Cage

Chapter 19: Dominance

 Chapter 19: Dominance

            My joints screamed in protest as I landed staggeringly from stumbling down a sharp decline in the land. Without a second to stop and examine my aches and pains, I just continued to sprint feverishly through the dark forest. I could hear him, sense him, and smell his potent scent as Hayden changed ravenously behind me. I knew sooner or later he would catch me - but I was really hoping later since it would give him more time to calm his furious wolf. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I wasn’t too sure that would happen anytime soon. He was physically larger and stronger than me, which unfortunately meant just one stride of his equaled two or three of mine.

            Once again, another ear-splitting snarl cut through the silent night just as I broke through a gap in the trees. My heart lurched into my throat as I felt Hayden’s hot breath tickle the fur on my tail. Then, without another thought to my name, I was suddenly hurtling through the air and sliding painfully across the grass. Hayden pounced without a single regard for the impact of his weight crashing down on my small frame.

I yelp and growled as paws pressed me down into the earth. I wasn’t frightened until the moment Hayden’s jaw stretched open, enclosing my neck in a paralyzed position against the ground. If I moved an inch, I’d surely gain a nice nip from his sharp canines. The sudden position immediately caused my struggling body to stiffen and fall limp underneath Hayden.

            Hayden growled in approval even though I could still feel his entire frame trembling with fury. Ah, so dominance was what he sought out to achieve. The thought repulsed me completely and before I could possibly think clearly, I was thrashing once again in an attempt to throw Hayden off of me.

            Nothing, and I mean nothing could’ve prepared me for what came next. It all happened very quickly then. Within a few seconds of me beginning to thrash, Hayden had slammed my shoulders to turn me around and then pressed his body weight against me to completely immobilize my flailing limbs. I was mid-growl when Hayden’s jaw snapped open and, with blinding swiftness, shot down to the space between my neck and shoulder before clamping down. Spine-tingling pain vibrated through my upper body as I felt his teeth slice through my skin tissue as if it were made of butter.

            A mix between a human scream and snarl tore through my throat, echoing off the tree tops as my body convulsed involuntarily.

            My pulse quickened and I jerked, morphing back into my mortal body due to the pain and distress coursing through me. It was probably the absolute worst time for me to change due to the fact Hayden was still clinging to my shoulder. So, along with the change, Hayden’s bite deepened and tore my flesh as I shuddered as a result of having my limbs pressed severely into the cold earth.

            In those few moments, black spots elapsed over my vision as I tried to find some sort of way to gain control of my mind and body. I was drifting in and out of a vague comatose state. Though, I immediately knew that I was fully conscious again as I heard quiet sobs fill the air. Also, all in the same moment, I realized the sobs were coming from me.

            Then, as if my world hadn’t shattered into enough fragments, I heard an ear-splitting shot pierce through the air. My thrashing body and blank mind were shoved into the back of my consciousness as I snapped my eyes open wide; I lost the ability to hear clearly as a ringing sound overshadowed my sense.

            Either due to my adrenaline or quite the apposing sluggishness of my mind, I watched the moments tick by in slow motion.

 Hayden’s clear silver wolf gaze grew wide and his entire frame quivered, seemingly crippled by an inner war with himself. It didn’t take very long before his black eyelids scrunched closed and he collapsed wholly atop of my small frame.