Run

"Run."

It echoes and roars like a strong wind, whooshing in my ears and head. Throbbing. Evan whispered it first. I'd been picking at the green leaves I had glued to forty dollar lace panties. Green Ivy. What a stupid fucking costume I think as My boots sunk into the dirt.

My thighs feel like the muscles are tearing. There's an animal sound behind me, a galloping of feet, paws, I'm not even sure. My chest burns and tears from the entirety of it trail as I sprint through the winding forest. I think of Evan and pray he's okay.
I want to go back to before with Evan pressed against me, his hands wrapped around my thighs as we danced. I want the music back to replace this awful bass drum of fear beating in my head. I want the security of his arm around my shoulder, the inane conversation about how much we already hate senior year, how 18 should be an automatic cut off so we would be done already.

"Run!" He screamed it a second time. Desperate. Then there was only screams of pain.

I trip over a rotting log, my face smacking the dirt right before I inhale a good handful. It burns even worse in my throat as I crawl trying to cough it out. This is where I die, I tell myself as I lean back against a tree exhausted. Every scratch on my body comes alive with pain. My joints ache.

A growl reverberates in the darkness. Twigs snapping. It's here. Whatever it is. I see the glowing eyes eyes first before a giant wolf comes into view. Bigger than any I'd seen online and in pictures. I'm too terrified to scream. I watch it as it stares at me, moving slowly, almost hesitantly.

"I won't hurt you." I whisper. I'm not even sure why I say it, maybe to echo it to the universe and hope for good karma in return. It stalks me one slow step at a time, moving sideways first then moving forward. It reminds me of Evan whenever we're having sex. I feel like prey then just as I do now.

I'm shivering, my teeth chattering. Stupid costume. If there is a next year, I'm dressing as a fucking bear. Screw sexy. Then I think I can't believe I'll die dressed like this. My poor parents.

I start to sob once I feel the hot breaths of the wolf on my skin. First my feet and then my face as he towers over me. The wolf doesn't do anything else, just waits staring at me, it's green eyes so like Evans that I finally stop crying. I scream when I feel its tongue on me, wet heat burning a new scratch. I press back harder against the tree. The wolf watches my arm and so I stare at it too watching with shocked belief as the skin knits itself back together. Slowly it licks at every wound on my body before I feel him at the edge of my bra right above my heart.

"I'm not hurt there." I whisper but then realize I am. Evan. I'm heartbroken.

"Evan?" I whisper again and it slowly drops its head. Ashamed. The wolf backs away and I scramble to my knees.

"Evan. Is that you?" For a minute I berate myself.

You've lost your damn mind Elizabeth Grace.

But then he nods.

"Oh my God." I breathe as I try to stand. "You're a werewolf?"

My legs shake too badly and I fall down. He's right there guiding me slowly to the ground.

"We have to head back." I tell him but he shakes his head. "I'm freezing." I add but he just lays down next to me gathering me against his fur, the heat like a furnace. I wonder if I'm just having a really strange dream as my body falls lax and exhaustion takes over, the adrenaline falling off me like silk.

I wake slowly to the sounds of pain, confused at the dirt against my cheek. Then it all comes flooding back. I roll over to find Evan naked, his skin sheen with sweat and his face masked with pain. He opens his eyes slowly as I move towards him.

"Are you okay?" I ask him as I press my hand to his cheek. He closes his eyes as I curl myself around him in case he's cold like me but he's not. And then I remember he never has been. He's always been hot to the touch.

He looks at me shocked as I kiss his forehead.

"Elizabeth."

I kiss his eyes, his nose, and then slowly I press my lips to his. I feel him grow hard as I slip my tongue against his. This is new, me being the initiator. His hands grip my thighs and move them so I'm straddling him. He growls as I move my hips against him and it takes on a whole new meaning after last night. He flips me over onto my back and the pain is nothing compared to how bad I want him inside me. It's different now as he stares at me with tears on his cheek. I raise myself slowly making sure that he's watching as I slowly drag my tongue right over the skin protecting his heart.

I love you, it says.

"In case you thought I would break yours after last night." I tell him as he he grabs my chin between his fingers. My hands dance down his stomach as I reach for him but he won't let me guide him in.

"Run." He orders like he did the night before trying to protect me.

"No." And then I move my heels behind his thighs and pull him into me. I feel his teeth at my shoulder as he moves. Then we're nothing but two panting animals in the forest.

"Run." He whispers when we're finished.

"Never again."