Chapter three: He is a wolf. EDITED.

The wolf slowly lowered its body, muscles tensing as it prepared to pounce.

One word flashed through Elsa's mind.

RUN!

"AHHHHH!"

She kicked the car door open and tumbled out of the wreckage, scrambling to her feet before bolting into the woods.

Wolf! Wolf! It was a fucking wolf!

Elsa had watched countless documentaries about wolves. She knew what they looked like, and whatever was chasing her had no business being that big!

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

She stumbled over the uneven ground, her heart pounding so loudly that it drowned out everything else.

A howl tore through the woods.

Elsa nearly stumbled again.

The moon hung high above the trees, illuminating the path ahead, but she barely had time to look where she was going. She hiked up her gown and sprinted barefoot, having lost both heels somewhere along the way.

Her lungs burned. Her legs screamed in protest.

She didn't stop.

"RRAAAWWR!"

The roar behind her sent a fresh surge of terror through her.

Elsa kicked a sharp stone and tumbled to the ground. Pain shot through her legs, but she scrambled back up and kept running.

Oh, Heavenly Father! I don't remember offending anyone lately! If I did, even unknowingly, I'm ready to repent! Lord, Buddha, Allah—anyone up there, PLEASE HELP ME!

The cold wind slapped her face as she ran, tears stinging her eyes.

Then, suddenly, the growling stopped.

Elsa glanced over her shoulder.

Nothing.

No wolf. No glowing yellow eyes. Not even the sound of approaching footsteps.

Wait. Was my prayer answered?

She blinked in disbelief.

That quickly?

THUD!

"FUCKING SHIT!"

She slammed straight into a tree and bounced backward, landing hard on the ground.

Pain exploded through her head. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clutched her forehead.

It hurts. It fucking hurts!

Something warm trickled down her nose.

She touched it.

Blood.

Before she could panic, a twig snapped behind her.

Elsa froze.

Slowly, she turned her head.

Two crazed yellow eyes stared back at her.

"SHIT!"

The wolf lunged.

Elsa threw herself sideways, narrowly escaping its claws. She scrambled backward through the dirt until her back hit a tree.

There was nowhere else to run.

The wolf stalked toward her, its jaws parting to reveal rows of jagged teeth. Thick strands of saliva dripped from its mouth as a low growl rumbled in its throat.

Elsa's manicured fingers dug into the dirt.

For one terrible moment, her mind went blank.

Then she screamed.

"HELP! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!"

The wolf snarled.

Elsa screamed even louder.

"I HAVE MONEY! A LOT OF MONEY! I'LL PAY YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT! JUST FUCKING HELP ME!"

Anyone! Someone! Please!

"HELP—"

The wolf sprang.

So this is how I die?

Elsa squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the tree bark so tightly that her fingers hurt.

A violent gust of wind swept past her face.

She waited for the impact.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Nothing.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Why am I not dead?

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

A pair of long legs clad in navy-blue suit trousers stood before her.

Her gaze travelled upward, past a well-buttoned white shirt with its sleeves rolled up to reveal lean, muscular forearms.

Then she saw his face.

A face she could recognize anywhere.

Elsa's mouth fell open.

Alexander?

He wore the exact same clothes he'd had on at the party.

For a moment, she wondered if she'd hit her head so hard that she was hallucinating.

Then she noticed the enormous wolf sprawled on the ground before him, whimpering in pain.

What the hell did I miss?

Alexander glanced down at her. For a split second, his eyes seemed to flicker red before he turned his attention back to the wolf.

The creature growled, its massive body trembling as it struggled to rise.

Yet it didn't attack.

Instead, it stared at Alexander with a mixture of fear and reluctance.

Elsa swallowed.

Without thinking, she shuffled behind him, using his broad back as a shield. Curiosity soon overcame her fear, and she cautiously peeked around his arm.

Something told her she was about to witness something extraordinary.

The wolf suddenly sprang to its feet and charged.

"Oh my God!"

Elsa barely had time to squeeze her eyes shut before a second wolf burst from the bushes and slammed into the first.

The two creatures crashed to the ground, snapping and clawing at each other.

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!

"Don't move."

Alexander's voice cut through the chaos.

Elsa instinctively looked at him.

More wolves emerged from the darkness.

One. Two. Three.

They stalked toward the pair, their eyes fixed on Alexander.

Elsa's blood ran cold.

How many of these things are there?!

"Let's go!" She grabbed Alexander's wrist, ready to drag him away.

"I said, don't move."

His voice remained infuriatingly calm.

Before she could protest, he caught her hand and moved her behind him.

The nearest wolf lunged.

Alexander struck it in the head.

CRACK!

Blood splattered across the ground as the wolf dropped dead.

Elsa stared.

What...

The remaining two attacked together.

Alexander barely moved.

One strike crushed the second wolf's neck. A swift blow sent the third crashing to the ground.

Within seconds, all three lay motionless.

Silence fell over the clearing.

Elsa stood frozen behind him, staring at the bodies.

Her heart was still pounding, but now it was for an entirely different reason.

She slowly lifted her gaze to Alexander's back.

What the hell is he?

Her eyes widened.

A monster.