5: Trapped in My Arms

Chapter 5: Trapped in My Arms

Samuel Kan

With a guttural roar, I broke free from the women restraining me and leapt out the window. In my wolf form, the potion my brothers had given me would have less effect, but even so, my time was limited.

The shards of glass from the broken window cut into my paws as I landed two stories below. For a moment, I thought I saw a figure in a tree—or perhaps... a woman? But that didn’t matter now. The potion was confusing my senses, and my visions might be deceiving me.

I kept running through the trees, staggering with each step. My blurry vision made escape difficult, and I knew my brothers would soon send someone after me. I had to find a place to hide and activate a magic block.

My wolf form was imposing, typical of a war wolf. My size and silvery-gray fur made me an easy target. It was hard to hide among the bushes, especially under the influence of the potion.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed behind me. A branch snapped just a few meters away, and I realized someone was following me.

I hid among the foliage, feeling the potion taking over my body. With all my strength, I focused on forming the magic block.

Little by little, the barrier formed around me. No one outside would be able to hear, see, or sense my presence. It was my only chance to protect myself from my brothers.

“It’s done…” I whispered to myself, letting out a roar of pain. My chest burned from the potion, and I needed to suppress this pain somehow.

As I concentrated on draining the potion from my body, a soft sound echoed in the garden between the trees and bushes. It wasn’t the heavy stomp of boots I expected from my brothers, but rather light, hesitant steps, as if someone was approaching cautiously.

Though my mind was clouded by the potion, I could still make out the silhouette of a woman. She wore a voluminous white dress, but its details were indecipherable.

A wave of confusion overwhelmed me. How could she see me? The magical barrier should be active, preventing any visual contact. I frowned, suspicious.

“Sir... are you okay?” she asked softly, approaching slowly.

I shook my head, warning her to stay away. But who was this woman? An accomplice of my brothers? Or something else? She shouldn’t be able to touch me, protected by the barrier.

Or so I thought. To my astonishment, she crossed the barrier’s edge without hesitation, kneeling beside me.

“Impossible…” I murmured, my breathing ragged.

“Heavens… what happened to you?” her now breathless voice carried a tone of genuine concern. “Do you need me to call for help?”

I looked at her with suspicion. Could she be lying? Luring me into a trap? But something in the softness of her voice made me hesitate.

I felt the approach of my brothers and realized the woman beside me didn’t recognize me. The darkness and potion’s effect hindered visibility, but my keen ears picked up the sound of their hurried steps.

Without thinking, I pulled her inside the magical barrier, trapping her in my arms.

“You lunatic! What are you doing?” she screamed desperately, trying to break free with punches and kicks. Her strength was laughable, the weakest I’d ever encountered.

“He must’ve come this way! The girls said he jumped out the window!” one of my brothers’ voices echoed through the forest as their men surrounded the perimeter.

The woman suddenly went still, remaining silent against my chest as she observed the scene around us. The barrier was working perfectly, shielding us from my brothers. But how had she managed to enter?

Never before had anyone crossed my camouflage barrier. This woman was different. Something inside me told me she wasn’t what she seemed. If she were a wolf, she would’ve easily escaped me. Could she be human? A human, here? Still, humans also couldn’t see or enter my barrier.

We were cornered. My brothers and their goons had surrounded the area, but that didn’t scare me. My magic shield protected me, and I could keep it active for as long as needed.

But the wedding was drawing near, and with each passing second, the anguish of not being by Maya’s side consumed me. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling my chest burn with longing and frustration.

Suddenly, a moan of pain broke the silence. It was the woman I had trapped inside the barrier. Her weak, pleading voice stirred a strange mix of pleasure, guilt, and confusion within me.

“Hey…” she whispered, begging for mercy. “Are you going to kill me? Let me go! Help!”

She screamed with all her might, but her cries were in vain. The barrier blocked all sound, isolating her from the outside world.

Panic overtook her eyes. She stared at me in terror, finally realizing her situation.

“Who are you?” she asked with a trembling voice. I allowed her to pull slightly away from me, still within the barrier.

But I was losing control, and I couldn’t have a woman here now. Still, I couldn’t let her go—or I’d be discovered.

I let out another roar. The potion was at its peak effect, a glowing red light emanating from my body, enveloping me completely.

The potion was consuming me, stripping away my rationality. I needed to be alone, and soon the effect would start to wear off, freeing me from this uncontrollable rage. But now, she was going to become my outlet—and the embodiment of what I least wanted to happen with any other woman.

“Unlucky you, finding me...” I growled at her, as she stared at me in horror.