Chapter 5

The forest closed in around her like a shroud; Freya stumbled through the fog-choked trees, her breaths ragged, her steps heavy. The gnarled branches reached for her, scraping against her skin as the shadows whispered, their voices a call of chilling threats.

She pushed forward, her heart pounding so loudly she could scarcely hear her own thoughts. As she drew closer, the light illuminated the scene, revealing various animals watching her. But what caught her attention was a lone wolf sitting on a rock, gazing at a group of wolves perched on tree stumps. The wolves turned around and howled at the lone wolf.

A massive wolf with piercing red eyes walked to the lone wolf, lifting its head to the full moon and howling. The lone wolf opened its mouth to join, but no sound came. It tried again-

Freya's eyes flew open.

She gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling in frantic rhythm, She was in her room. The nightmare of the forest and wolves was gone, replaced by the morning sun coming from her window.

As she lay there, catching her breath, Freya reached out to her bedside table, her fingers brushing against her phone.

She glanced at the time, just past 6am.

The dawn was breaking, and with it, the nightmare had finally ended. She took a deep breath, knowing the nightmare was over and that she had emerged from it stronger than before.

She got off her bed and started preparing for school.

***

Dominic stood in the kitchen at the counter, stacking layers of ham and cheese between slices of bread, when Elena walked in. Dressed in tight fitness wear, her headphones hanging loosely around her neck. She smacked his butt lightly.

"Good morning," she teased, moving to the sink for a glass of water.

Dominic smirked but kept his focus on his sandwich, taking a bite as he watched her from the corner of his eye. She turned, leaning against the sink counter, her lips curving into a sly grin.

"Mrs. Hottie wants to say thank you for helping her with that stubborn witch," she said before taking a sip of water.

"She's welcome. All I did was reason with Jessica."

Elena rolled her shoulders, stretching slightly. "I need to freshen up before heading to campus. I swear, I can't wait to graduate. Feels like I've been in school my whole life."

Dominic wiped his fingers on a napkin. "And then comes the fun part, finding a job."

Elena scoffed. "Please, that won't be hard in this town. People love us, Wolfie." She turned to set her glass down, but when she spun back around, Dominic was right in front of her, so close she could feel his heat.

His head had morphed, with sharp fangs peeking from his lips and glowing eyes locking onto hers with a predatory gleam.

Elena let out a soft laugh, unfazed. "You do this like it's supposed to scare me."

Dominic smirked before shifting back, his features smoothing into his usual, devastatingly handsome self. "You're getting punished later," he murmured.

She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his waist, her fingers pressing into his back. Then, with a wicked grin, she smacked his butt again. "I can't wait." She rose on her toes and nibbled his ear.

Dominic groaned, stepping back to let her pass. "Go. Get in the shower. I'll be waiting."

"Thirty minutes, tops," Elena called as she strolled out of the kitchen.

Dominic arched a brow. "More like an hour."

Her laugh echoed as she disappeared up the stairs. He smiled.

'Dominic! Dominic, help me! Somebody!'

Dominic suddenly heard the cry; it rang through his mind, urgent and desperate. Freya.

It was just like the way she had called for him at the bar. Was she in trouble? He wasn't sure, but something deep inside pulled at him, compelling him to check on her. He told himself it was probably nothing, but he couldn't ignore the feeling.

He could be quick. A shadow through the trees, a silent ghost. He could look through her bedroom window without being seen, or he could sneak through the apartment and slip away before Elena even noticed he was gone.

'Dominic, help me! Somebody!'

The call came again, stronger this time, like a hook sinking into his chest and yanking him forward. Before he could think, he was moving out the door, across the streets, the world blurring past as he reached her apartment in less than a minute.

He leapt through the trees outside the apartment, his speed blurring him into the wind. Reaching a sturdy branch near her bedroom window, Dominic landed silently, his red eyes scanning the bedroom.

Empty. No signs of distress. No intruders.

Just as he was about to leave, the bathroom door creaked open.

Freya stepped out.

Dripping. Bare.

He froze, captivated by her. Steam curled around her, water glistening over her skin, rivulets tracing the curves of her body. She was breathtaking.

Dark, wet hair clung to her shoulders, the sunlight casting soft shadows over her figure. She ran her fingers through her damp strands.

His pulse pounded. He should look away. He needed to. But he couldn't.

Then, snapping out of his trance, he clenched his jaw, shook his head, and dropped silently from the tree. Within seconds, he was home, slumping onto the couch and running a hand down his face.

What the hell was wrong with him?

This attraction toward her wasn't normal. She drew him in, binding him to her like a spell.

From the moment he first saw her, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. He couldn't stop wanting to see her.

And the worst part? He wasn't sure he wanted to break free.

That terrified him.

***

Freya headed downstairs, adjusting the strap of her bag as she stepped into the kitchen, the scent of coffee drifting through the air. She found Jeffery at the table, flipping through a newspaper, his reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

"Good morning, Gramps," she greeted with a small smile.

Jeffery glanced up, returning her smile. "Good morning, Fae. Heading to university?"

"Yeah..." She walked over to the refrigerator, opening it to check on the cake she had baked the night before. It was still in perfect condition. She hoped Dominic would appreciate the effort, hoped he'd see how grateful she was for what he had done, for saving her from that deranged man.

Jeffrey's voice pulled her from her thoughts, though he didn't even look up from his paper. "That for Dominic?"

She sighed and nodded, carefully pulling it out. "Yup. I just... hope he likes it."

"He will," Jeffery assured her. "You're a great baker, just like your mother."

Freya turned, her smile softening at the mention of her mother.

"Did you have any nightmares?"

Freya hesitated, her fingers grazing the cake box. "Yeah... but this one was different."

Jeffrey folded his newspaper and looked at her fully now. "How so?"

"I was in a forest, surrounded by wolves, but my attention kept going to one in particular. She was alone, separate from the others. And she couldn't... she couldn't even howl. She just... watched."

"How do you know it was a she?"

"I just do," Freya murmured. "She felt sad and lonely, like she didn't belong. Like she was searching for something but didn't even know what." Her voice grew distant, lost in thought.

Jeffrey didn't speak right away, just watched her, fingers lightly tapping against the newspaper before he finally nodded. "Dreams have a way of telling us things, Fae," he said. "Even when we don't understand them yet."

Freya forced a smile. "Anyway, I should get going."

But as she headed for the door, the image of the lone wolf lingered in her mind. For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that it did mean something.