The cool breeze brushes past me, playing with the strands of my hair. I smile softly at the feeling and stare ahead, content with everything at the moment. The summer nights, the countless fireflies surrounding us, the long robe that's too big for my frame and the big furry thing that's carrying me on his back at the moment.
I look down at him and rub his head lovingly. I have always wanted to do it, to see him in his furry form, but he always hesitated. Fortunately, he didn't today, and he is beautiful—grey eyes, grey fur, and he is huge. Though his furry form being huge should not be a surprise to me given he is huge even in his human form.
"Can we stop here for a bit? " I direct my attention back to our surroundings, realising we have arrived at a beautiful grass field that overlooks the entire Ravenswood. My fascination with Ravenswood knew no limits. It's beautiful, and it's filled with life. Not quite like my home back in the woods.
I get down from his back after he stops and approach the edge of the field. He lets out a little growl, probably warning me to not get too close to the edge, but follows me anyway. He rubs his head against my midsection, asking for more pats and rubs.
"You are needier when you are like this." I let out a chuckle and kiss his head, making him close his eyes. A wave of sadness crashes into me as I look at his face. I wish we could stay together forever without having to part our ways.
"I'm going to miss you." I jut my lower lip, pouting at him. "We should just run away and live together; I don't like saying goodbye to you." His ears perk up as if loving the idea, and he lets out a little sound of approval.
"Come on, go back to your human form. I need a kiss before you leave." I sigh heavily and move back, giving him space. He takes a step back and another, but one of his legs falls off the edge, and he falls backward.
"Asher!!"
I jolt awake, gasping out loud, breathing heavily. I sit upright on the bed trying to catch my breath, the soft duvet sliding off of me. Wait, what—?
Duvet?
That's when I realise I'm actually on a bed—a bed which is not mine. I look around trying to remember where I am—that's when it hits me.
I got lost in the woods while trying to find a way to Ravenswood, and there I met him. The guy from the party—the one with grey eyes. The one who almost killed me back in the woods.
Shit! Did he bring me here?
I look down at myself and breathe a sigh of relief once I see I'm still in my own clothes.
I get off the bed quickly, finally looking around. Dark curtains, dark sheets, dark furniture—yikes. This guy couldn't be more obvious. If it weren't for a lamp illuminating the room, it would have been impossible to see. Even his room is like him. Gloomy.
My gaze lands on the clock on the wall. 4 am. Last I checked the time before I left the house, it was 6 in the evening. But where is my phone?
I pat myself trying to find my phone in my pockets. Nothing. I turn to the bed and spot the phone on the nightstand. He must have put it there.
Just as I pick up my phone, the door behind me opens, causing me to turn around abruptly. Standing at the door is him. The guy who flashed his eyes at me and almost dug his canines into my skin. He advances towards me, and I step behind, trying to avoid him, but I'm stopped by the nightstand.
"Did you sleep well, princess? " He cages me with both hands placed on the nightstand on each side of me, leaving me no room to escape him.
Though his sentence might come across as endearing, the look on his face is far from it. I clear my throat, trying to sound brave.
"Did you bring me here?"
I cringe internally for asking such a stupid question. Of course he did, Lyra.
"What were you doing in the forest at that hour?" He almost glares at me with the question. I open my mouth to say something but stop myself, frowning.
Why does he care? Who even is he to question that? And was I just about to explain to him?
"I don't see how that is any of your concern." I lift my chin at him. He narrows his eyes, and his jaw ticks.
"Given that you invaded the forest area of our pack, it is my concern." He grits out, and I'm reminded of the fact that he is right.
After what I witnessed a few days ago, I should have been more careful in approaching any place I'm not familiar with, especially the woods. However, I had to find a way to Ravenswood without going through the entrance.
"I was trying to—" I trail off, avoiding his gaze. I don't want to tell him anything. But I'll have to at least come up with a lie to save myself before he suspects me of being a danger to him and his pack.
And yes, I do know about werewolves and all kinds of weird terminology they use. I did some research before I left home.
"You were trying to find a way to Ravenswood?" My head snaps up at him at the question, and a slow, lazy smirk grazes his lips.
"How?" My eyes go wide. Does he read minds? Does that mean he can hear the word 'vomit' that I let out in my head?
"That's not the point. The point is, why would you want to go there after everything you saw? You are clearly not one of us for you to have any motive to be there. Either you are very brave, or you are plain stupid." He sneers at me, his words laced with venom.
Seriously? What does this guy even think of himself? If he thinks he can call me stupid, then he is dead wrong.
"As I said earlier, that is none of your concern. Whether I'm brave or stupid is also something I'll deal with myself. Besides, if I'm around here even after I saw what I did, that obviously means I'm here for a reason. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out." I'm almost panting out of frustration that I don't even care that I called a man like him stupid—though subtly.
Now that I think about it, it's almost comical that I, being a normal human, dared to talk back to a creature like him—someone who is far from human. Maybe I'm stupid. Or brave?
To my absolute surprise, he chuckles. A cocky, low chuckle as if he was not at all offended. I should have been relieved at that, but instead, it irritates me.
"Aren't you a little too daring for someone who is lost in a forest she knows no way out of? Or worse, she might never get out of? "His eyes glint with something dark, something chilling.
I can't help but swallow hard at the look in his eyes. He notices it, and his gaze follows my throat.
"A little thing like you should stay far from this place." He presses the side of his face against mine before he speaks in a dangerously low voice.
"Next time I see you, I won't let you leave. Do you know what that means? " I shake my head, my heart racing with a fear mixed with a warmth I can't deny.
"It means there will be no escaping me. Every breath you take, every step you walk, you'll find me there." With that, he places something in my hand and leaves the room, leaving me frozen in place.