Elliot.
The early morning fog clung to the forest like a secret, the sun barely breaking through the thick canopy of trees. I stood at the edge of the woods, my breath misting in the cool air. It was now or never. Every fibre of my being screamed at me to turn back, to leave thus cursed place, and never look back. But something deeper... some kind of pull I couldn't explain drew me in. It wasn't just curiosity anymore. My boots crunched against the dried leaves and twigs as I took my first steps into the woods, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the otherwise silent morning. The trail was faint, barely recognizable from the surrounding undergrowth, but I remembered the direction I had run the previous night. The glowing eyes, the sharp claws, and that howl... it seemed to plague my dreams now. If that creature was out there, I had nothing but an axe I had found in the garage of my house. It wouldn't kill him, but I had to know more. Figure out what was in these woods, not just for the story, but because I needed to understand. For what felt like hours, I wandered deeper into the woods, my senses now on high alert. The shadows seemed to move with every step I took, flickering at the corners of my vision. The farther I went, the quieter it became. No birds chirped, no animals rustled in the bushes. Just that damning silence Goosebumps rose all over my arms. The pull was even stronger now, guiding me, though I couldn't tell why or where it was leading me to. "Elliot." It seemed to call after me. If I was a sane human, I knew I would have ran away immediately, tell Frank to find someone else. But I kept moving, the trees closing in around me like towering guards. Then I saw it. A dark shape at first, barely visible through the fog. My heart beat got even faster, my muscles tensing. I wasn't thinking when I crouched behind a thick tree trunk, and tried to see through the mist. The shape moved... or rather, it twitched... and then I saw it clearly. A man. Or what was left of him anyway. His body lay sprawled on the forest floor, barely moving. Blood stained the leaves around him, pooling beneath his broken form. Did that...? Had that creature attacked him? Torn him up? Deep claw marks raked across his chest and arms, the mind that didn't belong to any animal I knew of. “Jesus…” I whispered under my breath, my stomach twisting at the sight. I scrambled out from behind the tree, rushing toward the man, everything in me telling me I was doing the right thing instead of running the other way. When I reached him, the sight was worse than I'd seen from afar. His face was pale, almost grey, and his breathing was shallow, laboured. But even with all that, he was the most beautiful man I had ever had the pleasure of seeing. "Hey," I said, my voice cracking as I crouched beside him. "Hey, can you hear me?" No response. What was I even thinking? Of course he wouldn't be able to respond, he was clearly dying. I leaned closer, panic rising in my chest. "Come on, man, stay with me." I checked his pulse. Weak, but there. I had no idea how he was still alive with all those kinds of wounds. His shirt was shredded, revealing a mangled chest, claw marks deep enough to expose raw muscle. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was still alive. “Who did this to you?” I muttered, though I knew he couldn’t answer. I needed to get help. Fast. Reaching for my phone, I realized, with a feeling of dread, that I didn't have a signal. Of course not, I'm in the middle of the damn woods. I glanced around, trying to orient myself, but everything looked the same. Thick trees, endless fog, and the damning silence. But there was no time to hesitate. If I stayed here too long, whoever.. or whatever had done this would come back. I shifted my weight, ready to lift him, when the man's eyes fluttered open. A faint groan escaped his lips, and for a moment, I thought I saw recognition in his eyes. Like he knew who I was. "Don't... leave," He rasped, barely above a whisper. His voice was broken, as though speaking was too painful. "They'll come... back." Panic clawed at my throat. "Who's coming back? What happened to you?" He struggled to speak, his head rolling to the side as his gaze fell on the woods behind me. His lips moved, but no sound came out. His eyes widened, pupils dilating with fear. I followed his gaze, scanning the tree line, but saw nothing. “I’m not leaving you,” I said, gripping his hand in what felt like a useless attempt to comfort him. “I’ll get you out of here.” I just wasn't sure how. The man convulsed, his body wracked with pain, and I held on tighter, desperate to keep him conscious. His breathing grew shallower by the second, his skin now cold to the touch. Suddenly, his eyes locked onto mine, sharp with a clarity that wasn’t there before. “It… hunts,” he rasped, each word a struggle. “It… never stops.” A chill ran down my spine, his words hanging heavy in the air. “What hunts?” I asked, leaning closer. His face twisted into a grimace, his lips trembling. “Run…” It was all he could manage before his body slumped, his breathing faltering, and his eyes rolled back into his head. “No, no, no…” I muttered, shaking him lightly. “Stay with me!” But he was unconscious, his breath coming in ragged, uneven gasps. My mind raced. I needed to get him to a hospital, but there was no way I could carry him out of here on my own. I glanced at my phone again. Still no signal. Damn it. What was I going to do? Even on my best days, I doubt I would be able to carry a man larger than myself. That turned out to be the least of my concerns as a low growl echoed through the woods. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. This wasn't like the one I heard yesterday. Whatever had done this to the man was still out there, and... it was coming back. I stood, my eyes scanning the dense woods around me. The fog swirled, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Any rational person would leave the man here. He was almost dead anyway. But I couldn't. That would be the most inhumane thing ever. I dropped to my knees beside him, lifting him as gently as I could. He was heavier than he looked, dead weight against my arms. But I strained, the muscles in my legs burning as I tried to pull him to his feet. Another growl. Closer now. “Come on,” I muttered through gritted teeth, pulling him up. “We have to move.” His body sagged against mine, but I managed to get him on his feet, dragging him through the trees, one slow step at a time. Every inch felt like a mile, the woods already closing in around me. I could hear the growls now, more than one, echoing through the trees like a warning.... Fuck. I stumbled forward, dragging the unconscious man with me, almost tripping as I desperately tried to remember the way back to the trail. But the woods were a maze, every tree looking the same. Another howl came from somewhere behind us. And this time, I knew I was truly going to die.Elliot.I had to keep moving, forcing my legs forward, even with each step heavier than the last.The man I was dragging through the woods felt like dead weight now, his body limp, bleeding, and barely conscious.I glanced over my shoulder, heart pounding in my chest. It was hard to see anything behind me, but I knew something was out there.Lurking."Come on, man. Stay with me," I muttered through clenched teeth. His weight dragged me down, each step slower than the last. "Just hold on a little longer."He groaned, his head rolling to the side in his barely conscious state. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, and I could feel the wetness of it on my hands as I tried to support him.It was everywhere.I glanced down at him, shaking him lightly. "Hey! Hey, can you hear me?"His eyelids fluttered, and a weak gasp escaped his lips. "Run," he managed to say, though the words were barely audible."I'm not leaving you," I said firmly, trying to ignore the panic clawing at the edges of my m
Elliot. The fire in the living room crackled softly as I knelt beside the unconscious man, cleaning the gashes on his chest with as much care as I could muster. My mind still raced as I tried to piece together what had happened in the woods. The creature behind us. How it suddenly disappeared the moment we were out of the woods. What was it? I glanced up at the man's face, pale and slick with sweat, as I worked on bandaging a particularly nasty cut on his side. Only something as horrible as what was in those woods could have done something like this. I was sure of it. As I finished wrapping the last bandage, his body stirred. His eyes fluttered open, bleary, and unfocused. “Hey, take it easy,” I murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him from moving too quickly. “You’re safe. Just… try to relax.” His gaze darted around the room, panic flashing in his eyes before they landed on me. He flinched, trying to sit up, but I gently pushed him back down. “Where am I?” he
Damien. The air in the woods had been heavy, thick with the scent of my blood and the howl of something I wished I'd never heard. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, urging me to go back, to get to him. To the nameless stranger that had rescued me. I never should have let my guard down. Should have kept running. That was what rogues do. We did not get involved. We did not stay. We survived. But him... I clenched my fists, the human side of me fighting the wolf, torn between instinct and reason. My legs were aching from the miles I'd covered since I'd heard the howl, but something kept pulling me back. Him. How on earth had that puny human run with an unconscious me through this woods? My wolf growled low in my chest. "He's our mate." He didn't understand why I was hesitating. It never did. Wolves weren't wired like humans, they didn't care about logic or consequences. And it knew the man was ours. Ours to protect. Ours to stay with. But we couldn’t stay. Not with what w
Elliot. It was hard to think yesterday had actually happened. But after giving him a room to use as his and watching him eat cereal from a bowl this morning, I couldn't deny it. Damien. His name echoed in my mind, an unwanted anchor tied to my thoughts. I'd spent the night pacing, replaying every moment from yesterday, every word spoken. But right now, I didn't need this. This tension which seemed to simmer under my skin. Not when the mayor had sent someone to track whatever was happening in these woods. And that person was Frank. By the time I walked into the newspaper office, I was already on edge, barely holding it together. The tiny bell above the door jingled, and I braced myself. But Frank was already there, leaning against my desk, a smug grin stretching across his face. His eyes scanned me, searching for something to arouse his suspicion again. "Rough night, Elliot?" He asked with a pointed tone. I forced a smile, dropping my bag onto my desk. "Nothing a little coff
Elliot. It took a few days for me to get used to seeing Damien in my cabin. To get used to his… presence. The crackling of the fireplace filled the quiet cabin as I glanced over at Damien, who lounged on the old leather armchair across from me. He had been staying with me for almost a week now, and we had settled into an unspoken truce, an odd but comfortable rhythm of shared meals, stolen glances, and late night conversations that never strayed close to the truth. Or the questions I wanted to ask. There was something comforting about him being here. The way he was always watching, always on edge, as if he were guarding something precious. "So," I started, breaking the silence. "When would you tell me about how your wounds disappeared within a day." Damien's lips rose in a half-smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have really good genes." “Good genes,” I repeated, leaning forward. “First time I'm hearing of such a thing. Good genes don't usually lead to fast wound h
Elliot. Before I could ask again, my front door slammed open with a bang, yanking both Damien and me from the silence that had settled between us. I barely had time to react before Frank burst into the cabin, looking like he'd just unearthed a buried treasure... or worse, set a deadly trap. "Harper!" He practically shouted, his voice brimming with urgency. "You won't believe what I found!" Damien's sort of relaxed posture changed instantly, vanishing as he reclined deeper into the chair. His hazel eyes watched us, cold and calculating. "Frank," I snapped, struggling to keep my irritation in check. "What the hell are you doing barging in here?" Frank’s gaze darted to Damien, his frown deepening before snapping back to me. "I need to talk to you. Now." "About what?" I asked, glancing nervously at Damien, who just watched us, unnervingly still, his eyes locked on Frank. I wondered what was going through that mind of his. Frank hesitated, his tension evident when he finally spoke.
Elliot. "If you're so interested in dying, then be my guest. Go into the woods." Damien's words lingered like smoke in the air, poisonous and suffocating. I should have let it go. Any sane person would have. My body still ached from the last time I set foot in those cursed woods, and every nerve screamed at me to stay far away. Yet here I was, perched on the cabin steps as twilight deepened, my curiosity a dangerous vice. Damien had been restless for days, vanishing into the night without a word. Ever since that night, he had avoided me like I was the plague, leaving only the faintest hint of his presence... muddy boots by the door, or the lingering scent of pine and earth. Reports of claw marks spreading through town had reached fever pitch. Everyone was afraid. I should have been too. But fear was nothing compared to the pull for answers. The cabin door slammed shut behind me as Damien stalked past, his jaw clenched, his hazel eyes glinting under the fading light. "Are yo
Damien. Elliot abandoned me in the woods faster than my wolf could howl my name. The pine scented air clung to me as I stumbled out of the forest, my muscles still taut from the shift, my eyes still hollowed by the memory of those brown eyes... wide with terror, burning with betrayal. He saw me. Not just me, but the monster within. And he was right to run. But it burned deeper than any claw wound did. My wolf clawed at my insides, a mournful howl echoing in my head. "He's our mate." He whimpered as though the truth would erase the fear etched into his face. But we'd showed him everything he feared, everything he couldn't unsee. "Hurt me, Damien? You're... you're a monster." The words cut deeper than claws ever could, leaving me bleeding out in ways no healing could fix. But his absence hurt worse. Every step I took toward the cabin felt like dragging my body through broken glass. My mind replayed the sound of his voice, his scent lingering in the air... cinnamon and oud.
One year after...Elliot.Fucking hell!What was wrong with me?I adjusted the collar of my shirt, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling in my chest. That didn't stop me from sparing a glance at Damien, who stood beside me, hands stuffed into his pockets.My mate... plus husband, because sometime within the previous year, he had transitioned into my husband, exuded this sort of calm confidence, but I could see the tension in his posture.Slight tightening of the jaw, the way his fingers flexed occasionally? The signs were all there."You don't have to look so intimidating," I teased, nudging him gently. "We're not here for a pack meeting."On the days we had those, even I knew to steer clear for a few minutes to give him time to breathe. Those elders... well, they were a little intense on the poor guy.Damien shot me a sideways glance, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's not intimidating if this is my resting face."Sigh. His resting face was the one he ha
Elliot."... a feminine mate."The room fell silent, except for the faint crackle of the fire in the corner. Five pairs of expectant eyes rested on me, waiting for my compliance."No." The words slipped out of my mouth easily, followed by a breathless laugh that was so bitter it tasted like ash on my tongue.The tall, silver-haired elder frowned. “No?” I took a step forward, keeping voice steady. "No, I won't take a feminine mate, not when I have a mate already," I shot a glance at Damien, whose eyes just widened in alarm. "One I love, one I cherish, and one I would gladly die for if the need came up."I suppressed the chuckle in me as the elders exchanged uneasy glances, their masks slipping away.Not what they expected eh."My mate is Damien Blackthorn," I declared, the words echoing through the room like thunder. "And you're going to have to live with that."...silence.Then another elder, a squat man with a pale complexion, was the first to break it. "Damien is still illegitimat
Elliot.All I could was stare at Damien, my chest still heaving from the kiss that had shattered every coherent thought in my mind.Damn me!My lips still tingled from the contact, but my body rebelled against the intimacy, the closeness... the connection. I had no idea when I took a step back while shaking my head. "What the hell are you doing?" My voice was sharp, raw, and mixed with something I wasn't ready to name.Damien's jaw clenched, his eyes shadowed with defiance and something softer."You told me to do something," He repeated with puckered lips."Not that." I snapped at him with a cold tone. Why did it feel like I was splintering from the inside. "Do you think this is the right time for... for that?" I gestured at the air between us, trying my best to keep my hands from trembling.Damien didn’t answer immediately. I took another step back, my legs almost giving out beneath me. "I'm covered in blood, Damien. Asher's blood." My voice cracked, and all I could let out for th
Elliot.What had I done?The crowd's cheers and chants of "Golden Alpha" roared around me, but the sound felt distant... muffled as if I was underwater. Blood matted my fur, drying into a crust that stung with every movement.I stood still in the centre of the clearing, staring at Asher's lifeless body.I had done that. That was my work.Shouldn't I feel triumphant? That's what was expected of me now. But all I felt was a hollow pit in my chest, an ache that wouldn't subside.This pack members were so fast in turning away from the one alpha they had known all their lived. Did they even like him at all? Was he a cruel thing in their life?Guilt gnawed at me, sharp and insistent. Asher's blood was on my paws... on my teeth. I'd done the one thing I'd never do. Killed another man or wolf.And Damien... My eyes shifted to the man who certainly looked bigger now than before in the crowd, standing apart, shoulders hunched, eyes dark. Damien looked defeated, not victorious, as if Asher's d
Damien.I crouched low, panting, with blood soaked into my fur. I couldn't help but glare at Asher, who stood tall and smug, those dark eyes of his gleaming with cruel satisfaction."Just leave us alone," I screamed into his mind, making sure my voice was kept steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.Asher's ears flicked back, his snarl rumbling like thunder. His response came immediately, and it wasn't pretty."You think I'd let you walk away with the power of that crystal embedded into you just because you don't want to fight? You're a coward, Damien. A bastard trying to play hero."Fucking hell.I was already frustrated by his stubbornness at this point."This isn't about being a coward or a hero, Asher. I just want to end this madness once and for all... I'll find a way to give you the crystal so we can leave, and it's done."Asher bared his teeth. "You don't get to decide when this ends, big brother. I didn't work my entire life for this pack just to hand it to you? To a bast
Damien."Take it, and leave us alone."Asher practically snatched the crystal from my hand once he saw it, holding it aloft, those jagged edges slicked with blood staining his fingers.The crystal had this kind of eerie glow from within catching the sunlight and bringing some sort of sinister shadows across his face.He laughed, a cruel thing, slicing through the murmurs of the gathered crowd."Look at him," Asher sneered, turning to the elders, the guards, the pack. "The bastard my father should have drowned the moment he crawled out of his whore of a mother."My breath hitched, fury burning within me at those words.My mother wasn't a whore. She was just a victim of circumstances.He had no right.I stained against the silver shackles digging into my wrists, the metal scorching my skin, but the pain was nothing compared to the rage simmering in my veins."You've always been nothing, Damien," Asher continued, his words dripping with enough venom to wound me. "A stain on this pack fro
Damien.One of the worst things that could happen to a person is the inability to move.I couldn't move.My body screamed at me to act, to hell, but the silver of the shackles continued to say every ounce of strength I had left. The room became a blur of chaos, the coppery taste of fresh blood mixing with the charred scent of burning torches.My mate... Elliot was a whirlwind of gold and fury, tearing through the guard with a savagery that made even my sick in the head brother stumble back a step.“Kill him!” Asher roared, his voice cracking in uncharacteristic panic. “Stop that beast!” The remaining guard hesitated, fumbling for his weapon as Elliot rounded on him. He didn't even stand a chance. A single swipe of massive claws opened him from collarbone to hip, and his scream of pain ended in a gurgle as he choked on his own blood while crumpling to the floor.This was a horrible place. The screaming elder, on the other hand, had pressed himself against the far wall, eyes wide wit
Damien.The first thing I registered was the cold.It pressed against my back, so damp and unforgiving, seeping into my bones like ice. My skin felt raw where it touched the stone, aching with each shallow breath I took. The erratic pounding of my heart was even worse since it came with a steady drumbeat of pain, while the sharp scent of blood hung thick in the air...Metallic and bitter.My blood.I forced my eyes open, blinking against the haze clouding my vision. Shadows danced along the damp stone walls, cast by a single torch burning low. The flame sputtered, struggling for life, barely able to illuminate the ancient cracks webbing across the ceiling.I knew this place.This had been my father's prized possession, capable of tearing into the minds of anyone stupid enough to allow themselves to be brought here.The Blackthorn dungeon. A place carved deep into the earth. I'd been here before... years ago... when I was just a boy foolish enough to challenge one of those silly eld
Elliot.Fuck that little piece of nature.And why did it have to be so loud that it echoed louder than it should have in the unnatural stillness of this place. "Who's there?" Another guard echoed the first one words.They emerged from the shadows almost instantly... the three of them, moving like wolves who'd caught a scent. Their hands rested on their weapons–daggers strapped to their belts, one with a blade half-drawn. Running would be useless right now.Fiona stopped short, standing tall beside me as the nearest guard, a broad-shouldered man with a scar cutting from his temple to his jaw narrowed his eyes. These werewolves always seemed to be injured."Luna Fiona?" His voice was rough with disbelief, head tilting as he looked her over, eyes lingering on her dirt-streaked clothes.The second guard, a bit younger, exchanged a glance with the third. "What the hell are you doing here? And who..." his eyes flicked to me, then moved back to Fiona like I wasn't worth his time. "... who