CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER TWO

Zyana's pov 

With every breath, my lungs seized so painfully that they felt like they were being crushed in a vice. My leg muscles were on fire, and even as the thick undergrowth of the woods made every movement a strain, I forced myself to push further.

Branches on the trees tore at my cheeks but I couldn't stop running. I didn’t have the luxury for that. 

From behind me, I could hear heavy paws thudding against the ground and that sound was getting closer. I knew they were nearer to me, I could tell they were picking up speed in pursuit of me.

Such warmth constricted me from within, and I would trample upon the force of the will of my lungs and run.

They were still there—those creatures. The wolves that had slaughtered my father. The beasts that were chasing me now, their dessert after successfully attacking my father who was even stronger and more skilled than me.

I stumbled over a thick root on the ground and I was barely able to catch myself before I went face-first into the ground. 

I hit my head really hard on the wood and blacked out for a few seconds before I came back to my senses. I knew I was bleeding. 

I didn’t have the luxury of slowing down, though, talk less of stopping to check my injury. I had to keep going. 

I pushed myself up from the ground and I felt their paws beneath my hands. It would only take them a least one minute to chomp on me.

My father’s face flashed before my eyes again, his pale and bloody body, looking at me with empty eyes. I remember those words he said to me.

“They’re not what they seem... Trust no one... Run.”

I shook my head trying to force the memories to the back of my mind. Now was not the time to be mourning his death, only alive daughters get the chance to mourn their dead father.

The wolves. I have never seen those type of wolves in my life before. Wolves never looked so scary.

Their glowing eyes, their huge forms—they were wrong. My father had known, but I hadn’t. 

I know my father hid a lot from me and I respected that but if he had listened to me on me following him, he would still have a fighting chance and he would not have been a corpse.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts again. Zyana, now is not the time to be passing blame or having personal regrets. I can do that when I'm sure I will survive the night. 

I wasn't going to die just yet. My story just begun.

I ran even faster, pushing against the burn of my muscles. They were telling me to stop, to catch a breath but it was either that or I say hello to the world beyond.

I could feel their presence. 

I was running out of options and that made me very very scared. I didn’t know how to get away from them. I didn't even know if they could climb trees but I wasn't about to experiment that. 

And then, it was as if nature heard my prayers.

A glimmer through the trees. A large body of water, shimmering under the moonlight. It was my only hope, my only and last chance of survival or I was dead meat. 

I didn’t think twice.

 Without hesitating, I turned sharply to my left, making the wolves crash against each other from my suddenly change in direction. 

I geared up to my maximum speed, I was going to survive this, I was going to effing live! 

I reached the edge of the water. My muscles continued to scream at me to stop, but I did not.

 I turned to look behind me. That was my biggest mistake. They were a couple of feets behind me. My father taught me to never look behind when running because looking behind you could slow you down, but I did just that.

I didn’t know how deep this river was. I didn’t know if I’d be able to swim far enough to escape or if I drown in the process. But it was the only choice I had.

Without thinking twice, I threw myself into the water. The cold numbed my body instantly, but I didn’t stop. 

I kicked my legs and swam in rapid butterfly strokes, pushing myself farther and father away from the shore and far away from the wolves as possible.

The sound of their growling echoed in the wind and it was growing fainter the more I swam further away from the bank.

I didn’t dare turn around again. I had no idea how far off they were but I knew that I needed to keep going until I was hundred percent sure I was safe.

The cold was starting to seep into my bones and making it difficult for me to swim but I couldn’t slow down.

My father’s last words were my motivation. If he was alive he would want me to keep running, to never ever look back. I couldn’t let a little bit of pain stop me.

I didn’t know how long I swam, but after a very long time, I saw land. Finally.

 My arms were numb and my body heavy from exhaustion and over strained muscles, but I staggered onto the land and collapsed onto the shore. Yes, I made it!

I lay there, gasping for air. Every muscle in my body was aching badly. 

 I was still shivering from the cold, but at least I was alive. I’d made it... for now.

A rustling noise pulled my attention away from my happy moments. I pushed myself up and turned slowly. Could the wolves have reach here already? Was there a shorter way to get here? 

A manly figure stood over me instead. He stared down at me and I thought to myself. Was I in paradise already? I seriously didn't make it? 

He was standing in front of the moonlight and I had to squint my eyes to try to make out his features or what he looked like.

 All I could see were the outlines of his lean, muscular frame and the glowing light in his eyes. 

There was something about him that made the hairs on my neck stand upright. 

“What are you doing here, human?” 

His voice was low and deep, rich with a sexy rumbling at the end of his sentence. It sent a shiver down my spine.

I blinked at him. “H-human?” I croaked, trying to push myself up but failing. 

Was this man crazy? Why would a man call me human, what was he, Adonis?

 “I—I was just... just chased by—by wolves.” 

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying me carefully, as if trying to make sense of what I’d just said.

“Wolves? Oh okay, I get ”

I could barely see his face in the dim light, but I could feel his eyes on me.

“You shouldn't be here.” He crossed his arms on his chest.

“ You can say that again.” I said, trying to find the strength to stand.

 “I was running from those... those things. They... they killed my father.”

The man’s expression shifted, his eyes flashing with Disdain? I couldn’t tell. 

“Your father,” he murmured. “Don't know who you might be."

I still had the energy to roll my eyes sarcastically. Of course he didn't know me, was that not noticable? 

" I swam across from the creatures. Hell they didn't even look like mere wolves. If I wasn't skilled, I would have be tonight's cold dish on the dinner menu."

He didn’t answer, instead stepping even closer. 

“You shouldn’t be here, not in these woods. Not alone. You’ll be killed if you stay. You're just human.”

I felt the cold edge of fear tighten in my chest. There again with the human word. What was he, a spirit?

 “I really don’t care, I'm here now and there is nothing I can do about it.” I yawned out, clearly exhausted from all the troubles I faced on getting here. And now this guy won't let me rest.

 “I don’t know who you are, but I seriously need to get away from them. They can just pop out of nowhere when I lower my defenses and gbam! Dinner is served, yours sincerely.”

He chuckled softly, clearly amused by my choice of words.

 “You’re desperate. I can see that. But these woods aren’t safe, especially not for a human girl like you. You’ll only find more danger here. Come with me.” 

He extended his hand, but there was no kindness in the offer. It was a command wrapped in the guise of protection.

I hesitated, my mind racing. My father had told me to trust no one. And yet, here was this stranger, offering me protection. I didn’t know anything about him or what he wanted, but...

I was scared,alone, tired and really hungry. I had no choice. I could die out here.

For a long time, I stared at his outstretched hand, torn between taking his offer or Rejecting it.

 “Who... who are you?” I asked, my voice cracked at the last word.

He didn’t smile, but his eyes softened, just a little. 

“Evander Blackwood,” he said,

. “And you... are very far from home.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I took his hand. “Zyana.”

He glanced around at the dark forest, his eyes narrowing again.

 “Come with me. You can stay with me tonight. It’s not safe here, and you need to rest.”

“I don’t know if I can trust you.”

He pulled me up and supported my weight with his arm. Maybe to him I was as light as a feather, looking at all this toned muscles.

 “You don’t have to trust me. Just trust that you’re safer with me than you are out here.”

I hesitated for a moment,but in the end, I nodded in agreement. I was definitely safer with him than in the woods. What harm could he do to me?

With that I followed him into the darkness.