White Stag

Chapter 12~First Kiss

The trees blur together as Axel and Duncan sprint through the thicket. I let out a loud, "Wooohooo!". The crisp air nips at my lips as I bend down to Axel's ear. "We need to investigate the hunting site." Axel flicks his ear in reply. I grin as he picks up his pace.

Duncan leads us through the until we reach a sun-kissed meadow. In the background, derelict houses are sitting in rows. Axel points his nose to the ground and inhales. When he picks up Ryan's scent, he lets out a short yip to Duncan. Duncan's ears perk up and he comes scampering over.

I tap Axel's head and lean down. "I would love to get off now, please." Axel nods his massive head and lays down.

I dangle my legs over his side and slide off. "Alright. Where do we start?" Axel stands behind me and pushes me with his snout. I chuckle. "Alright, alright. I can go and look for him."

I spin around and wander onto the meadow. Even in the setting sun, the evening is warm. "Ryan!" I shout.

A hand wraps over my mouth and a voice hisses, "Will you be quiet? You don't need to attract any Leviathans tonight." Axel turns me around and I look at him in his human form. Basketball shorts covered his lower half.

I softened my eyes. "Sorry."

Axel's eyebrows pinch together. "They will already be drawn to you when you use Odin to heal Ryan."

I nod, yet I don't understand what he means. Axel grabs me by the hand and leads me back to Duncan. Duncan glances at me.

"He dashed into the deserted village. His scent points over there." Duncan lifts his hand and points towards the ghost town.

"I'm guessing Leviathans ruined that village." Duncan nods solemnly.

"It has good shelter, nevertheless," Axel says, pointing out the positive. I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Let's just go already."

My shoes crunching against the soil is the only sound as we approach the quiet structures. It's a narrow village but it will still take time for the three of us to search.

I turn back to look at them. "We should split up," I suggest. Duncan agrees. Axel, however, looks unsure.

"I don't want anything to happen to you," he murmurs. "Don't try to be a hero just to put yourself in a crisis."

"Please, let me do this," I whisper. Axel runs his hands through his dark hair, debating whether this is a good idea or not.

"Fine." I beam at him.

"Thanks. Your trust means a lot," I say before turning to go into the town. Axel puts his hand in mine and gives it a strong squeeze.

In a split second, his hand yanks me back into his arms. Fire blazed up and down my body and I shivered. Axel tilts my chin up and gazes at my plump lips before leaning in and matching them with his own. At first, I resist, but then the desire and demand of this man in front of me filled me to the brim. He licks my bottom lip, seeking entrance and when I deny him, he bites to open my mouth. It's a tug of war between the two of us.

I break the kiss first. Our chests heave up and down as we stand there in the middle of the meadow and stare at each other. Axel pulls away and smirks at me before walking off. "For luck," he adds before entering a street.

I cup my face. What in the world just happened? One thing I knew for sure; I liked Axel. I shake my head. That man was trouble with a capital T. With a stupid grin on my face, I walk into the abandoned area.

The thumping of my shoes hitting the cement scatters a few rats here and there. After thinking of where I would hide if I were injured, I picked the city square, believing that there had to be some hall there.

I get the feeling that someone is watching me. I spin around, clutching my cloak tight in my fists. "Axel? Duncan?" I call but there is no reply. "You are fine. No one else is here," I whisper to myself.

I continue to amble down the road and find myself stepping onto what I think used to be the main road. A lone crow cries out a warning in the distance, making my skin erupt with goosebumps.

There, slumping over on the side of the road, is a light-skinned man. I jog over to him. It appears he is unconscious as I lift his head. This has to be Ryan. I roll him over to his side and check for wounds. I come up empty handed. Just as I'm about to check the other side, I hear a shout.

"Arabella! No!" I whirl around and see Axel looking at me in terror. Then I notice he isn't looking at me, he's looking at someone behind me.

Strong arms wrap around me and the next thing I know, I'm being lifted into the sky. I shriek and strike the attacker's arm with my fists. Before I can scream again, they strike the back of my skull and I see black.