Chapter 1: Desperate Escape

SELENE POV

The full moon was bursting with light as it sat like a glowing pendant in the sky. I had no time to appreciate its beauty as I dashed through the forest. Cursing the moonlight that illuminated the trees, as well as myself, I leaped fluidly over a stone. I could feel my pursuers gaining ground on me and the thought of being captured sent a thrill of fear through my bones.

I pushed myself to run even faster.

I went to jump over a fallen log covered in mushrooms when my boot slipped on some moss. With a curse, I rolled with agility and leaped to my feet before darting around a tree. I could hear the rolling thunder of the horses growing louder as the riders shouted at one another.

I gritted my teeth, my breath coming in quick short gasps. I considered using magic to place a shrouding spell around me. I searched for the energy within my body but no magic called back to me.

So, with all my strength I kept running.

It was then that I felt it. A sudden blow of electricity pulsated through me! An indescribable pull that sent a thrill through my body and nearly took my breath away. I have never felt anything like this! I almost stopped dead in my tracks as I tried to recognize where this energy was coming from. At that moment, again the same shockwave sent a rolling tingle through the tips of my fingers.

Was it some type of magic? Something inside of me was saying that I should follow it. No. That I needed to follow it.

Quickly I scanned the trees. When I felt the sensation grow stronger, I turned in that direction. Pushing myself nearly beyond my limits, I chased down whatever energy was calling to me.

I didn't know what to expect on the other end of this tether, but I had to find out.

My body was starting to give out on me as the trees I passed turned into a blur. Tears stung my eyes and my lungs screamed at me to give in and surrender. My legs were burning with every step. Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a cry while passing through some brush into a clearing.

That electricity was getting stronger with every step, but I couldn't push past the pain anymore. I let out another cry of despair as I dropped onto my hands and knees. My ragged breaths couldn't fill my lungs fast enough and tears started to drip down my cheeks. I watched as they landed in the mossy soil. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the pursuers to catch up with me.

This is it. All this time I had spent trying to live my life in solitude and peace, all this time I had spent hiding, had finally come down to this.

Then, I heard a low, guttural growl from above my head. My blood turned to ice as I slowly lifted my gaze. My breath caught in my throat at the sight before me.

Only a handful of steps away in the clearing stood an enormous onyx-furred wolf with iridescent silver eyes reflecting the magical glow of the full moon. My stomach dropped when I realized those piercing eyes were narrowed in on me. We stared at one another, neither of us blinking.

I was too terrified to move as the creature pinned me down with nothing but its stare.

Although I was positive I faced certain death, I had an irresistible and utterly foolish urge to reach out and touch the creature.

Suddenly, the blinding energy from before returned in full vigor, sending its electric fingers through my body again. It was enough to draw a gasp from me. The wolf seemed to react to it too as it took a step back and bared its fangs.

What a cruel joke. This energy I had followed so desperately had brought me directly to my own demise.

The wolf began to stalk toward me, his eyes still fixed on mine, when suddenly four horses burst into the clearing. The wolf leaped back and lowered its head in a defensive manner. It bared its long teeth and growled. The four hunters dismounted their horses and stalked toward my trembling form.

"You put up quite a fight, witch," one of them said with a sneer. My eyes were still focused on the wolf as the hunters closed the distance between us until another one shouted.

"Look! Look at the size of that wolf!" The sound of terror in his voice was palpable. If I could find any reprieve from the situation it was the pleasure of hearing the fear in their voices.

"Then kill it," the other muttered with disgust. The wolf seemed to have lost interest in me as it assessed the three men with their swords drawn, so I slowly started to crawl to the side hoping to lose myself in the trees once more.

"Oh, no you don't," the captain of the hunters said as he stalked over to me and gripped my hair tightly. I let out a cry of pain as I tried to pry his fingers from my scalp. A chilling snarl stilled the air around us as the wolf stalked toward me and the captain.

"What are you waiting for?" the captain bellowed to the other three. "F*cking kill it!" The wolf dodged a spear from one of the hunters and a swing of a sword from the next with astounding agility. With one powerful jump, the onyx-furred creature landed on one of the men and went straight for his throat.

I squeezed my eyes shut from the horrific scene as the screams of the man turned gargled and then silent. The other two men cried out in fear before running from the clearing. The grip on my hair became lax when the captain took up his sword in both hands to defend himself.

"Get back here!" the captain screamed while swinging his sword desperately at the wolf. The wolf stalked him calmly, blood dripping from its jowls, as I slowly crawled backward until my back hit a giant oak tree.

With a cry of complete and utter terror, the captain turned and ran for his life through the trees.

While seeing the witch hunters flee brought me indescribable relief, it was quickly replaced with weary fear as I turned back to the wolf who was watching me with those sharp eyes. I scooted myself as far into the tree as I could as I tried to think of a way out of this situation.

Just when I was about to use the last bit of energy in my body to mutter a spell, the wolf lifted his nose to the moon and let out a powerful howl.

I watched in awe as right before my eyes the wolf began to transform. Its fur began to thin and disappear, the sharp claws began to elongate into fingers, and its face and body morphed to that of a human man who now knelt before me with his gaze downcast to the ground.

Slowly, his gaze lifted to mine. Those silver eyes penetrated my core and sent shivers through my body. He stood to his full height, clad in all-black riding gear. There was an onyx fur belt at his waist and a black leather vest with a collar up to his throat.

My eyes roved up his body, noting the clenching of his hands, also covered in black leather gloves. His chest rose and fell causing his muscles to press against the constraints of his long-sleeved shirt. The only skin visible was that of his face, which was the color of golden caramel. The color contrasted nicely against his steely eyes.

His brow furrowed, and his strong jaw set as he seemed to be clenching his teeth.

"Who are you?" His voice was deep, and try as I might, I could not take my eyes away from his lips, noticing the sharpness of his canines as he spoke. It sent a warmth curling into my stomach. I recognized the hot tendrils of that same electricity stunning my body once more.

I clenched my fists at the sensation my chest heaving with heavy breaths as I watched him in awe. I couldn't muster a response as I continued to stare dumbly into his dominating eyes. The moon cast its light around his shoulders, and he seemed almost godlike in the setting around us.

His brows furrowed. "Well?" he growled deeply.

Finally, I gathered the sense to respond. "S-Selene," I managed to say before blackness overtook me.

***

TOR POV

The young woman lost consciousness, her head falling back against the tree. I stared down at her for a moment, my emotions in turmoil as I tried to comprehend the sensations that wracked my body. I had never felt anything like this before.

When I first felt the unspeakable pull that took me into the forest not long before she came bursting through the woods, h*ll, I was ready to level the entire woodland to find it.

Now, here it was lying beneath me. The most riveting woman I had ever seen in my life. Long honeyed tendrils of hair had come loose from her braid and framed her soft face. Her soft pink lips parted slightly, her breath still coming rapidly from her exertions through the forest.

She had clearly gone through h*ll. The thought filled my inner wolf with fury at the thought of anyone trying to harm this angelic creature that lay helplessly before me.

I continued to watch her, contemplating my next move. I knew I couldn't just leave her here, but still, I hesitated. The wolf inside me howled and raged, demanding that I take this woman in my arms and never let her go. But, that didn't make any sense. This attraction was undeniable, yet confusing. She was clearly not a shifter, so why? Why do I feel this way?

Without a second thought, I knelt down and lifted her into my arms. Her head fell back gently against my shoulder revealing her delicate and slender neckline. The sweetness of her smell was nearly my undoing and it took all my might to reign in my desire. With a growl, I pulled her tightly to my chest and began to make my way into the darkness of the forest.