A vegetarian

Before I could move, he grabbed me by my upper arm, then began dragging me to his spot. Several pairs of eyes darted to us, but I didn't dare meet any of them. The ground was covered with animal skins and my feet were already sore.

I tried to limp but the werewolf gave me a hard shove, sending me falling to my knees. The furs beneath me smelled of earth and blood, their rough edges scraping against my skin as I struggled to sit up. My knees throbbed from the impact, as I flipped over onto my ass.

The ruthless bastard didn’t  mind. He just took a seat next to me, once again leaning back against the log, relaxed.

I bit my bottom lip, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs. I was close enough to the fire to feel warmth, thankfully but still feeling warm was useless when I knew death was lingering at the door.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the ruthless  werewolf looking around, eyeing his pack with a calm expression. The light of the fire hit his face in just the right angle to illuminate the golden flecks in his eyes, his lashes long and thick.

If I wasn't so terrified of him, I would've thought he was attractive. He had the aura of pure raw strength, the guarantee of protection in his eyes of what belonged to him. I needed that protection, but who would protect me from him?

He finally turned his gaze back to me, his golden eyes sharp, assessing. It made my skin prickle, as if he could see straight through me, peeling back every layer of resistance I tried to put up.

“You look like a frightened rabbit,” he murmured, his voice deceptively soft. “Huddled like that.”

I clenched my jaw. I refused to give him a reaction, but my fingers dug into my arms, betraying my nerves.

He exhaled through his nose, something like amusement flickering across his features. “Relax. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have bothered dragging you here.”

A shudder ran down my spine. That should have been reassuring, but somehow, it wasn’t. Because death wasn’t the worst thing he could do to me.

I had a feeling that he was going to torture me until I beg for death.

I forced myself to speak. “Then what do you want with me?” My voice came out quieter than I intended, but at least it didn’t waver.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for a piece of meat from a wooden plate beside him, tearing into it with sharp, white teeth. He chewed slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.

The waiting was unbearable.

Finally, he swallowed, then tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was an interesting puzzle. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

The way he said it made my stomach.

"For now, help me eat this deer", 

I shook my head immediately, my stomach twisting. I was already weak, my body aching from exhaustion and the bruises that covered me. But the thought of sinking my teeth into raw, bloody meat made bile rise in my throat.

Besides that, I am a vegetarian

His gaze darkened slightly at my refusal, but he didn’t say anything. He just kept on giving me the piece of meat.

The firelight cast eerie shadows across his fingers, the dark red of the meat glistening in the glow.

"I'm not eating that," I said, my voice firm despite the fear curling inside me.

Silence stretched between us. The fire crackled, filling the space where his response should have been. His pack was still watching, though none of them dared to speak.

Then, without warning, he leaned closer. The shift in his posture was slow, calculated—his presence pressing against me like an invisible force.

"You're in my territory now," he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "You live by my rules. And here, we hunt. We kill. We eat."

“I don’t eat meat,” I said, barely above a whisper.

He tilted his head, studying me like I’d just spoken a foreign language. Then, without breaking eye contact, he tore another bite from the meat, chewing slowly, deliberately.

His voice was calm when he spoke. “You think you have choices here?”

I stiffened, my fingers tightening around my arms.

Nothing could save me from him. Even his golden eyes that were glimmering in the firelight were making me more afraid.

“Vegetarian or not, you either eat or starve. And I won’t have a weakling in my pack.”

Pack?

The word slammed into me like a physical blow. I wasn’t part of his pack. I wasn’t part of anything. I was a prisoner. A captive.

“I’m not one of you,” I said, my voice stronger this time, though my insides trembled.

A slow, knowing smile spread across his lips. “Not yet.”

The words sent a chill racing down my spine.

Then, he held the meat out again, closer this time, as if daring me to take it.

"Eat, little rabbit," he murmured, voice deceptively soft. "Or would you rather I feed you myself?"

"I don't eat meat", I repeated. 

He was not pleased with my answer this time. His hand shot out, snatching my upper arm in a tight grip. I remained still as his eyes traveled up and down my body, from my head to my toes.

"You're too thin," he stated, bitterly. "From today onwards,  you will start eating meat."

"I can't. I'm a vegetarian", I retorted. 

"I won't be generous again. Eat it right now" I gulped loudly, looking out at his pack. All of them were devouring their food, chatting among themselves. The females seemed to be carefully watching me.

I grabbed the piece of meat with disgusted face.

The raw flesh felt cold and slimy against my fingers, its scent thick with blood and smoke. My stomach twisted violently, bile burning the back of my throat.

I wanted to puke right now. 

His grip on my arm loosened, but his eyes never left mine. He was testing me, watching to see if I’d obey or defy him.

I could feel the weight of the pack’s stares, the judgment in their eyes. If I refused, what would he do? What would they do?

I lifted the meat slightly, hesitating. My heart pounded against my ribs.

I couldn't do this.

But I also didn’t  want  to be killed right now.

My lips parted as I feigned movement, bringing the meat closer to my mouth but at the last second, I froze. My entire body revolted.

His gaze darkened. "Eat it."

A lump formed in my throat. I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling around the chunk of flesh.

"I can't eat it , I'm a vegetarian", I failed to it and spoke.

"This little human thinks , I like being disrespected. First take her in the dungeon, and starve her for three days",