him as if he were my lifeline. He smelled like the pines behind my house. His hair was soft and felt like silk in my numbed fingers. I knew at that moment that I never wanted to let him go.