Lookout, my butt, what they really meant was glorified bait. The "Plan" if you wanted to call it that, was for me to wander about the outskirts of the Cullen territory. To watch over their house and keep their attention if need be. While they go after the Cullen girl.
I was curious as to why Victoria seemed to hold so much rage for the girl, but as long as it wasn't aimed at me, I felt no need to stir the pot.
She also mentioned that there might be some wolves in the area, but as long as I stay near the Cullens' family home, I should be fine.
Fine would be the last word I'd use to describe my situation. It had started as planned, wandering around the forest near the Cullens' family home. Everything was going well at first. I haven't seen any of the Cullens yet. I was starting to believe they weren't home.
I was still hiding in the treeline near their house when a Mercedes Convertible pulled up. Nervously, I hid behind a tree, just peaking out enough so I could see what the two vampires inside would do next.
A blonde woman stepped out of the driver's side, laughter spilling from her lips. Whatever the towering man beside her had said must've been amusing. But her smile vanished the moment her phone rang.
I waited nervously, holding my breath. I was too far to hear the conversation; all I could do was wait.
At once, both vampires turned to look directly at me. I didn't wait to see what they would do next. I ran like my life depended on it. I look over my shoulder, dreading what I will see. The two vampires were gaining ground behind me.
Even the bulky one was keeping pace. So much for outrunning them.
I cursed under my breath and pushed harder. The river loomed ahead. I leapt, soaring over the water—but my foot clipped a jagged rock, sending me sprawling.
Scrambling upright, I braced for the attack.
It never came.
Across the river, they stood motionless.
I stared, bewildered. But hesitation was a luxury I couldn't afford. I turned and ran.
Behind me, the man's voice rang out—"Stop!"
I didn't.
All my thoughts are on getting as far from this place as I can. I keep running, and I eventually start to see homes about 50 meters off. I start to slow my pace in case any humans are nearby when I hear them.
A primal drumming of claws and earth rose in a terrifying cadence. I started running, but the sound of their approach was coming from every direction.
Uneasy about which way to go, I froze for a moment, my head buzzing with apprehension. I ran back towards the river. However, I didn't get far before a huge black wolf launched itself at me. I docked just barely missed its furious teeth.
I staggered to my feet, breath ragged, only to find myself flanked by two massive gray wolves. Their eyes locked onto mine—feral, calculating. I spun toward the low snarl behind me.
The black wolf.
The same one from earlier, but now he wasn't alone. Another shadow emerged beside him—slightly smaller, but no less lethal.
They didn't hesitate.
The larger one lunged first, jaws wide, and this time he didn't miss.
Pain exploded through my side as his teeth sank deep into my waist. I screamed, the sound raw and guttural, as bone cracked and flesh tore beneath his bite. The agony was blinding, primal. I could feel the heat of his breath, the weight of his body pressing in.
Yet before he was able to finish the job, my power activated, and the pressure released itself, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud. It almost took me with him.
I shoved his muzzle away and scanned the clearing.
The others stood frozen, stunned, perhaps, or waiting for the next move.
I wasn't sure, but I didn't wait to find out.
My chest screamed in protest, every breath a knife causing me to stop but fear overrode pain. I scrambled up the nearest tree, fingers clawing bark, limbs trembling. Higher. Just get higher.
Once I found a steady branch to crouch on, I looked down. To find much the same look of confusion and anger as before. One of the wolves slammed the tree, tacking it down, but before I even got close to the ground, I jumped to another tree.
This little stalemate of ours lasted for a while, me jumping from tree to tree and them knocking them down. They eventually stopped knocking them down and waited for me to make the next move.
The black wolf joined them again after a few minutes of this standoff. Great, just great, I cursed to myself as the wolves below, if possible, looked even angrier.
"I guess this is my life now." I whimpered to myself, sobbing quietly. I whip my face, but nothing there. Huh, it seems vampires can't cry. I try to laugh, but it comes out more like a sob.
I grimaced in pain at the movement. Damm, that hurt. I wonder what will kill me first, my injury or the wolves below me. Could I even die from this wound? It's sure felt like I could.
I look to my left to see only a couple of meters away, the river stands, like before, I see a flicker of red off in the distance, moving fast.
Victoria !! Don't tell me she is coming to help! I suck some air to prepare to scream when I see them. Six vampires chased her from the other side of the river. As I was taking in the situation, I could see she was being chased on my side by three more giant wolves.
She was switching between the two sides as she ran. I glanced down to see them looking too, but the moment they saw me looking, they growled, and I lost whatever nerve I had to run.
Even though I couldn't understand them, I could almost hear them saying, "Don't even think about it."
I look back up to see Victoria running on my side of the river, fleeing into the forest. The big black wolf growled and charged after her with two of his lackeys running behind him.
The one left behind whined as they left, before locking his eyes on me, determined.
Hope surged through my body at the sight. This was my chance; I could see that two of the three wolves from the other pack were coming to assist the one still below me.
But I knew this was my only chance as I got ready to jump down. I glanced around one more time. A russet-brown wolf was charging toward me, eyes locked onto mine with impossible focus. The moment our gazes met, the world fell away.
No sound. No movement. Just him. Just me.
Time fractured.
I couldn't breathe.
His eyes held me warm, wild. Something in them reached inside me, deeper than instinct, deeper than memory. I felt it like a whisper in my bones, a pull I couldn't name.
And suddenly, I saw it.
Not the wolf.
The man.
His hand brushes mine beneath a moonlit sky. His laughter was low, rich, and familiar. The way he looked at me was like I was something sacred. I saw myself beside him, not as prey, but as something cherished.
I wanted to run.
I wanted to fight it. Knowing this was a bad choice.
But I couldn't.
My body moved before thought could catch up, leaping not toward freedom but toward him. Toward the beast whose eyes never left mine.
Toward the stranger who felt like home.