The Big Black Wolf

“I’m married to Luke Elderman, son of Marlowe Elderman, owner of the Elderman fortune,” I said, panicking as a pack of wolves surrounded me as if they didn’t already know who I was.

Panic surged through me as I picked up a stick to defend myself, as if a stick was a match to their teeth foaming with saliva.

There was no escape. I shouldn’t have left the castle, I thought, regretting the decisions that led me up to this moment.

I wondered where Desmond was, whether he knew I was being attacked and whether he had gone to get help.

I was going to die.

One of the werewolves leaped at me with force, but I swerved out of the way in time and landed the stick forcefully on its neck before it had the chance to stand up.

The other werewolves didn’t like that I was able to get an upper hand, so another leapt at me with brute force that toppled me.

I hit my head on a rock, and I felt that it was the same place that was stitched earlier. I touched my head, felt the blood gushing like a stream, and thought it was over until I heard Desmond’s voice from behind me.

“Didn’t we just stitch that?” he said cynically, coming to where I could see the dark and spiteful murderous look on his face.

He didn’t look like the handsome prince charming that had swept me off my feet at the ball, or the caring lover that I had shared an affectionate kiss with. He looked like a sadist, someone that enjoyed pain and suffering.

“Desmond,” I said faintly as I was starting to lose consciousness. “Why?”

“Oh come on, did you really think that kiss was anything? That I liked you? It’s nothing personal, Joyce. My father just doesn’t like competition, so he sends me to do his dirty work for him, and that involves getting rid of you,” he snickered.

“Your father?” I asked.

“Jaigan Burton. You know, that’s exactly the same question your mother asked before I slit her throat. But, because I like you, I’ll give you one more question.” After he said this, he took off his shirt and transformed into a grey werewolf. That was when I realized that he wasn’t the werewolf that saved me. The werewolf that saved me was black, pitch black.

Desmond walked steps away from me in his wolf form, and I knew there was no escape. I had one more question, and I knew I had to make it count.

“Who was it, the person who saved me?” I wanted to know. I wanted to carry it to my grave.

“I’m sure you already know,” he said in his wolf form without words, and just as he leapt in the air to finish me off, a black wolf emerged and cut him off while he was still in the air.

It happened so fast. The black wolf and Desmond fought so hard they split a tree in half. The other wolves that were with Desmond were now getting attacked by brown wolves that were twice as big as they were.

I managed to crawl on my belly to a tree where I could rest so I wouldn’t get crushed in the fight.

I witnessed as the black wolf tore a huge chunk of flesh from Desmond’s side. Wolf-Desmond cried out in pain and pushed the black wolf off of him. He ran as fast as he could with a bleeding side, and his betas followed him.

I was safe, but my head was still bleeding, and before I blacked out, I saw the pitch-black wolf turn into none other than Luke Elderman.

He saved me.

“Joyce,” he called my name with a softness that I didn’t know he was capable of, using his hand to cup my head.

“You’re bleeding,” I said, alarmed when I saw that he had an open wound on his arm even though I was bleeding too.

“Let’s get you out of here,” he said, before he lifted me in his arms, engulfing me with his warmth and his bare chest before everything went blank.

---

“He betrayed me,” a voice said. “I was a fool to think he wouldn’t take his father’s side.”

It was Luke’s voice. His tone was bitter, but he sounded composed.

I was surprised to see that he was still shirtless, still had blood all over him, and that the wound on his arm was still open. He folded his arms as he spoke to Marlowe, who stood with his back turned. The smell of whiskey filled the air.

“He did what his father asked of him despite the fondness you two had; there is a difference. It is how your human wife managed to escape the castle that I’m more concerned about, because if she was able to get out without anybody noticing, that means anybody can get in,” he said while looking at the cup as if some answers were hiding beneath the glass.

“She is my wife. It is my duty to protect her. I won’t let her out of my sight,” Luke declared, and my heart fluttered.

“Do whatever you like. She’s awake,” Marlowe said before he left the room.

I was able to lift my head and sit upright without feeling any pain in my head. Not even a headache.

“It’s gone,” I said, astonished.

“You healed. I bit you because you almost died,” Luke declared.

“I don’t understand,” I said. “Is Desmond dead? Did you catch him?”

“No,” Luke said, hatred flashing through his eyes.

“He… he killed my mother,” I said, and all of a sudden, springs of water burst from my eyes. I cried uncontrollably and unprovoked, covering my face with my hands.

He approached me but stayed at a distance, watching as if he had never seen anyone cry before. Luke Elderman really did not have feelings whatsoever. 

" I want revenge." I said finally.

"And you will have it."