Chapter Twenty Two

Brielle’s POV.

I struggled to keep my eyes open, my vision blurring in and out of focus. The man’s soothing voice tried to pull me back from the edge of unconsciousness.

“Miss, stay with me. Are you alright?” He asked again, his tone calming.

“I... I think so.” I managed to say, my voice very low.

“Good. Just hang on a little longer.” He said, his eyes searching my face.

I nodded weakly, trying to focus on his face, but the world around me seemed to spin. The man glanced around, then back at me, his concern obvious.

“I need to get you some water. Will you be okay if I leave for just a moment?” He asked me.

I nodded again, though I wasn’t sure how okay I would be.

“Please, hurry.”

He squeezed my shoulder reassuringly before standing up and moving quickly towards the nearby stream. I watched him go, my breath coming in shallow, painful gasps. The adrenaline from the encounter was fading, leaving behind an overwhelming exhaustion and the sharp pain of my injuries.

As I sat there, trying to steady my breathing, a sudden chill ran down my spine. I glanced around, the forest seeming darker and more ominous than before. A rustling sound behind me made my heart skip a beat, and I turned slowly, dread settling in the pit of my stomach.

Emerging from the shadows, the mountain lion appeared again, its eyes locked onto me in a predatory way. My heart raced, and I tried to move, to get up and run, but my body refused to cooperate. The lion took a step closer, its low growl vibrating through the air.

Desperately, I clutched at my throat, trying to scream for help, but the sound wouldn’t come. My breath caught in my chest, every inhale a struggle. I felt like I was suffocating, the fear and the pain constricting my airway.

“Help...” I tried to shout, but it came out as a faint, broken whisper.

The lion crouched, preparing to pounce. My mind raced, searching for any way out, but I was frozen, unable to move or defend myself. Just as the lion lunged, the golden haired man reappeared.

“Stay back!” He shouted, positioning himself between me and the lion.

The man squared his shoulders, ready for the fight. With a roar, he charged at the lion, meeting its attack head on.

I watched, my heart in my throat, as the man fought with a lot of strength, and I couldn’t help but wonder who he was, as every attack was swift, precise and powerful. He delivered a series of swift, brutal strikes, forcing the lion to back away. But the lion was relentless, its claws swiping dangerously close to him.

The fight was fierce, the man and the lion locked in a deadly lock, and I couldn’t help but think that the man would lose. But what could I do? I couldn’t even get up. But, each time the lion lunged, the man countered with a force that seemed impossible.

Just when I thought he might be overwhelmed and would be beaten up, the man delivered a powerful kick, sending the lion sprawling. It landed hard, shaking its head as if dazed. The man didn’t give it a chance to recover. He pressed the attack, his fists and feet moving in a blur and I watched him retrieve a knife from his shoes.

The lion roared, trying to regain its footing, but the man’s relentless assault kept it off balance. With a final, powerful strike, he sent the lion crashing into the underbrush and stabbed it in the neck, and I heard a sharp slicing sound almost immediately.

The lion let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground, as the life of the beast slipped away. The man stood over the beast, his chest heaving with exertion, the knife dripping with blood. For a moment, the only sound was the man's heavy breathing and the distant rustling of leaves.

Then, he turned to me, his expression shifting to concern. He quickly knelt beside me, his hands gentle as he checked my injuries and put his fingers to my neck.

“Are you badly hurt?” He asked, his voice softer now, but still carrying that authoritative tone.

“I... I think I’ll be okay.” I whispered, though every part of me ached, and I could feel blood trickling from various cuts and scrapes.

“You’re in shock.” He said matter of factly. “We need to get you some water and treat those wounds immediately.”

He stood up and retrieved a small flask from his pocket, then helped me take a few sips of water. The cool liquid was a small comfort, but it didn’t do much to ease the trembling in my limbs. I tried to steady my breathing, but everything felt like too much. I felt weak, and like an idiot. Why did I walk so far at this time? The man’s presence, though was reassuring, but it was also overwhelming in its intensity.

He looked around, then back at me.

“I need to get you to safety. Can you stand?”

I tried to push myself up, but my legs wobbled and gave out beneath me. The man caught me before I could fall.

“It’s okay, don’t try to do anything else.” He said softly. “I’ll carry you.”

Before I could protest, he lifted me into his arms, his movements careful and controlled. Despite the pain and fear, I felt a strange sense of security in his strong embrace. He started walking through the forest, his steps sure and steady.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

“To my pack’s territory.” He replied. “We have medics there who can help you. You’ll be safe.”

I nodded weakly, too exhausted to argue. As he carried me through the forest, I felt my body relax slightly, the adrenaline slowly wearing off. The man’s steady heartbeat against my side was oddly comforting, and I found myself leaning into him, my eyes growing heavier with each passing moment.

“Who are you?” I managed to ask, my voice fading.

“Rio. Rio Ford.” He said, his tone gentle. “And you?”

“Brielle.” I whispered, my vision blurring again

My head felt like it was filled with cotton. The world around me started to fade, the darkness encroaching once more. I could feel his grip tighten slightly.

Just before everything went black, I heard his voice one last time.

“You’re going to be okay, Brielle. Just don’t worry about anything else for now. Go to sleep.”