All Chapters of The Beautiful Wolf: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

**MELENA**I paced back and forth along the hallway, eagerly waiting for my parents to come in. When I heard them outside at the front door, I ran to sit at the fourth step of the stairs, pretending to read a book I'd gotten from Dad on my twelfth birthday, a month ago.I looked up from the book as if I'd been interrupted in my reading as Dad entered the house. Dad doesn't look at me as he does.He headed quickly into the kitchen with the wood he had chopped for supper, but Mom, following behind him, glanced at me, and I could see that she was crying."Mom," I stood up, stopping her before she could disappear into the kitchen like Dad.She stopped, but she didn't turn to look at me, and I noticed her hands holding the basket of string beans, shaking.Before I could ask her about the letter, she interrupted me."We have a visitor coming to join us for supper; please dress in a red dress," she says swiftly before dashing into the kitchen as Dad. "Visitor," I repeated as I watched her

*MELENA*I was fur-less and cold. Naked. I was no longer safe here.I was no longer a predator where I was but prey.I had to leave.My long hair, which was no longer white as snow because of dirt, surrounds me.I rolled over on my belly. I was unable to walk on two feet anymore. I was too much of a beast.I crawl out of the cave, scared of anyone seeing me.No longer within my wolf form, I was now a threat. I must find something to eat to strengthen my body so I can transform into my wolf form and conceal myself from predators, especially men, or once they see me, they too will want to claim me as theirs.I made my way from the cave, crawling through bushes and towards the lake.The ground towards the lake was muddy, and the water was undrinkable. I drank the water anyway. I was thirsty and had no choice but to drink it.The front part of my body was now covered in dark, brown mud. I was even dirtier. I crawl around the lake in search of food. Something small, like a baby bird that h

*MELENA*I kept twisting and turning, searching for a place to hide.Finally, I found one, a low Coburg within the large kitchen counter.I push myself hurriedly inside, coiling my body to get as small as I can to fit in. With one hard pull, my long, dirty hair, which sweeps along the ground when I walk, was also inside. I gently shut the door of the Coburg.I pressed the palm of my hand against my mouth, so hard as if I wanted to suffocate myself. Not wanting to be found for breathing too heavily, smelling the powerful scent of the individual getting stronger and stronger.My heart pounded heavily within my chest, so loud that I felt it would give away my hideout, and my body was unable to stay still. I was petrified; I sobbed quietly. Hoping and praying that he didn't find me.The male was now inside the kitchen.I peeked through a small hole within the door of the cupboard, and there I saw him. Walking along the kitchen floor. I could only see the back of him as he turned towards t

*MELENA*I close my eyes, terrified.I felt a strong breeze against my face, and I reopened my eyes and saw that he was gone.I was now alone, as always, within a strange land I knew nothing about, with an unknown black wolf seeming to dwell here.I wished I had stayed at the cave I once called home. I was much safer there, even though I would have died of hunger.I got up from where I was in search of a place I could conceal myself from predators until tomorrow; I leave this strange land.The thought of sleeping in the opening tonight made me determined to find a place to rest. I was still exhausted from the chase, and I wasn't planning on resting until I did.Abruptly, out of nowhere, I heard sounds of laughter. I hid behind some nearby bushes and peeked to see who it was. I saw a group of children playing near a river. They were splashing the water against each other's bodies playfully. They looked as if they were about 8 or 9.Happy to see someone less frightening. I jumped out of

*MELENA*Before I could run through the open gate, the dark-eyed wolf kicked me in the side. I went straight into the wall.I growled in pain as the green-eyed alpha wrapped the cold, silver chain around my throat.The chain squeezes my neck as he's pulling me to go with him. I whimper and stiffen my body, refusing to go with him.He made the strongest pull that nearly jerked my life from my body, coercing me to immediately follow him.As I'm almost out of the cell, I looked towards the dark and deadly eyes of the wolf within the cell with tears in my eyes. What I saw within his eyes was disgust. He looked at me as if he were looking at something disturbing.I wanted him to care about how I was treated, like how he first saved me, but to him, what was happening to me was like discarding rubbish.Determined not to go with him, I'm again stiffening my body.My neck is now burning like a fire with bruises from the chain.Again, he made another strong pull, this time making me fall onto my