Chapter 5 : Into the Wolf's Den

Serena’s Pov

The wolf’s fur was thick and glossy, glinting like silk in the sunlight. Its sharp claws pressed against my throat, the points barely piercing my skin, but I felt like it could easily tear flesh and sever veins with ease. For the first time in a long while, I felt truly afraid. My breath hitched, and I couldn’t help but yell for help, even though I knew no one would hear me out there.

“Help! Somebody, please!” My voice echoed, swallowed by the forest.

I couldn't believe this was how I'd meet my end. I closed my eyes, bracing for the wolf to tear into me. But the pain never came. Instead, the pressure on my throat lessened. I opened my eyes just in time to see the wolf step back; its head tilted as if it had realized something.

I scrambled backward on my hands and feet, making sure to put a sizeable distance between us. My eyes were wide with fear and confusion. And then, right before me, the wolf began to shift. Its fur receded, its bones cracking and reforming until it was no longer a beast, but a tall young man; he was bathed in the golden light of the sun that seeped through the dense canopy above. He looked like a figure from legend, like a messenger of the Moon Goddess herself. I stared, stunned into silence.

“Who are you, and where are you from?” His voice was cold, his eyes hard as they bore into mine. He had the eyes of an apex predator.

“I-I’m Serena Lancaster,” I stammered. “I’m the successor of Lancaster Company. I didn’t mean to intrude. Please help me find my way back. I promise you'll be duly compensated for my safe return.”

He looked at me with strange, unreadable eyes. I felt like melting under his gaze. For a moment, I thought he might help me, but then he pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his side holster and walked towards me.

“I am the captain of the storm pack patrol team,” he said, his tone even colder. “And you're in violation of regulations set by the pack alliance and the storm pack. I shall escort you to our patrol station for further questioning and figure out what to do with you. Are we clear?”

My heart sank. The Storm Pack was notorious for its harsh treatment of intruders. Rumors said they killed and devoured anyone who crossed into their territory, no matter the reason, and left no trace behind, not even the bones. Panic surged through me. I couldn’t let him take me.

He reached out with the handcuffs, signaling for my hands. How did he close the distance between us so quickly?

“Please,” I begged, hiding both my arms behind my back as I took a few steps back. “There must be some misunderstanding. I got lost, that’s all. I promise I meant no harm.”

He didn’t budge, his expression remaining stern. “Lost or not, you've crossed into the transition zone without permission. Rules are rules, and they must be followed.” He took a few more steps forward. "Don't make this any more difficult than it has to be." He sounded almost concerned.

Desperation clawed at me. “Is there no other way? Can’t you just let me go this one time? I swear I won’t tell anyone about this place or what I’ve seen.”

His eyes flickered with something—hesitation, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “I’m sorry, but I have a duty to uphold.”

I tried to run past him, hoping my sudden lunge would catch him off guard. It didn't. He stepped to the side and grabbed my arm, and in one swift motion, he spun me around so that my back was pressed against his chest. He wasn't even fazed by my flimsy attempt; it was like he knew I would try to run.

I struggled, but his grip was strong and unyielding.

He leaned in close, so close I could feel his warm breath on my ear. "You're a feisty one." I caught a hint of a slight chuckle in his voice. "Stop struggling, and this will all be over quickly."

I pinched my eyes shut; I needed to think of a way out of there. Maybe if I could keep him talking, I could buy some time to think of an escape plan.

I decided to tease him. “You know…” I said, with a forced lightness in my voice. “You’re pretty close for someone who’s supposed to be arresting me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were enjoying this.”

I could sense he opened his mouth to speak, but he caught himself.

I pressed, “Is this how you treat all the young girls you run into in the forest? Not very gentlemanlike.”

He pulled me even closer, his grip tightening on my arm. I grimaced from the pain, but I didn't let it show. His voice was a low growl in my ear. “You talk too much.”

"Really? I had no idea; maybe it's because I'm about to be taken away by a strange man who is assaulting me in the woods."

He finally broke. “I'm the captain of the storm pack patrol team.” There was a slight growl in his voice as he continued, “And you are in violation of pack regulations, hence my prisoner.”

“Oh, come on,” I tried changing the subject, “you’re not even a little curious about the heir to the Lancaster fortune? Think of all the money you could get if you let me go.”

"Enough," he said firmly. "Hands behind your back."

He reached for my other arm and was about to put me in cuffs when I thought of one last, truly desperate move.

I made a choking sound and clutched at my chest with my free hand. I was pretending to have a heart attack. He let go of me almost immediately, taking a few steps back.

I turned toward him, still clutching my chest and making choking noises. I wish I could have captured the look on his face right there. It was priceless; He looked like he had just seen a ghost; he probably had never had a prisoner die on him before.

After a few more exaggerated wails and spins, I finally dropped to the ground.

For a moment, he simply stood in place, unsure of what to do, with the same mortified look on his face. I guess his training kicked in as he suddenly sprung to action. He rushed to my side in the blink of an eye and knelt beside me. He no longer looked shocked, just concerned.

After examining me for a bit, he checked my pulse. When he realized I was still alive, he tried to resuscitate me by giving me CPR. He began to press on my chest, trying to revive me; when that didn't work, he leaned down to give me mouth-to-mouth.

His lips were on mine, and they felt firm but surprisingly gentle. I could feel the air rush into my lungs as he breathed into me. The sensation was unexpected and filled me with a confusing mix of emotions. There was a warmth to his touch, a strange tenderness that seemed out of place given the circumstances. My heart pounded for reasons beyond the rush of the situation.

This wasn’t how I imagined my first kiss playing out, and I certainly didn’t imagine it would be with someone who, moments ago, had been ready to arrest me. I couldn't help but feel a swell of emotions—fear, confusion, and something else I couldn’t quite name. But I had to focus. I forced myself to remain still, knowing this was my one shot at escaping.

He knelt there beside me for a bit, his expression hard with worry; he regarded me intently, and for the first time, I got a good look at him. He was strikingly handsome, more so than any of the models or actors I’d seen in magazines. Despite the situation, I couldn’t help but feel a strange pull towards him. I snapped myself out of my reverie. I needed to focus on not getting caught.

Eventually, he stood and backed away to contact his companions; I waited until he was a safe distance away, and then I seized the opportunity. I jumped to my feet and sprinted away, not daring to look back.

The forest blurred around me as I ran, branches scratching at my skin and snagging my clothes. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound echoing in my ears like a drum. The ground was uneven, roots and rocks threatening to trip me with every step. Leaves crunched underfoot, and I could hear his footsteps trying to keep up behind me, heavy and relentless. I had to find a way to lose him.

The trees were dense, their canopies creating a thick, shadowy maze. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in patches, casting eerie, shifting patterns on the forest floor. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my legs burned with the effort of running, but I pushed myself to keep going. I could hear his voice shouting something, but I didn’t dare slow down to listen.

I spotted a river up ahead, its water glinting in the dappled sunlight. Without thinking, I veered towards it, hoping the current would carry me away from him. The riverbank was steep, and I nearly lost my footing as I approached. Gathering all my strength, I leaped into the rushing water.

The cold hit me like a shock. The river was wild, its waters churning and frothing around me. The current pulled me under and tumbled me over rocks, the impact bruising my sides and scraping my skin. I fought to keep my head above water, gasping for breath whenever I managed to break the surface. My limbs felt heavy and numb from the cold, but I forced myself to keep swimming.

As I was carried downstream, still thrashing about against the relentless current, I could hear the faint but unmistakable roar of a waterfall. It was getting louder. Panic surged through me. I had to stop myself before I went over the edge. I searched frantically for anything I could use to slow myself. There was nothing in sight.

An agonizing moment later, the drop-off point of the waterfall slowly came into view, and my heart skipped a beat. I looked around some more and spotted a low-hanging branch jutting out from the bank. I reached out desperately, fingers just grazing it. With all my strength, I grabbed hold, feeling the rough bark dig into my palms.

I managed to slow my progress, the branch creaking under my weight. I could feel the current tugging at my legs, trying to pull me away. My arms burned with the effort, and I could feel the branch starting to give. It wasn't going to hold much longer.

With a loud snap, the branch broke, and I was flung back into the raging river. The current dragged me along, my head spinning from the sudden release. I fought to regain control, but the river was too strong. The roar of the waterfall grew deafening, and before I could react, I was swept over the edge.

The world seemed to drop away beneath me, and I felt a moment of terrifying weightlessness before I plunged into the churning waters below. The impact drove the air from my lungs, and I was pulled under, tumbling in the chaotic current. My vision blurred, and I struggled to orient myself, fighting to reach the surface.

Just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, the current began to slow, and I saw the shore approaching. Gathering the last of my strength, I swam towards it, my movements sluggish and strained. I managed to reach the muddy bank, clawing at it and dragging myself out of the water. I collapsed onto the ground, soaked and exhausted but alive.

I lay there for a moment, catching my breath, my body trembling from the cold and the exertion. The forest was quiet around me; the only sound was the distant rush of the river. I had escaped, but I wasn’t safe yet. I forced myself to sit up, my muscles protesting. My clothes were torn and covered in mud, and my hair was plastered to my face. I couldn't help but smile to myself. It's not every day one survives a werewolf and falling off a waterfall.

I looked around, trying to get my bearings when suddenly, a wolf howl pierced the air. My blood ran cold. This wasn’t the howl of the Storm Pack. It was the howl of rogues.