Kidnap

LIA’S POV 

I don’t move an inch, I doubt I can even if I tried. My entire body is frozen in fear. 

Is this how I die? 

My eyes follow as the man in front of me rises to his feet, but he is no longer a man and he is not a werewolf either. Every inch of his body is covered with pure black fur, long arms that extend till forever, his legs longer than half of my body, and his sheer size would send an alpha werewolf running with his tail between his legs. He stands like a man, but his body looks nothing like a man, more like a wolf mid-shift. 

I shut both eyes tight and pinch my arm. The pain confirms my fear. This is not a dream, I open my eyes slowly with the hope that I imagined it all, but here his stands, his figure almost one with the dark and for some reason, I see him clearly. 

A shiver goes through the body, but this time not from fear. It’s a sensation I can’t explain but not one I can dwell on, certainly not now. 

I can’t die here.

I try to get off the ground, but as soon as I move, a sharp pain shoots up my left leg and I let out a silent whimper. 

Shit. Not now cramps! 

I sneak a cautious glance at the beast in front of you. My breath catches in my throat, dark, beaded eyes stare at me with so much intensity, almost like he can see nothing else. 

Oh shit, he’s going to kill me now. 

The beast takes a step closer and bends over me. I hold my breath as if that is somehow going to save me from being devoured. 

I scream as clawed hands grab my foot and drag me forward. I extend my arms, looking for something, anything to hold on to. But I’m helpless against this beast that is more than twice my size. 

“Help!” I scream. “Someone help!” 

But it’s all for nothing as the beast throws me over his shoulder and runs deeper into the woods. My world turns upside down, literally, with my hair dangling wildly underneath me as he sprints. 

The feeling of nausea comes over me and tears sting the back of my eyes. 

I’m sorry, James. Please be safe. 

The last thing I see is my head closing in on a tree trunk and everything goes black. 

UNKNOWN POV

Little James sees death everywhere he goes as he continues his search for Lia. 

“Lia!” He screams as he reaches their spot in the woods for the fourth time in the past thirty minutes. 

“Please don’t let me lose you, too!” He breaks down, his knees crushing the grass as hot tears stream down his face. The ten-year old is left all alone on a night filled with death, with no one to protect him. 

James weeps, finally letting himself feel the pain of his mother’s death. He is completely oblivious of the danger crawling slowly towards him in the dark.  

Clint Montrose is not in control; both his wolf and vampire sides have taken over completely and his human consciousness has been pushed to the sidelines. The hybrid sprints through the forest like hell is at his heels, leaping over and dodging obstacles with effortless grace. No animal in the forest dares to make a sound or worse cross his path as the apex predator of the woods moves with Lia dangling over his shoulder.

Carrying her along had been an instinct; he did it without thinking because she is, after all, his mate, therefore she belongs by his side. Her unconscious body is soft, almost breakable against the hard ridges of his body. He relaxes his hold, trying to carry her as gently as possible. His fur tingles at the exact spot where their body connects and this fills him with a warmth he has never experienced. 

The hybrid slows down as the familiar sight of his cottage comes into view. His lair, away from any human or beast. But as soon as he gets past the door, his legs give out from underneath him and he collapses.