Chapter 5

A drop of liquid falls on my cheek and jolts me awake. The first thing I recognize is I'm extremely cold. Every inch of my body was covered in a blanket of cold air and when my brain registered the feeling my body began to furiously shiver. When I looked around I saw trees, trees and more trees. I was seriously getting sick and tired of being surrounded by trees. The back of my head ached and I could sense the bump forming there. When did I bump my head?

Beneath me, I feel dirt sticking to my clothes, rubbing against my skin and fusing in my hair.

How did I sleep through the whole night?

What happened to me—I can't even remember. Was I dreaming still? . Being in the middle of the forest-lying here, I pray this is all some horrible nightmare. I recalled memories of the night a guy interned my room and when I was carried out the house. That was all a dream right? I must still be dreaming then if I'm in the middle of the forest all alone.

Lucid dreaming--that's what they called it when you are conscious of being asleep. If this really was a dream, my kidnapper was nowhere to be seen. I don't know whether to be thankful, or afraid that he could come out and hurt me. For all I care, I hope he ran off a cliff.

Something rushed behind me. I turned around and paused stunned. "Oh boy."

five feet away, a big black wolf sat staring at me. It's long pink wet tongue hanging out its mouth and both rows of sharp teeth point in my direction. It was staring at me. It's blue eyes were so beautiful I could clearly se the pigmentation from the distance between us. They were so expressive and human-like that for a moment, I thought he was going to speak to me.

Wolves talking? What am I thinking?

It shifted letting me see it's entire length. It was freaking humongous. Like the size of a full-grown tiger, which could possibly break me like a tiny twig. Once it has me dead it will use my femur as its toothpick.

Remember this is a dream. I reminded myself. Then why was I cold and shivering?

While I'm lost in thought, the monster takes a step closer. In an instant I hold myself up using my elbows. With my feet and arms, I crawl back in an attempt to inch away from the wild animal.

"Easy there fluffy."I say to it.

Like a person, it growls at the nickname I gave it and I jolt back in fear. His bark has me whimpering like a baby and tears fall down my cheeks. That's when it clicked. This is real. Oh god, how did I get myself into this mess?! Did I really get carried out of the house by a senile lunatic that wonders into people's rooms in the middle of the night? He left me here. To die? "I don't want to die yet." I start crying. "I want to go home! Please don't! Don't come near me!" I yell at the animal as if it could understand me.

The animal starts walking in slow circles around me. From the side, I can clearly see the dog is male. Great.

"You're going to eat me? I don't taste that great...not that I've tried." I can't believe I'm talking to a dog.

It barks and growls low. Its muzzle wrinkles as it shows me it sharp pearly white teeth. It won't be clean once he bites me.

I stumble back a little and wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand. "This is all that man's fault. I'm out here freezing in the cold I'll probably die before you bite a chunk off my ass!" Now I''m the delusional one. This town has finally effected me.

Did it just roll its eyes? Can dogs roll their eyes? It walks towards the forest and pauses, looking back and gestures me to follow. Perhaps I hit my head harder than I thought. It wanted me to follow it. My sanity is dwindling by the minute and for a split second I think maybe I already died.

My kidnapper killed me and this dog is some kind of spirit guide taking me to the gates of heaven.

Dogs really did go to heaven. Huh...

The dog barks commandingly and that pulls me to my feet ungracefully. I almost stumble back down. He gives me a look that says, if you run, I'm going to catch you.

I scoff, "Do I look like I have anywhere else to go?"

He shakes his head.

Someone slap me. Yup, I'm defiantly dead. Dogs don't communicate like that.

I follow it, but walking through the forest with bare feet is nothing like walking at the park. My poor feet were going to have blisters. From the back of my mind, I'm wondering why I can still feel pain now. I'm supposed to be dead. Heck with it--I've never been dead so why am I complaining.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask him.

If it talked, I wouldn't be surprised--not anymore anyway. I'm officially out of my mind.

He suddenly stops and I almost run into him. I look around to see a spectacular waterfall. Blissfully still and silent, I awe at the magnificence, and ignore the dog vanishing into the trees.

Below the waterfall, the water looked dark blue. Most-likely, there was a deep underwater current that could pull a person down to their deaths.

Like all beautiful things, they hold something so dark and dangerous.

The spray of water pelts my body and soon I have droplets running down my skin. My top and shorts start to feel moist and I shudder from the cold once more. Running a hand through my unruly dark brown hair, I gather it around both my shoulders and cross my arms to keep warm.

I search for the large dog. "Where did you go?"

No one reply.

I panic a little, because I hate being left alone in unfamiliar places.

Feeling another childish round of tears coming along, I lift my head back and groan.

"Are you lost?"

I turn my back to the sound of the voice. And for the second time in the past twenty-four hours, I'm struck by the sight of a half-naked man...again.

"YOU" I hiss.

"Me." He smiles and I'm caught by it like a fish hooked.

"Uh...yeah." I should be thinking of straggling this man, but he was really handsome to look at.

Leonardo is handsome, but he couldn't hold a candle to this guy. This guy is perfection. I was almost ashamed to be standing next to him. He looked like a model out of a cologne brand, but younger. He was probably Vincent's age? A little older than me for sure. His eyes were the most striking clear blue eyes I had ever seen. His dark brown hair was messy but it worked for him. And the abs! I had to avert my eyes to his grinning face to avoid staring at places.

He knew I was looking. The smirk on his face was evident. The prick didn't even hide the fact that he looked me up and down, smiling when he liked what he saw. I tightened my arms around my chest and stepped back.

"Careful, you might slip and fall in the water. I don't want you to hurt your head again." He said.

I frowned. "If I get hurt it would be your fault. Why did you kidnap me? If I fall, it will be because of you!"

His brows perked up. "Is that last line a pickup? I have a few of my own too." He cleared his throat. "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven... Angel?" He help up his palm as if asking for my opinion.

What's wrong with this guy? He kidnapped me and he's acting like that's alright.

I all but groaned, ignoring this hot idiot. "Why did you do this? Why are you here?"

He wasn't smiling anymore. "Because you are here."

My mouth dropped. "This is illegal! Are you some sort of psychopath? Are you planning to kill me? Are you planning to kill yourself and bring me along with you as some sort of death bride?" My comments sounded crazy but I don't care anymore. I gasp realizing something else. "Are we dead already and this is the spiritual plain between life and death?"

"Hold on a minute." He held his hands up in confusion. "We're not dead."

I freeze. "I'm alive?"

He nods and looks at me as if I grew two heads.

I grin dryly and take a big long breath, before screaming like a banshee.

"HELP, HELP, HELP! This man kidnapped me and wants to kill me!" I scream.

I attempt to run, by sprinting towards the direction the dog and I came from, but a pair of arms wrap around me caging me still.

"No one can hear you. We are in the middle of the forest a half dozen miles away from town. It's just you, me and a couple people."

People?

That gave me hope and I continued screaming. "Help! Help! Someone save me!"

"These people follow me and obey my every command, so it's no use."

He brushes a strand of hair away from my face and I turn my head avoiding his touch.

"Vincent was right, this is some sort of pack! A pack of weirdos who are in some sort of wicked cult." The words just slipped out my mouth.

"Who said what?" He sounded angry. "That mutt's going to get it now."

My eyes widened. "You're going to kill him too?" I completely disregard the fact that he knew who I was talking about.

"No, no one is going to die," He sighs.

He hauls me up his shoulder and I fight, or try too.

"Please, take me back! My family could be looking for me. If you return me, I promise not to tell anyone!" I plead and that last part was of course a lie.

"I can't."

"And why not."

"Because, darling...you are going to be my bride."

I gasp. "You can't be serious?! I'm not going to marry a kidnapper. Can you hear yourself? You're crazy!"

"It's what needs to happen. It's part of the legend. A ritual that's been practice by my family for hundreds of centuries."

Crap, I'm with a nutcase.

"Look, you need a psychologist. You're family needs counseling. My mom works in a hospital, I think we can arrange something. Just take me back to her. I'm not marrying you."

He sighs and doesn't respond. He walks into the water and I don't realize what's happening until he is submerged up to his hip.

I squeal when one of my toes touch the freezing water. "What are you doing?!"

One of my hands grab on to his hair and pull from the roots.

"Kinky, I like," He chuckles.

Slapping him upside the head wouldn't be a bad idea right now, if only I could do it without him dropping me.

"Stop, I can't swim!" I lie.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"That's okay, we aren't swimming."

Before I could retort, he drags me under the waterfall. I should have saved up my breath, but I screamed when we plunged into the water and swallow large amounts of water. My hand loosened from his hair and floats up taking my soul with it. If it weren't for how tightly he held me I think my soul would have happily left my body.

It wasn't even a minute past and we resurfaced. He lifted me out first and gently placed me on a hard surface. I coughed and gagged, but the water heavily settled in my stomach. It felt like I swallowed a fish.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

A hand rubs smooth circles across my back. "You'll be fine."

"Don't touch me."

The tenderness vanishes and is replaced by harshness. He grabs me under my arms and yanks me to my feet. Dripping wet, water trickles down his chest and to his narrow hips. I swallow before looking him in the face.

"You're not how I imagine you'd be." He whispers turning so his back is to me.

At first I think it's because he's angry, but I see the faint redness on his cheeks and look down to see my shirt completely see through.

I gasp and once again cross my hands over my chest. "And what did you expect me to behave? Grateful you abducted me from my home?!"

He scratches the back of his head. "Quiet, scared-shitless, I don't know...You're really...robust."

"Did you just call me fat?" I cross my eyes at him.

"NO!" He stutters. "I meant, you are tenacious."

"If you don't like my attitude then you should have kidnapped a featherbrain."

He frowns and crosses over to me, grabbing my waist and leans my body against him. I'm slightly uncomfortable with how touchy he is, but what do I expect from a kidnapper-he could be a molester!

Before I pull back he grabs under my chin. "You are perfect and I couldn't have chosen anyone else better."

Despite the cold, my body warms up from his words. I melted against him, basically molding into his body like a perfect puzzle piece. He moves his hand up my back, pulling my shirt along with it and stops bellow my shoulder blades. My heart hammers against my ribs and I'm confused about the tingly sensations in my stomach. And it's not the water.

The hitch in my breath causes him to smirk.

"See. We are compatible." He looks down and I follow his gaze to our intertwined legs.

Angry, I push him against his chest pulling us apart.

"I just met you and I hate you." I hiss, keeping a safe distance between us.

"They say...there is a thin line between love and hate."

I snort. "I passionately love to hate you."

"You're cute." He says smugly.

"And you're deranged."

"Only because I'm crazy for you."

I hide my blush by looking down.I'm blushing at my kidnapper. My world has turned upside down. "I want to go home."

"This is your home now." He says flatly.

"In a cave behind a waterfall." Are you shitting me?

"No...If you'll cooperate we would be home by now." He takes my hand and I try to snatch it back but he tightens his finger to the point it almost hurts.

"That hurts you jerk." I complain.

"Can you keep quiet for at least a minute?" Good. I'm annoying him.

"No."

He groans. "I can't wait for you to meet my parents."

My eyes widen. "You're what?"

Am I on live TV, because this is betting ridiculous.

He doesn't respond and practically drags me deeper into the cave's darkness. When I hear the sound of squeaking little creatures, I completely shut my mouth. I hate small rodents and eight legged insects.

"If you're scared just wrap your arms around me." The tone of his voice sounded amused.

"Don't be so full of yourself." It was too dark to see his face but I could imagine the dimpled smile on his perfect devilish face. We didn't talk after that and after what seemed like fifteen minutes, I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer.

"Do I get to know my killer's name?"

He exhaled. "I'm not going to kill you, how many times must I say it for you to understand? I'm planning on marrying you."

"I'm not marrying you."

"Yes you will."

"No I won't."

"I'm not going to argue with you. Whether you like it, or not, you will eventually marry me out of your own free will."

"By threatening me. That's the only way I would freely want to marry you."

He smirked. "One day we will laugh about this."

"In your dreams bucko." Once again I try to pry my hands from him.

"The more you struggle, the more I'm going to play dirty with you."

Can this guy get any cockier? He still didn't tell me his name. If I survive, I know what name to tell the cops. Leonardo abruptly comes to mind and I regret not believing anything he had said-what Gran said. However, there was no beast, except that giant dog but it didn't count, and the legend is a falsification made to cover up a crime. This man's family, for centuries, kidnaps women for their so-called tradition using that stupid myth.

We turn a corner and I see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I mentally laugh at my own pun. I thought I was dead earlier and now I see the light. Huh, only I would see the humor out of this crazy situation.

The light illuminates the cave wall and shines across his features like a spotlight. Once again I'm in awe. It should be criminal for a man to look that handsome. "We're home. Welcome my bride-to-be." He lets go of my hand and gestures me out the cave. I hesitantly take a step forward and stop looking back as if asking him if it's safe to proceed. "Where's my feisty girl gone?" He chuckles.

He called me his.

My stomach quivers. "I'm not yours." I glare.

"For now you're not, but our wedding will take place at the end of this week." He walks past me.

I'm stunned. "I'm sorry, I think I heard crap come out your mouth. Will you please repeat what you just said?"

I think I'm swearing more then usual.

He laughs. "You need to learn how to pay attention because I don't like repeating myself."

I walk towards the end of the cave and look at my surroundings. More trees...go figure. He walks a couple feet in front of me and I consider whether I should turn back and run.

As if sensing my intention, he says. "The cave is like a maze. People from the outside have tried to go through but they never come out. Most of them die in there."

Hope diminishes. That means I can't go home.

"You're lying. You're trying to scare me so I won't think about leaving."

He stops and I almost run into him. "I would never lie to you." The truth in his eyes leaves me speechless. I feel his hands intertwine with mine and this time I don't fight him. He surprises me by leaning down and placing a soft kiss on the side of my head.

"You two seem to be getting along." A familiar voice says haughtily.

I look up.

Leonardo is standing right in front of us with a stupefied expression on his face.

"You two know each other?" I practically yell.

Leo completely ignores my question. "And I thought I could have you for myself."

I feel my kidnapper trembling next to me. "Leonardo, don't play with me."

"Chill out bro, I'm kidding-mostly."

My kidnapper didn't look amused. In fact, he snarled and grabbed the hem of Leo's grey shirt. "If you touch what's mine, I'll personally rip you to shreds."

Leo didn't look affected by the threat. "You're beast is talking, Grey."

Grey? As in the Alpha Grey that Leonardo was talking over the phone with last night?

Grey took a long steady breath and let him go. "Don't provoke me, Leo. Remember what happened the last time you tried?"

Leo rolled his eyes. "How can I, you left a scar on my back. The guys can never live it down; they call me your personal-

Grey punched him in the stomach before he could finish his sentence.

"You little shit." Leo coughed before crumbling to his knees.

"Let's go Celeste." He holds out his hand for me to take.

How did he know my name? Leo of course...as a cop, he could have run a back ground check and gave it to Grey.

"I'm not coming with you."

"Suit yourself," He shrugs and lowers down in front of me. Next thing I know I'm hanging over his shoulder again. "I think this is going to be our favorite position." He slaps my behind and I yelp.

"Aren't you guys just cute." Leo says sarcastically.

I glare at him. "When I get my hands on you..."

"Looking forward to it sweetheart." Leo winks.

Grey bends down and I see him pick up a rock the size of a baseball. He throws it directly at Leo's face and it zips across the air like a bullet. To my utter amazement, Leo catches it an inch before it hits his face.

"Missed me." Leo grinned.

Grey looked at him. "It's not for you. Send the message to your little brother. His big mouth needs to keep shut."

Leo switched his gaze to me. "You told him about the cult thing?"

I nod sheepishly. "Sorry." Why I apologized, I do not know.

"Go before you piss me off more." Grey said to Leo.

"Yes sir!" Leo mocked salute and headed towards the maze cave.

Hanging on Grey's back, I see we've walked a couple distances from the cave.

"Not that I agree to your little proposal, but if you plan to marry me we can't have any secrets between us. You sir, have a lot of explaining to do." I poke him on his back.

He stops and sets me on my feet. The blood in my head rushes down and I unexpectedly feel light headed. Grey holds me down to steady me and I grasp his arms. I look him in the eyes and he signs me to look behind. When I do, I see a massive Victorian house three times the size of Gran's.

"This is our home." He pulls me into his chest and whispers behind my ear.

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NOTE: Dec 24, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS YOU FREAKISHLY AMAZING PEOPLE!!! I'M BACK!!! I've graduated and I'm ready to write again after a year of constant chaos. I have edited this book again so you will find some changes to the style of writing. This book has been closed off from the public but I have made it visible once more. SO YOU BETTER BE GRATEFUL, you marshmallows! Let's make one thing clear though IF YOU COPY MY BOOK...I WILL FIND YOU.

BE WARNED. xo