We circled the whole place but I didn’t find William. Maybe he had decided not to come after all. I was completely bummed. Luna and some friends were heading into the woods and she asked if I wanted to go along. I was a good bit behind everyone else and called for Luna to wait up when I stopped to get a pebble out of my boot. I guess she didn’t hear me, because when I ran to catch up I came to a fork in the path and no one was in sight. I played the eeny-meeny-miney-moe game and the path on the left side won.
The deeper into the woods I walked, the darker it grew. Finally, due to the thickness of all the huge trees completely blocking the sky, it was too dark to see and I took that as my cue to turn around. However, I promptly discovered it was easier said than done. What I thought was taking me back out was only taking me deeper into infinite darkness. I stopped in the middle of the path and swallowed hard. My heart raced and fell at the same time when it hit me—I was completely alone.
I flipped open my phone to text Luna. “Shit,” I paced around, waving my phone in the air. “No signal … that’s just great.” Okay, I thought as I looked around me. I was, maybe for the first time in my life, lost.
I started to slip my phone back into my pocket when I remembered it had a built-in light for taking pictures at night. So, my three hundred dollar phone was now a flashlight—and a real crappy one at that. The light barely illuminated the ground a few feet out, but it was way better than no light at all in the dark abyss of the woods.
I stopped and listened, trying to hear Luna and her friends or at the very least which direction the music was coming from, but sounds bounced off the trees making it seem like the music and voices were coming from everywhere. The darkness blanketed everything around me, making me feel like I was the only person in all of Alaska.
Suddenly, it was as if all the typical noises of the woods at night were amplified. I felt eyes on me, sending cold chills up my spine. My pulse started to climb. I turned slowly in a circle, shining my light toward the darkness, and froze when my light hit across what appeared to be red fur through the trees beside me.
“Oh, God,” I threw my hand over my mouth after it dawned on me that this was all very much like the reoccurring nightmares I’d been having. Hot tears filled my eyes and I tried blinking them away so I could see. My fight or flight reflexes obviously weren’t up to par, because I just stood perfectly still waiting for a rabid creature to leap out of the bushes and kill me.
I shook violently and held my breath after hearing what sounded like a low growl. I knew if it was an animal, I would never escape with my life. I shined my light at the ground until I found a large rock, which I picked up and then ran.
When I thought that maybe I’d outran it or scared it away, which both were highly doubtful, I stopped. I quietly stood still for a minute, and listened. I heard the sounds of dead twigs snapping under the weight of something stepping on them and it was growing louder. I slowly stepped backwards until I bumped into a tree. I laughed nervously at myself, but even that was short-lived when I heard a series of low throaty growls coming from somewhere close by. I was obviously too frightened to scream because when I tried nothing came out.
I slowly shined my light around until I saw it. A huge wolf-like creature with his head lowered a bit, but staring me in the eyes. I watched helplessly as it inched its way closer. It had bared its teeth, snarling, revealing fangs dripping with saliva in anticipation of the kill. Just as it crouched its front legs low, readying itself to pounce, another larger one leaped at it from the side, taking it to the ground. They were rolling around, teeth locked onto each other
As I turned to run, I tripped over a tree root, felt something rough scratch across my face, and then heard a ferocious howl. I scrambled to my feet, and kept going. I wasn’t about to stick around and wait for the victor to claim its prize—me. While running, I still heard the growling and other noises like ripping flesh and cracking bones. All of a sudden, there was this ear piercing series of yelps and cries. I couldn’t see what was still out there, but I just knew the fight had been over me. One animal had maimed or killed the other, and now was going to take his reward … me.
Chapter 7
Exhausted, I leaned back against the trunk of a large tree and slid down until I my bottom settled on the cold, damp ground. After crossing my arms over my knees I buried my face and began to sob. I was too tired to move, so I couldn’t run anymore no matter how hard I tried. Not only was I lost in the woods, but I was about to become dinner for a crazed animal, and was helpless to do anything about it.
I heard a twig snap close by, but didn’t bother to raise my head. What was the point? I was probably going to die anyway.
“Genevieve … why are you crying?”
I knew that voice by the way my heart skipped a beat. Before I looked up, I tried to wipe my face clean. “What … where did you come from?” I asked, barely able to breathe, let alone speak. He reached down, gently pulling me to my feet. He smelled like heaven and cookies. I closed my eyes inhaling deeply, as if I could suck in his smell and keep it with me forever.
“I came out here to … you know … relieve myself and I heard someone crying,” he said, sounding embarrassed.
Even though I couldn’t really see his face, I figured it had to be red. “I’ve been lost out here. I went for a walk and then it got so dark and I couldn’t find my way back.” I rambled. “Did you hear the growling?”
“Huh?” He held his hand on the small of my back as we headed back up the path.
“I was being chased by wolves or rabid dogs or something. Just before you found me I heard snarling and wild growls, like they were fighting over which one was going to eat me. Then there was all this yelping like something chased them off. And then you showed up.”
He laughed out loud. It was the sexiest laugh I had ever heard.“Oh, Genevieve. You do have a vivid imagination.”
“I’m serious. I know what I heard.” I folded my arms tightly across my chest, and stopped walking. “You think I’m making it up?” I furrowed my brow.
He had taken a few extra steps before stopping, which made him a few feet further in front of me. I heard another low growl close behind me.”Shh! Did you hear that?” I whispered, while frantically glancing around. “They’re following me. I think they want to … kill me.”
He never said if he heard it or not, but I figured he had by the way he grabbed my hand and hurried toward the open field at the end of the path.
His features stiffened to a painful mask. “Your face is bleeding,” he said, sounding like he was holding his breath. I gave him an awkward glance, and his expression softened. The back of his fingers gently brushed across my cheek. I was so entranced by him that I had forgotten all about being scratched. He walked me to a car parked close to my Jeep. A beautiful, brand new, black BMW. The same car I had seen at my house the day he and his father came over.
He pushed a button on the remote and the trunk popped open. My eyes were glued to him as I watched him open a bottle of water and pour it over a clean folded shirt, he then dabbed it so tenderly against my face. “There you go. All better.” he said quietly and his lips curved upward forming the most angelic smile I’d ever seen.
“Thank you, William.” We stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like hours. I wanted him to wrap me in a kiss and never let go. It was like he read my mind. He slowly began to move closer. Just as our lips were about to touch I heard Luna’s voice.
“There you are.” Luna shot William a skeptical look, then smiled at me. “I see why you got separated from us.” She tilted her head to one side and furrowed her brow. “What happened?” Luna asked, tracing her finger gently along the scratches on my face.
“Oh, that. I scratched it on a branch or something in the woods.” I covered my cheek with my hand.
“Four times?” Luna glared at William when she asked.
“Don’t look at me! I found her that way.” William said defensively, spun on his heel and walked away. I
watched after him until he disappeared inside the cave.
“Thanks for running him off, Luna. I really like him, but now I’ll be lucky if he talks to me again.” I dropped my shoulders and sighed heavily.
“Sorry, Gen,” Luna said, crossing her arms tightly against her chest. “I don’t trust him. He’s too … too, pretty,”
I smiled. “Oh my God, I know, right? And, he smells like sandalwood and cookies.” We laughed simultaneously.
Luna looped her arm through mine, and started pulling me in the direction of the cave. “Come on. He’s not going anywhere as long as you’re here.”
When Luna and I re-entered the cave, there were twice as many people sitting around the fire than before, and Miss Baylor was setting the scene for the story she was about to tell and seemed to have everyone’s undivided attention. William stood across the room, staring a hole right through me, and I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, like he could read my thoughts and knew how badly I wanted him close to me. At the same moment I was thinking that, I gave him a sidelong glance, and he made a poor attempt to hide his grin.
Miss Baylor chanted something in a language I didn’t understand while sprinkling herbs or something into the fire. I was beginning to wonder just what I had gotten myself into. For all I knew, I could be in the middle of a satanic ritual. I giggled silently at the outrageous thought. After Miss Baylor circled the fire she resumed her seat among us and began telling a story.
“Some believe the Adlet wolf is nothing more than a myth. But as natives of Alaska we know this to be an untruth. Many generations back there was an Adlet queen. She bore a female child … a princess. And this daughter had a daughter, and so on.” She peered intently at each one of the students as she spoke.
“Is this supposed to be a ghost story or what?” I whispered in Luna’s ear. Luna seemed to be entranced by Miss Baylor’s story and without taking her eyes off her, she just put her finger to her lips signaling me to be quiet and listen. Sitting on the dirt floor, I sighed, propping my chin in my hands and stared into the fire only half listening.
“Then evil came upon the tribe and killed many, including the Adlet princess … or so they thought. The tribes-people that were spared told a story of a woman returning years later and telling them that one day a princess would come and unite the different tribes. She said only then would the Wolves, Lycan, and Blood Drinkers live together in peace.”
“Really? I’m sitting here on a Friday night listening to this crap? What does this story have to do with anything?” I mumbled and started to get up, but Luna pulled me back down.
“You have to stay or you’ll break the circle.” She warned. Some of the students heard us whispering and glowered at me. “This is our heritage,” she added in a whisper. “Just listen.”
Miss Baylor stood and scooped some powder out of a pouch that hung around her waist, and tossed it into the fire. Sparks of every color floated up into the air as she started chanting.
“I invite the princess of the Adlet wolf to join me in spiritual union. She is the tenth generation of daughters. On this, the night of her birth, the moon will start out white, but when she rises to take the throne, it will bleed and become solid red. Come. Give the blessing and show me your mark. If she is one upon us let the fire turn dark.”
Miss Baylor stopped, immediately the fire went completely out, and the room turned pitch black for several seconds. I heard whispers in the dark, then the fire promptly roared back to life. At first, I thought it was just some kind of joke until I looked at Miss Baylor’s face. All her color had drained. Her face was snow white and she appeared to be in shock.
Chapter 8
“Well,” Miss Baylor said with a forced smile while nervously rubbing her hands together. “That’s never happened before.” After pursing her lips, she stepped away from the circle without saying a word to anyone and quickly left the cave.
I furrowed my brow. “What just happened?” I asked Luna, the hair on my arms standing.
“Miss Baylor really believes in this stuff, and all the signs point to the princess being here.”
“You mean like, here in Alaska, or here inside this cave?” I suddenly felt paranoid like all eyes were on me. I glanced around the room and spotted William leaning against the wall, his sexy eyes made my heart flutter, and for obvious reasons I blushed and lowered my eyes. When I looked up he was halfway across the room coming straight toward me. He smiled and his pearly white teeth sparkled from the light of the fire.
“Well … that was,” he paused and cleared his throat. “Weird.” He smiled crookedly. Every time he got really close to me, I’d catch myself holding my breath, and had to remind myself to breathe.
“Yeah. Extremely.” He could have said the sky was green and I would have agreed with him. William had an aura about him that filled me with happiness.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at me, like he was thinking. “I want to show you something.” He held out his hand gently taking hold of mine. “Come on.” We went outside and he placed his arm on the small of my back as we started climbing on the large rocks directly above the cave. When we neared the top it leveled off somewhat into a path.
“Close your eyes.” His voice was like velvet. Without even asking why, I just did it. For whatever reason I felt a connection to him unlike anything I had ever experienced. I couldn’t explain it, I just knew in my heart he wouldn’t let anything or anyone hurt me.
He took my hand and guided me a short distance. “Okay,” he whispered softly next to my ear. “Open them.”
The view before me took my breath away. We were standing on a large flat area of rock on top of the back side of the cave, and above us the sky was a series of, blue, red and green curtains of light, dancing and waving. The colors had made the sky into moving art, like a symphony but with light instead of sound.
We sat together. I was speechless as I watched, and I could feel William watching me as I peered at the lights. After a few minutes, I started rubbing the back of my neck. It ached from constantly looking up. William removed his jacket and laid it behind us, then gently pulled me back. His touch caused my stomach to swirl with butterflies.
I lay on my back with my knees bent, watching the colors change and move. William lay on his side with his head propped on his hand, staring at me. I tried to act like I didn’t notice, but I’m sure my trembling hands and quivering lip told him otherwise.
“So … where are you from?” His thumb rubbed a delicate circle on the back of my hand.
“L.A. is where I just moved from, but I was born in Oregon. Me and my mom moved a lot after my dad died. I guess she just couldn’t find a place that felt like home.”
“Your aunt told me and my dad what happened … I’m really sorry—”
“Where are you from?” I asked, cutting him off, not really wanting to get on the subject of the fire and losing my mom.
“Canada. Just me and my dad. We move around a good bit, too … because of his job. Mostly Europe. My mom left when I was little.”
“Oh … I’m sorry, too.” I detected a hint of sadness in his voice that tugged at my heart.
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago; I don’t even remember her… not really, anyway.”
There was this awkward exchange where neither one of us really knew what to say next, so we both started watching the aurora borealis, again.
I felt completely intimidated by him. He was perfect in every way, something I could never be. I kept giving him sidelong glances, and every time he was still eyeing me. He must have noticed because he suddenly flashed that sexy smile of his again, revealing a dimple I didn’t recall seeing before. A burning flush flew over me, I promptly lowered my eyes and smiled.
He slowly inched closer until his face was right next to mine. My heart sped up until I thought a heart attack was eminent.
He placed his hand on my chin and softly turned my face toward him. His hand was like ice at first, but quickly started to warm up unti
l it felt burning hot. His gaze danced back and forth between my lips and my eyes, and mine did the same. I wanted him closer to me, which made my heart ache. Somehow, I knew that nothing he did would get him close enough to satisfy me, and he would always leave me wanting more. It was as if a part of me physically needed William, and I had never felt that way about anyone before.
He inched his way closer, but just before our lips met, his expression turned hard and he quickly sat up.
“What … what is it?” I quickly sat up.
He creased his brow and pursed his lips. “Shh,” he said, not unkindly, cocking his head to the side. He paused briefly. “We should go.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Come on,” he said with an urgency in his voice.
“What’s wrong, William?” I searched his face and my heart fell, not knowing what I had done wrong. I think he realized it too.
“It’s not safe up here,” he said, his eyes narrowed and turned dark, and then I heard what I thought he might be referring to. An eerie howl echoed somewhere behind us. “Hurry,” he said, tightening his grip on my hand, and dragging me behind him.
As we neared the bottom I was compelled to look behind us and I saw why William had been so upset. Peering over the edge were three giant wolves revealing their fangs. There was something strange about their eyes. They looked almost human.
William didn’t waste any time getting us back over to the bonfire, around people, and of course a really big fire. I guess he figured that the wolves wouldn’t venture in too close.
I noticed Miss Baylor standing off by herself, leaned up against a car. She appeared to be nervously biting at her thumbnail. I told William I’d be right back and walked over to join her.
“Hey Miss Baylor,” I smiled. Apparently she was in deep thought, because she didn’t answer at first. “Miss Baylor … is everything all right?” I asked after lightly touching her on the arm.
“Hmm? Oh—yes, Genevieve. I’m sorry. I was a million miles away,” she forced a laugh, but I could tell something was definitely bothering her.
Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition Page 4
