002

I open my eyes in shock, a shriek leaving my lips to see the man in front of me.

Bare

The moonlight cascaded down on him in a soft glow, casting a long shadow behind him. My mouth agape at the sight of ripped muscles, the hard pecs and the visible veins going down his abdomen to connect at his—

Oh, Goddess!

I look away, heat scorching my cheeks in shame. What am I doing checking out a stranger like that?

“Terrible survival skills” He let out a ‘tch’ sound, shaking his head slowly.

“Who are you?” I ask while secretly trying to unstrap my heels.

He tilts his head before sitting down and reaching for my face. I move my head back but he grabs my chin. Pain shoots through my jaw from the fall earlier. I gulp as he studies my face and wipes the trail of blood running from the corner of my mouth down to my chin.

“Name,” He asks.

“Huh?” I murmur.

“Your name and age” He demands but I don't answer as I've already freed my feet from the heels. Whipping out my claws, I strike him.

He stumbles back, taken aback. I get up and sprint away from him. Not caring to look back.

A chill-sending growl reverberates through the air while I run like my life depends on it. Running over pebbles and branches, until my stomach hurt from how hard I was pushing past my limits.

I can hardly figure out where I'm running but when I look over my shoulder, he is nowhere behind.

Just when I thought I left him behind, I collide with something firm and stumbled back, falling on my butt.

He is standing before me, looking down at me like a devil ready to unleash. Blood oozes out from the scratch on his chest.

I barely release a gasp when he grabs my ankle and yanks me towards him.

My blood runs cold.

“If you are bold enough to lay your hands on me then I'm sure, you're strong enough to receive it,” He says in a low dangerous snarl, clasping his fingers around my throat and pinning me down on the ground.

“Let's see how well you can take it, little wolf” He rasped. My skin burns under his grip, sending a wave of nausea as I struggle to move him away.

‘He is strong,’ Inez gushed in my head. My attention diverted entirely to what she was saying.

‘Look at his muscles. He is so hot

My eyes rake down his chest, the way he is hovering over me and straddling my thigh. Heat crawls up my neck at the realization of such a position.

‘You agree, right?’ Inez beams.

He frowned, eyeing me like I had grown two heads.

“Are you‐ enjoying this?” He asks, arching a brow as a smirk stretches on his lips.

“Interesting,” He whispered, slowly taking his hand off my neck. The heat of his touch still lingers on my skin.

“Piss off” I hiss, pushing him with all my strength.

“You want to play, little wolf? Let's play” He says, leaning back and resting both his palms on either side of his torso.

“Stop calling me little wolf!” I snap before running again.

“Let's see how far you can run. I like to chase, "he says from behind. I don't stop, don't look back.

A yelp pushes past my mouth when he suddenly emerges from behind one of the trees. I turn in another direction.

His chuckle echoes behind.

When I don't sense him around anymore, believing I have come far away. I stop near a tree and catch my breath.

“Tired so soon?”

I jumped in fright, darting my eyes to my left where he stood leaning against a tree a few steps away.

I grimace, sprinting again but my legs hurt at this point. Exhausted, I still try to keep moving. My steps eventually slow down and I take support from a tree.

I hear a snap of twigs from somewhere around. Pushing myself, I ran again only this time did I feel a hand at the base of my neck, yanking me back and coming face to face with him.

“What do you want from me?” I exclaim in exasperation. My chest heaves up and down as I try to catch my breath.

“You walked into trouble yourself, little wolf”

I grit my teeth in utter irritation at the way he is constantly demeaning me.

“This is my Pack. You're a stranger hunting me around like it's fun! Just know one thing, whatever you do to me there's no way you'll walk out without getting caught” I say. My sore ankle stings. My knees almost buckled, making me grab onto his arms to balance myself.

“What's your name?” He asks.

“Inez! My name is Inez! Are you fucking happy now?” I shout in his face.

A pulse ticked in his jaw before his hand moved up to my hair, grabbing a fistful of it and tugging it. My scalp burns not in a way that hurts but in a way that makes my mind blank for a moment.

His mouth is so close to my neck, and his hot breath fans over my skin. When his nose brushed against the most vulnerable spot for a mark, heat pooled in between my thighs.

“I'm eighteen” My voice comes out in a mere whisper, strained from the sudden overwhelming heat.

He is quick to let go. I stumble back but he grabs my arm to keep me steady.

“Who even are you?” I ask, now truly confused about his intentions.

A horn blaring through the forest steals my attention. The sound that is used by the council to alert the Pack.

“You will know and when that happens, we will have this talk again. Till then live because it's going to get worse, Inez” He rasped a threat.

“Go back to your Pack, little wolf. It's not safe out here” He says before walking away.

I somehow managed to get out of the woods onto the road. Still shaken up with everything, I constantly look behind like he is still somewhere keeping watch.

Instead, I see a familiar car approaching. It stops next to me, revealing Maria.

“Hop on, it's an emergency,” She says. Surprised by her offer, I sit down and she drives to the Pack ground.

People were already crowded around the stage. We hop off and join them.

Once we get closer, I spot Beta Ken with the rest of the five Council members. Their faces are pale and scent sour.

In the corner on the stage, Alpha's only daughter Sharon is barely standing. Her bloodshot eyes make my stomach drop and assume the worst possible scenario.

No… please no.

“Attention everyone,” Beta Ken says into the microphone,

“As you all know our Alpha was injured” He pauses for a brief second then continues, “Unfortunately he didn't make it-

The crowd erupted in whispers and murmurs, hard to believe such a thing when we were told our Alpha was doing fine then how is it possible?

My mind goes back to the stranger in the woods. Did he kill the Alpha?