Two

Alarmed, she bit the hand that covered her mouth and in a swirl motion, she pushed him hard to the ground which made him fall on his stomach.

“You better stay away from me!” She shrieked like a kid yelling at her younger brother.

“Who the f*ck are you? Why are you following me around?” She was freaked out seeing him everywhere she goes.

“First you were at the library.” She panted heavily.

“And you were at the boat and repeating the same nonsense you were saying.” Her eyes threw a dragger at him.

“And now— you murderous bastard came to kill me, huh?” She aimed her camera at his bald head.

“Girl—” He groaned in pain. If any ordinary man fall on the ground with his stomach wouldn’t have hurt himself so badly, but being thrice her size, his stomach content literally went to his heart’s chambers and he is trying to steady his breath.

“I am here to help you. Trust me. You are in danger. ”He curled his knees upwards to soothe his aching stomach.

“Why are you adamant like your father?” He scolded her with pain clinging in his voice.

“Father?” She looked at him blankly.

Various types of emotions fogged her mind but his another word snatched her to reality.

“I’m your father’s friend Gasper Alex. Ten years ago, he too neglected the warning I had given to him and has gone forever.” He sat on the ground and clapped his hands to clean his muddy hands.

“You— you—” She gulped down unable to find any words.

“We were best friends. He used to say he wanted to go to Newmen Island. I don’t know what is there but—” he gestured for her to give him some water.

Immediately she opened her back bag and gave him her water bottle. Like a camel quenching its thirst, he drank the water in one breath.

“But one day I got the envelope from him. That was the photo of a wolf jumping in the air.” A Bead of confusion overlapped her veins, and for that, the vein in her forehead showed up.

“You mean—” She zipped open her bag and was about to show him, he stopped her by gesturing his hand.

“Yeah! The same photo you have that is also given to you by that professor Hahn whom you adore your idle.” His eyes held pure hate.

“He is lying to the world that he took the photo but the truth is your father captured it.”

She kneeled beside him and searched for any lie laying in his voice but he was sincere, that was crystal clear in his eyes.

“Along with the photo he had written it’s— it’s not an ordinary wolf. It’s a man.”

“What?” She narrowed his eyes at him.

Why is she listening to him? There is no proof that he is saying the truth.

He must be an enemy of Professor Hahn.

“Here just read it.” He gave her a torn envelope.

Very curious, she opened it and her eyes filled with a river of tears.

It was her father’s handwriting.

“Dude, I’m trapped here. Here many humans are shifting into wolves and back to humans. Soon I will find a way to escape from this misery land. Say to my daughter that I love her so much.” Hot tears rolled down her eyes.

“Now listen. Don’t go there.” He stood on his feet.

After a few minutes of silence, she said: “I was going there to take pictures but now my only motto is to find my father.” She wiped her tears.

“Shitt!” He cursed loudly.

“Are you nut? You may get killed!” He shouted at her.

“It’s the journey between life and death.” With that being said she turned her heels to walk inside the islands, neglecting the shouting of him to come back.

Through her journey inside the scary forest, she felt she is being watched by someone but whenever she turns back there is no one.

“I’m not hallucinating.” She wiped the tears that unwillingly flowing down her cheeks since she came to know about her dad and Professor Hahn’s betrayal.

For once she wished it would be great if Pro. Hahn hasn’t turned his back on her dad.

Sighing heavily, with lots of questions she somehow found the building that looked like a castle just in front of the river.

The castle looked very old as if no one is living here. She wanted to explore the place even though her inner self is trembling with fear.

The uneasy feeling she has since she came to the islands didn’t leave her for once.

“I’m courageous enough to bring justice behind my dad—” She gulped down as of thinking there is a mere chance of the survival of her dad.

Like a cat entering the kitchen, she carefully took her every step and opened the wooden door of the castle.

To her surprise, it was opened in one push and there is no trace of any dust as if someone cleaned it just a while ago.

With a thundering heart, she entered and walked wherever her legs carrying her.

It’s like a cross-shaped castle and the artwork on the wall is mesmerizing. If she is here to take photos as her plan, she would have taken some photos by now but the Valley of her track changed a moment ago, so she didn’t touch her latest version of Canon EOS 90D Digital SLR camera.

When she came to halt between left and right she turned left and to her uttermost surprise, she saw a girl walking around holding a tray in her hand.

She was able to see a set of glasses but couldn’t figure out what was inside.

It might be apple juice. She thought to herself.

After the debate of whether to follow her or not, she followed her until she opened the door of a room.

She tried to open the room but her tries went in vain.

Shit!

Very frustrated, she leaned on the wall, and with a cling sound, the wall just beside the door opened that left her wide eyes.

That’s it!

That’s it!

Something is here!

She entered inside and walked further through the narrow path until she found the door in front of her.

There are no other chambers unless this straight path so with a heavy sigh, she turned the door knob to open.

Thankfully it opened without making any noises and she was very glad than ever.

She didn’t think for once that what will happen if they find out a girl trespassed on their castle.

Will she be punished?

Will they sue her?

Will they kill her?

Or will she have the fate of her father?

Whatever…

She stepped forward and to her uttermost shock, she happened to see a bunch of wolves bowing down Infront of a huge wolf, which is thrice their size, and is no doubt, it was the one she saw in the photo.

A grey fur with a white line on the neck.

Her father had been here, no doubt if those photos were taken by him.

“There are so many wolves!” Her heart pounded heavily against her rib cage.

“The owner of them might be a psycho killer which shows on TV.” She mumbled.

“It’s better to leave the place.” All her courage vanished in thin air.

Without making noise, with a heavy heart, slightly shivering hands and legs, she was about to leave the place but when a wolf among a thousand wolves, shifted into a human form, she lost her balance as her legs gave up on her and she fell inside the huge hall.

The door she was standing on was shut closed with a loud thud.

Everyone’s attention turned on her and a fear of scream escaped from her mouth when in a swirl motion the wolves encircled her as if they are going to have their feast.

Some even let their saliva out.

“Leave!” A roaring sound made them step aside and a huge wolf sitting on the wooden chair concealed her small frame with his huge body.

“She is mine.” Possessively, He snuggled his nose on her neck where his mark would lay in the future and inhaled her sweet strawberry smell to quench the desire of marking her right now.

In a blink of an eye, even before she came to her sense, he shifted back to his human form.

Her eyes were wide with surprise and pure horror drilled through her already pounding heart.

A human wolf?

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” Her eyes rolled upwards before she fell on the Alpha’s welcoming hand.