Chapter Six - The Wolf

The Wolf

I'm warm.

So warm.

Did the landlord finally fix the radiator?

I can't remember my bed ever being this comfortable and warm. Was my duvet always this soft and thick?

I never want to get up.

Sighing, I bury my nose in my pillow. A familiar scent of pine trees and leather engulfs me. I reach out for the jacket, my hand sliding along the bed.

It's not here.

Strange.

The scent is coming from my pillow. And from the bedding. It's all around me.

I slowly wake up further. I feel so groggy and out of it, my head swimming in a fog. With a groan I try to sit up and immediately stiffen as a searing pain shoots down my neck. Wincing, I cup a hand over a thick bandage covering part of my neck and shoulder.

What the hell?

It's then I realize...this is not my apartment.

Reality comes crashing down on me, my mind immediately snapping into focus.

Shit. Shit.

I don't know where I am.

I look around with wide eyes. I'm in a beautiful bedroom suite decorated in burgundy and golds. One that could easily fit three of my apartments inside it. The room is masculine in design, but elegant and comfortable. There's a sitting area with a leather couch and chair in front of a fireplace. A fire is burning within, the wood cackling softly. I stare at the flames, shock slowly permeating through my body.

Memories rush over me, frightening and dark. My throat tightens, air struggling to hit my lungs.

The quarry. Noah attacked me. And then...and then...

I feel sick.

Practically falling out of the bed I stumble towards what I hope is a bathroom. Thankfully, it is, the marble tile cold under my feet. I begin to dry heave, a bitter chemical taste in my mouth. Once the nausea passes I run the faucet, cupping the cool water in my hands and drinking it slowly. The water is crisp on my parched tongue, easing my discomfort. Leaning over the sink I take a deep breath, my body shaking.

Noah is dead. Killed by a monster.

I stare at my reflection, pale faced and wide eyed.

It chased me. It bit me. He bit me.

The memory of his voice - of the heat of his hard body against mine - makes me shudder violently. My fingers trembling, I slowly peel away a side of the bandage. The harsh red bite mark marring the crook of my neck is a stark contrast against my pale skin.

How am I not dead?

I grow dizzy, sliding to the floor. There's a strange emptiness in my chest, like a gaping hole in my heart. It's painful and unknown to me. I'm confused and scared. Panic rips through me, uncontrolled. I struggle through it, my hand pressed against my aching chest. I need to breathe. I need to think.

I hate my own weakness.

There's nothing I can do but ride it out, bundled into myself on the floor of a strange bathroom in a strange place. The cold of the tile seeps into my skin and I have to clench my jaw to stop my teeth from chattering.

Stay calm.

I repeat to myself that I'm okay and after several moments the panic passes.

Finally able to breath, I take stock of the situation and my own state. I'm still wearing my bikini, but someone's dressed me in an over-sized black t-shirt. My skins been washed of the blood and dirt from the attack. I don't think I've been hurt aside from the wound on my neck.

Taking one last calming breath I stand shakily to my feet and walk back to the bedroom. This has to be some kind of mansion or hotel suite. Even the damn bathroom is bigger than my apartment.

I almost laugh at my own ridiculous thoughts. Of all the things to be thinking right now...

Escape.

I eye the bedroom door and worry my lip. I'm guessing it's locked but maybe not. Maybe whomever owned this place found me and brought me here to help me.

Trying to be quiet I tip toe towards the door, nearly tripping over a book. The room is overflowing with them. They're stacked onto tables, on the floor, and on furniture. Normally this would be heaven to me, but I'm too scared to appreciate it.

Reaching the door, I gently test the doorknob. It doesn't move. The door's been locked from the outside.

Damn.

Glancing around I try to figure out if there is any other means of escape. Floor to ceiling windows with elegant red velvet drapes flank the king sized bed along the back wall. Curious, I check them out, pulling aside a heavy drape to find a pair of French doors leading to a balcony.

The doors are unlocked.

My heart racing, I step outside onto a stone balcony. It's dark outside, the sliver curve of a new moon gleaming in the night sky. I take another deep breath, gripping the balcony banister and fighting to remain calm.

There was no moon when I went to the quarry. How long was I out for?

I peek over the edge of the balcony. I'm three stories off the ground in what appears to be the wing of a large estate. Off in the distance I can see the twinkling lights of Stillwater.

I know this place. It's Moorwood. The old mansion at the end of Oak Ave.

"I trust you're not planning on jumping," a smokey voice drawls from behind me.

I jump, spinning around. My gaze meets blue. Royal blue.

My eyes widen further as I stare at the stranger from the woods. He's standing just inside the French doors, his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans. He's dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His feet are bare and his hair is slightly damp, like he just came from the shower.

He's every bit as handsome and intense as I remember. Maybe even more so.

That horrible emptiness in my chest lessens, as if just his mere presence fills the hole in my heart. It's confusing to me why I would feel this way.

"What are you doing out here?" he demands. He's eyeing me with such intensity I swallow nervously on reflex. I can't seem to speak so I just stare back, my mind racing with a hundred questions. He frowns, those blue orbs flickering over my face and down my body. "Come inside before you freeze," he orders curtly, stepping aside so I can go back in.

I do as I'm told, my nerves skyrocketing as he shuts the door behind me. Crossing his arms, he stands in front of me, his demeanor strong and a little menacing.

His eyes drift over me again, all the way to the tips of my toes. "You're shivering," he says.

"I'm cold," I respond, my tone low and strange. Why is he here? Why would he lock me in this room?

He gives me a chiding look. "That's what happens when you stand outside in the cold with only a t-shirt on."

Good point. Self-conscious, I tug on the end of my shirt, feeling exposed. The shirt hangs to my thighs and I'm fully covered but I'm acutely aware of my state of dress underneath.

He scowls. Picking up a throw blanket from the couch he walks up to me, wrapping the warm blanket around my shoulders. I blush, gazing up at him from under my lashes. I don't know why such a simple gesture would cause such a bloom of warmth in my chest.

"Thank you," I croak.

His eyes move to my neck. "Are you in pain?"

"It hurts if I move too much," I admit.

His scowl deepens. "The pain medication must be wearing off."

Pain medication? That's what that chemical taste in my mouth was from!

"You drugged me?" I ask, incredulous.

"You were in a lot of pain. I had no choice," he replies simply, as if that explained everything. His hand gently brushes away a lock of my hair from my neck. I blush even more. It's such an intimate act.

"Who are you? Did you...did you find me in the woods?" I can't believe that monster didn't kill me. I thought for sure it was the end. The absolute fear I'd felt in that moment was indescribable.

"My name is Liam Grey." He looks at me expectantly, almost as if I should recognize him.

"Thanks for helping me, Liam, but I'd like to go home now." Or to a freaking hospital.

He stiffens. "Home?" I can hear the irritation in his tone. Why would that make him angry?

"Yea, if you could call me a cab-"

He cuts me off sternly, "You're not leaving." His eyes are dark and possessive. My heart starts to beat erratically. What did that mean? Is he kidnapping me?

"You can't keep me here," I protest.

He raises a brow. "Can't I?"

Oh, crap.

"I just want to go home," I plead.

"Enough of this," he snaps. My mouth clamps shut. His voice is strangely powerful and I can't seem to disobey. Taking a step forward he invades my space, giving me a firm look. "I want to speak with your wolf, release her."

I blink. "My what?"

He seems to be growing angrier by the second. "Your wolf. Let her rise."

My wolf? I look around, half expecting to see some animal sleeping in a corner of the room. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Frowning deeply, he reaches out, grabbing my arms so fast I don't have time to react. He pulls me against him roughly, slamming me into his chest. It's like crashing into a brick wall. His hands hold me firm, his nose burying in my hair. He inhales sharply, a low sound in his throat.

I squirm in his hold, confused by his actions and by my bodies own response to his closeness.

"Be still," he orders. His nose drifts down my neck and between my breasts. He doesn't stop, going lower and lower. My eyes grow wide as his nose trails down my stomach...

"Wait..."

He stiffens, his nose hovering over my pelvis. "Can't be." Standing to his full height he snarls, "You're a god damn mutt."

"Excuse me?" I squeak.

He's staring at me, as if he doesn't believe it himself. Then fury overtakes his face. "Why?" he snaps. "Why did you chose her? She isn't fit."

I take a step back in fear. Who the hell is he talking too?

His eyes glaze over, taking on a faraway look. After a moment he snaps, "I wont!"

Okay, scary.

Fighting to remain calm I inch my way towards the door. Hopefully, it's unlocked and I can make a run for it.

Do not run.

I ignore the little voice in my head. I need to get the hell out of here. I feel like such a freak for finding this man so attractive. He's obviously mental. And dangerous. "Listen, you're...uh...busy. Thank you for helping me but I'm going to go."

His head whips towards me and he growls. He actually growls. "Stop."

Yea, right.

I take another cautious step back. If I can just make it to the door...

His teeth flash as he snarls at me.

No, not teeth.

Fangs.

Wait a minute.

I stop in my tracks, frozen by both fear and shock. Can't be...

"You," I breathe. "You're the monster."

He smirks, his blue eyes glinting dangerously. "Monster? I suppose that's a fitting title. My wolf can be quite wild."

There's that word again. Wolf. What the hell is he talking about? "You killed Noah."

His eyes flash, burning like blue flames. This man is definitely not human. "You mean that boy attempting to rape you?" he demands viciously.

The memory has disgust twisting my stomach. "Yes," I reply hoarsely.

A slow devious smile spreads across his handsome face. "I did."

Yup, that's my queue to get the hell out. Inching back further I find myself babbling, "I appreciate you helping me. I just want to go home. I swear I won't tell. So, you don't have to worry or, you know, cut me up into little pieces." Jesus, Abby, shut up, shut up, shut up!

"You're not leaving," he repeats.

"Who do you think you are?" I practically cry in frustration. I just want to go home and forget all about this.

He gives me a look as if he's talking to a child. "I told you, my name is Liam Grey and I am the alpha of this pack."

"Pack of what?" I ask stupidly.

"You can't be serious," Liam scoffs. "Were your parents dense? Did they teach you nothing?"

Irritation flares through me. I don't like him talking about my parents in that tone. "As I said, I don't know what you're talking about," I snap.

His eyes narrow and I immediately regret snapping at him. Liam was obviously not the kind of man you wanted to piss off.

He starts walking towards me, his entire demeanor screaming danger.

Apologize. Now!

"I'm sorry," I rush out. I clutch the blanket tighter around me, as if I expect it to protect me from the dangerous creature slowly stalking towards me. "I don't like when people disrespect my parents. But I really don't know what you're talking about."

He looks at me intensely for a moment before stating point blank, "Werewolves, Abigail. We're werewolves."

I stare at him, not sure how to respond to that. Then - before I can shut my stupid mouth - I blurt, "You're insane."

******

AN: Hope you are enjoying the book so far!!