Chapter 4: I've come to get you

The sight before her, made her eyes widen. Crouched on the narrow pavement outside her window, was the same grey wolf from earlier.

It was just there, silent and still, its thick fur shifting slightly in the breeze. Its massive frame looked almost too big for the ledge it was on.

Kaliyah yelped, stumbling back in pure terror.

Her eyes couldn’t tear away from it as her heart was hammering again.

She staggered, bumping into the side of her desk, and the bat slipped right from her grip and clattered to the floor.

Her hands fumbled as she reached for the window, she had to shut it!

But just as she began to pull the window closed, the wolf moved.

It surged forward, pushing its weight through the opening.

Kaliyah almost screamed but for some reason she didn't.

She stumbled back, but she didn't fall as the wolf didn't use force. This massive creature slipped inside like it was nothing. And now, it was in her room!

Its paws silently landed on the wooden floor. Moonlight framed its body through the open window.

Kaliyah's eyes were wide with fear, locked on the massive creature now inside her tiny room.

Her back hit the wall as she kept moving away, inch by inch, but the wolf took a step forward… then another. Its heavy paws padded softly against the floor, its blue eyes never leaving hers.

It was huge, too huge for a room this small.

Without thinking, Kaliyah reached out and grabbed the nearest thing her hand could find, which was a ceramic vase sitting on top of her dresser. Her fingers wrapped around it tightly, and she held it above her head like a weapon.

“D..Don’t come any closer!” she said, her voice cracking with panic.

The wolf halted and then… it tilted its slightly like it was confused, or amused.

And then it sat!

Right there, on the wooden floor. Calm and composed, like a well-trained dog awaiting instruction.

Kaliyah froze, the vase still raised in her trembling hand.

“What the hell…” she whispered.

Her arm slowly lowered. The vase dipped halfway to her side.

The wolf just stared at her, watching her.

What was this?

Why wasn’t it attacking her?

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, so loud, it felt like it echoed in her ears. Her hand remained close to the vase, her fingers twitching around it, just in case.

Just in case something went wrong.

Then, the wolf rose to its feet and she immediately grabbed the vase again, raising it slightly.

But what happened next made her jaws drop.

Its legs bent… then twisted in ways that weren’t natural. The sound of bones cracking and twisting filled her ears.

Right before her eyes, the massive creature transformed.

His fur retracted, his limbs elongated, reshaped until in the place of the wolf now stood a man, a tall man.

With dark hair that shimmered under the faint light.

He wasn’t wearing anything.

Kaliyah gasped and immediately spun around, her cheeks burning. The room was dark, but still she could see enough. She kept her back turned to him, trying to slow the panic spiraling in her chest.

What… What did she just witness?

Behind her, the man let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her reaction.

“Do you… have something I can wear?” he asked, voice deep and smooth. “So you can at least look at me?”

Kaliyah didn’t answer at first. Her mind was still racing.

The wolf just shifted into a man. Yes, she knew about werewolves and they could shift, but she never imagined that their human form could look so godly.

Still keeping her gaze to the side, she moved stiffly toward her wardrobe, pulled it open, and grabbed the biggest clothes she could find, which was an oversized grey shirt and a pair of joggers someone had once gifted her back in college.

The pants were way too big for her… but maybe they’d fit him.

She tossed them onto the bed without looking.

“There…” she murmured. 

She stood facing the wall, hand still on the wardrobe handle, her heart still pounding.

Behind her, she heard the soft rustle of fabric.

Kaliyah didn't turn around to face him, her mind was a mess at the moment.

She heard him take slow..deliberate steps towards her.

Each step he took echoed inside her head, syncing perfectly with the erratic beat of her heart. 

Then she felt his warm hands slipping around her waist from behind, pulling her gently but firmly back until her body met his.

Kaliyah gasped, her lips parting slightly, she still couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes widened, staring at nothing as her back pressed against his chest. Her whole body tensed and frozen in shock. Her heartbeat thudded even harder, like it was trying to escape her chest.

 Like that wasn't enough, she felt his breath on her neck, it was hot yet her body shivered.

He leaned in close, his nose lightly grazing her skin. And then he slowly breathed in her scent. Like he needed it, like her scent was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Your heartbeat” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “It’s so loud.”

Kaliyah’s lips slightly parted as he slowly turned her to face him.

The room was dark, but the dark light of the moon streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on him. That was when she saw him clearly.

His dark hair shimmered in the moonlight, almost glowing. His skin was so smooth and his eyes… they were locked onto her.

He looked godly and ethereal.

“You’re… so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice full of awe, like he couldn’t believe she was standing in front of him.

“What is your name?” He asked softly, his voice husky.

“...Kaliyah” her breath caught somewhere in her throat as he gently reached forward. 

His fingers brushed against her hair, running through the strands slowly, letting each lock fall like silk between his fingers.

It felt like something she didn’t know she needed.

“Kaliyah..” he breathed, enjoying how her name sounded.

Her voice was barely more than a breath when she finally asked, “Who are you… and why are you here?”

He pulled her close again, one hand wrapping around her waist as he whispered near her ear, “I’m your mate. And I’ve come to get you.”

Her heart thudded again in her chest.

But just as his other hand moved to hold hers, he accidentally brushed against her injured wrist.

“Ah!” she winced sharply, pulling her hand back on instinct, her expression tightening in pain.

He immediately froze, concern flashing across his face. “Did I hurt you?”

She held her wrist, shaking her head even as she bit down her pain. “It’s nothing…”

But his eyes had already gone darker, his jaw clenching as he gently reached out to touch her hand again, this time more carefully, cradling it as if it might break.

His voice dropped, quiet but full of displeasure. “Who did this to you?”

She stayed silent and then he leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. “Tell me…”

Before she could say anything, a knock echoed sharply from the door.