ut before I could utter a word, one of the guards grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her up despite how fragile and shaky she looked. "You can leave now. The maid will h

rl." No no no. In a panic I let go. My feet hit the ground hard and I think I twisted my ankle. I didn't even have time to process the pain as I took off running toward the fence. I forced my way through a narrow gap in the fence, the metal tore a piece of my shirt, and I dashed straight into the forest knowing I would be harder to spot. But just like before, I hadn't even made it far enough when I heard the same low growl. I didn't dare look back, but when I risked a glance I saw a massive black wolf with glowing red eyes chasing after me. I screamed and began running faster, but who was I kidding? My legs couldn't outrun a beast. It leapt and tackled me to the ground. I hit the forest floor hard, dirt filling my mouth and pain bursting through my side. I continued screaming as loud as I could, thrashing helplessly as my mind pressed for the worst. I was going to die. But then... "Leaving without saying goodbye?" I heard the deep voice of a man. I froze. My eyes snapped open and I gasped. Standing above me, shirtless and barefoot, was my supposed rescuer. "How... where...?" I stammered, glancing around for the wolf. "Answer me," he growled. My head whipped back to him and a shiver went down my spine as I stared back at his now glowing red eyes. "You... it was you. That wolf-" My voice broke, my mind refusing to connect the pieces. He didn't answer. Instead, he crouched down and grabbed my face roughly. With his face just inches from mine, I could see everything. The way his jaw clenched, the veins in his neck, and the wild look in his eyes. He wasn't calm and composed like the man who had saved me hours ago. He was panting heavily like a wild animal. "It's not very nice