I watched them when I was picking herbs, running, or sitting by the lake. Anytime I had free time I would watch them; they were fascinating. They would raise their ears when they heard noise. Or their bodies would hum with joy and content. They played and interacted with one another, jumping, tugging, biting, pulling and chasing each other. Their eyes would shine when they experienced an overwhelming emotion. They were always together eating, cleaning, talking and helping one another. It was nice to see what a big united family they were. It also made me feel a little sad that I didn’t get to grow up in this environment. I also noticed the hierarchy in the pack. Even the Omega’s played a part in the welfare of the pack. Everyone worked together, serving one another. They also seemed to resemble their human in wolf form. The eye color, hair color could be shades different but they all had their own distinct smell. I know there is still so much to learn.
This morning after I woke up I went for a run; I was up to three miles now. At first all I could do was walk. It was difficult but was getting easier. After my shower I got dressed in my sunshine yellow sundress. I wanted to wear it because I was happy and yellow was definitely a happy color. I paired it with some gold sandals and gold earrings. Of course I left my necklace on. I headed down the trail to the main cabin to have breakfast with my dad. It had become a daily routine for us. He would tell me more about the pack and we would share stories about the years we missed together. I always met the others at the main cabin because they were usually taking care of their pack duties. My dad wanted to make sure I had healed completely before he put me to work.
I enjoyed the way my dress danced around my knees. It made me feel giddy and I was hoping the way it hugged my body might impress Enoc. The feel of the gravel, dirt and twigs crunching underneath my feet was satisfying. Thinking about Enoc started making me feel a little anxious. He was so sweet and kind the first day I was here and since then he has rarely spoken to me. It was very confusing. I wasn’t sure if I had imagined the connection between us. I wasn’t even sure he had any real feelings for me.
The last thing I was thinking of was Enoc. The picture of Enoc in my head, as my body crashed into the gravel. I didn’t even get a chance to put my hands out to protect my body. I felt the gravel grate against my knees and forearms. It stung and blood dripped down my knees. Rolling over quickly to sit up, I brushed my hair away from my face with the back of my hand to see what or who had knocked me down. Looking around with panic on my face I saw him. The gray wolf.
“Jeremy,” I said under my breath.
His gray ears lifted at the mention of his name. It almost seems like he smiled but all I saw were his sharp teeth dripping with saliva. A deep growl came from his chest. I knew he was warning me. He moved towards me and I saw a bright light shimmer around him and the wolf was gone. The human Jeremy stood in front of me.
“Hello Olivia,” he said with his wicked smile.
Before I had a chance to defend myself his closed fist connects with my face. The force of it made me fall back. My head rang and my eyes went blurry. I reached up and touched my swollen cheek. He had already spun me into his body. My back was pressed into his chest. His hand covered my mouth. I remembered the smell of cloves before he suffocated me making me pass out. I hated that smell.
Disoriented I awaken to the smell of a campfire. It must be early evening because the moon had started to make an appearance. The stars were starting to occupy and sparkle in the sky. My mind was still fuzzy and my head hurt. I opened my eyes and looked around but I don’t see anyone. I did know I was still in the forest because all I could see were trees, bushes and shrubbery. Warmth from the fire seeped into my back and started to warm my body. It was almost comforting, until I remembered who had me.
I took a look down and could see my bare legs were tied together with what looked like twine. One of my golden sandals was missing. My hands were also tied together resting in front of me. My wrists and ankles were sore. I tested the bind to see if I could wiggle out of them. They were so tight they just cut into my skin. My dress was ripped at the shoulder. The dress had slid up past my knees. I tried moving my body to move it down but all it did was make it rise higher. How was anyone going to find me? They don’t even know where I am.
I was drawn away from my thoughts by the sound of voices coming from behind me. I tried not to move which wasn’t difficult. I steadied my breath, as I focused breathing in and out. I tried to calm my heart even though it felt like it was going to pound out of my chest.
“Come on man, why did you hit her? You were just supposed to grab her and leave. Couldn’t you have gotten her without hurting her? How is she supposed to trust you or lead our pack? If you aren’t nice to her she’s going to end up hating you. Remember we spoke about this, you’re better than him Jeremy.” I heard the fire crackle as a log was dropped on top.
The lie left his lips easily. I know Jason but she was screaming her head off and I couldn’t let her attract any attention. I know we say that she’s intended to be my mate but you know my father, he will never let me have her. If it makes you feel better I promise to be nice to her, okay. Right now I need you to do a perimeter run. I am pretty sure they haven’t found our trail but we should make sure.”
“Yeah, ok just think about what I said.” I heard the man called Jason run off into the forest, leaving me alone with Jeremy.
I could sense Jeremy moving closer. “I know you’re awake. Your heart is beating too fast for you to be asleep,” he taunted.
I didn’t respond. I closed my eyes and pretended I didn’t hear him. I knew he was directly behind me, when the heat of the fire dissipated from my back. He kneeled down next to me reaching over my body and grabbed my hair. He gently pulled it away from my neck and slid his finger down my neck and over my collarbone. I shrugged away from him as he pulled me over onto my back. My wrists pulled against the twine making me cry out in pain. I saw him glance at my chest as he reached towards the torn part on my shoulder. When he touched my skin I shivered with disgust. He lifted the necklace off my neck and rested it in his palm. Wrapping his large fingers around it, he pulled hard breaking the delicate chain. I watched him as he threw the necklace into the dense forest trees.
I gasped and looked up into his dark eyes. I yelled at him. “Why did you do that? Get away from me!”
A half smile fell on his lips and his eyes ignited with mischief. He looked at me as his eyes turned a dark shade of gray. He looked up and down making my skin crawl. His hand grabbed at my ankles squeezing them hard as he turned me towards his body. It hurt and I whimpered. I could see blood dripping from my bind. His fingers started to move up my bare leg. I started breathing heavily.
“Knock it off, get away from me!”
He ignored me getting to the edge of the dress. He started to slide it up. He was so enthralled with what he was doing he didn’t realize he’s close enough for me to grab him. I lifted my tied hands up and grabbed his golden hair. I pulled and yanked trying my hardest to rip it out of his head.
He yelled, “You stupid girl you’re gonna pay!
He tried wrenching my hands from his hair. But I didn’t let go and I ended up ripping some of his hair. After he distanced himself from me he stood up and kicked me hard in the stomach. It made me roll over and away from him. The wind was knocked out of me and my stomach contracted which made it even harder to breathe. I had never felt anything like this. Before I knew it he had flipped me back over straddling me. His large thighs pressed into my hip bones. His large hands were around my neck squeezing. The pressure from each finger was brutal and cut off my airway. I tried yelling for help but Jeremy put his mouth over mine muffling my weak attempt to scream. I bit him and tasted blood. He let go of my neck and with one hand held me down while using the other to wipe the blood from his mouth
“Oh you stupid girl!” Jeremy slapped me across the face. My head fell sideways and the stinging sensation was awful.
I screamed, “NO!”
I bucke
d my body trying to get him off but he was too heavy. I spit on him and his dark eyes glowed. I flinched when I saw him raise his hand again. I closed my eyes because I knew there was nothing I could do. I waited for the impact. The pressure on my chest was lifted when Jeremy was knocked off. I took in a deep breath, and continued to cough, struggling for air. Once I could breathe again I looked over to see Jeremy lying on the ground. The sound of growling and fighting was loud. An extremely large brown wolf was standing over Jeremy baring his sharp teeth. Jeremy lied still underneath the wolf. I watched as Jeremy and the wolf stared one another down. The muscles in the coffee colored wolf’s shoulders relaxed when Jeremy looked away. The coffee wolf’s coat glistened with shades of brown as he shifted in the moonlight. A light burst and in front of Jeremy stood a man I’d never seen before.
“What were you doing to her?” The man asked, turning to point to me.
Jeremy looks around him to glare at me. “Come on man she bit me.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why Jason? She attacked me?”
So that’s Jason I thought.
“Look Jason all I was doing was going to loosen her binds.”
“Liar!” I yelled, “You were touching me. You kissed me, you hit me! Liar!” I yelled.
Jeremy started to move around Jason heading my direction with anger in his eyes. He mouthed the words, “You’re gonna pay.”
I flinched and looked at Jason. Jason grabbed Jeremy, “Man knock it off. Why don’t you go finish the perimeter run. Then get back here so we can get some sleep.”
“Didn’t you finish it?” Jeremy asked as he rolled his eyes.
“No I had to come back after I heard her screaming. Just go, you need to cool off.”
Jeremy shifted running off into the forest. The anger coursing through my body was tangible. I was distracted by the intense stare of Jason’s eyes on me.
I turned to look at him. He looked to be about twenty-five. He had thick brown hair. His long eyelashes surrounded the most amazing green eyes. They were kind eyes. He was tall and muscular. I could see his broad shoulders through the t-shirt he was wearing. I noticed the way the dark jeans fit loose around his legs and hung on his hips. I looked up and he was watching me stare at him. I blushed and looked away like a kid who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I heard him laugh under his breath. Great I thought, how embarrassing getting caught ogling the enemy.
I heard his feet crunch along the ground. I looked up and watched him walk towards me. He stopped near the fire and picked up a backpack.
Holding his hands out in front he said, “I am going to unbind your wrists and clean them up, okay?” He kneeled in front of me. “I am going to get my knife out of my pocket.”
I nodded as he slid his hand in his front jean pocket and pulled out a knife. I flinched when he grabbed my wrist. He pulled them forward and started to cut the twine. I finally heard and felt the twine snap.
I quietly whispered, “Thanks,” while pulling my dress down over my knees.
He reached in the backpack pulling out a couple of waters and a plastic bag with gauze and antibiotic ointment. He wet the white rag with some of the water from the bottle.
“This will hurt a bit but by the time I am done it should feel a lot better.”
I grimaced as he started to wipe off the dirt and blood from my wrists.
“Sorry,” he saidas he flipped my wrist over.
“It’s not your fau-” I stopped talking because I noticed his eyes go big and he stops cleaning. “What?” I asked, looking at my wrist trying to figure out what he’s looking at that had him distracted.
All I saw was my birthmark; shaped like an olive branch that I inherited from my mom. And my bruised, bloody red swollen wrists.
Oh that was from wrestling with Jeremy. He really was trying to hurt me.”
He looked away and started to rinse off the now pink rag. “I am sorry that he did that to you,” he said while twisting the cap off the ointment.
“So what are you doing with him? You seem so… normal.” I said quietly. I was lost in his green eyes until he spoke and brought me back to reality.
“Jeremy isn’t that bad he has just had a rough life. His mom died when he was younger and his father isn’t that great.”
“I don’t care what kind of life he’s had, he doesn’t have the right to kidnap me, tie me up or force himself on me.”
Running his hands through his hair he replied, “I didn’t know. I will talk to him. He usually isn’t like this.”
Getting frustrated I retorted, “Well each time I’ve seen him this is exactly how he’s been. Maybe he isn’t the person you think.”
He hung his head and focused on his task. Grabbing my right hand he rubbed some antibiotic on it and then wrapped it up. It did feel a lot better.
“Look I heard about his father, I know he isn’t a good man.”
I knew he heard me but he said nothing. He grabbed my left wrist and flipped it over. As soon as his fingers slid the ointment over the birthmark an intense feeling of peace coursed through my body. Every nerve was consumed and I felt content. I let my eyes close and let the feelings of anger, sadness and hurt leave my body, letting it be replaced with joy, love and happiness. It was as if my body and depth were pure and perfect. Like the world hadn’t let its ugliness taint my soul. I sighed.
I opened my eyes slowly to see Jason sitting very still. His eyes were closed with a look of pure bliss on his face. I reached up and dragged my fingers down the side of his face. I enjoyed the feel of the five o’ clock shadow under my fingertips. He opened his eyes and gazed into mine. I felt his hand on my wrist as he pulled me towards him. I wanted to pull away but something inside me was pulling me towards him. His hand reached into my hair and pulled my head up to his. I breathed him in, the intoxicating smell of sandalwood. My mouth parted slightly and I could feel his warm breath close to my lips. My eyes closed.
“Hey Jason, man we’ve got to go!” I could hear Jeremy running towards us breaking through the forest.
I opened my eyes and felt Jason’s hands let go of my wrist and head. He backed away from me quickly just as Jeremy broke into the camp. My mind is still trying to comprehend what just happened.
“We got to go; they aren’t that far behind me.”
I smiled at the thought of seeing my dad again. Jeremy comes over and grabs me roughly. I kicked him and started screaming, “Dad I am over here!”
Jeremy started to cover my mouth and then I heard it. One, two, three, four and five howls broke the silence in the forest.
Jason reached for Jeremy. “Come on we don’t have time. They’re going to kill us, let her go. We will come for her a different time.” His eyes held sorrow in that statement.
I didn’t want him to go just Jeremy.
I mouthed, “Thank you.” He nodded dragging Jeremy behind him.
Just as Jason and Jeremy ran through the trees I turned to see my father, Ryan and Enoc in wolf form running into the camp, followed by Grace and Amber. My father signaled to Ryan and Enoc to chase after Jeremy and Jason. They followed the same path that they had just left on only minutes ago. I could hear them growling and howling into the wind. Amber and Grace transformed and came running to my side. Both of them threw their arms around my body and hugged me. Helping me stand up I walked over to my father.
I wrapped my arms around his body and cried, while he whispered, “It will be okay my little dove.”
Chapter 5
When we finally made it back to pack territory I felt like I could breathe again. My shoulders finally relaxed and the tension in my hands eased up. Amber and Grace stayed by my side the whole time. I couldn’t believe everything that had been going on. My life had changed so much these past few weeks, it seemed crazy. Not to mention Jason, Jeremy and Enoc. Plus finding out my dad was alive and the mystery of why my mom survived the bite. It was a lot to take in. At least I had Amber here with me.
Grace broke
me away from my thoughts. “I have to go to my mom’s cabin and pick up some supplies. I will meet you two at Amber’s okay.”
We hugged good-bye as she took off running down the path to Ruth’s.
After I had healed from my fall earlier I left Ruth’s cabin. Since all my stuff was at Amber’s I moved in with her. I was glad since we are best friends and I knew it’s where I would feel most comfortable. Our cabin felt like home. The cottage style couch was decorated in greens, pinks, reds and yellows. A floral rug sat on the floor that complimented the couch. The variety of throw pillows helped accentuate the room. A distressed soft sea green coffee table and matching hutch helped fill in the living space. My favorite part of the room was the bench seat that sat in front of the two large windows. I would often read books or just unwind from the day staring off into the trees.
Amber had pictures decorated throughout the cabin. Each picture I looked at came with a story or a happy memory. One picture was from when we went camping. We were sitting by a fire with our hoodies on shoving sticky marshmallows into our mouths. Another picture was of us on a paddleboat at the lake. I smiled at one of the most recent pictures of us, the one of us on graduation day in our gold gowns. One of my favorites was when we got dressed up for Halloween. We dressed up like zombies. We were super big into the Walking Dead Series. I mean come on who didn’t think Daryl was awesome with his bow. I smiled at the photo of her and her family. I didn’t know her parents that well they were always gone working. That was why she was at my house most the time. There was even a photo of us and my mom. The white queen sized bed sat at the back of the room. The comforter was French cream with embroidered solid lime green floral designs. It was chic yet stylish. On the nightstand next to the bed was one of my favorite photos. It was of me and my dad at a school dance, when I was nine.
I had only been living there for a few weeks now. I was lost in thought and it took me a while to realize that Amber had been talking. Apparently she asked me a question but I hadn’t even heard it. I only realized she was talking after she grabbed my shoulder and pulled me to a stop.
The Choice (The Choice Series Book 1) Page 5
