Grayson’s massive body blotted out the view of the moon as he stood over me in wolf form. Saliva dripped from teeth as large as my hand. His snarl made me want to bow before him.
I stood my ground but stared off into the distance, shaking. I could feel his breath hot on my neck, deep and quick pants. As fast as he had changed from man to wolf, he turned and howled at the moon. The noise sent shivers down my arms as the surrounding others joined in. Then, as a pack, they took off down the side of the hill, leaping and racing, nipping at each other as they went.
I let out the whimper I had been holding in, now that I was alone. Bunching up the tail of my dress, I raced back to the safety of the manor to plan my escape. The wolves hadn’t killed me and I still had no idea how the ceremony was supposed to go but now that Grayson publicly rejected me, I feared what that meant for my future.
My father’s warning was replaying in mind along with the vision of Grayson turning into a beast. Every option I had was a deadly one. The only other thing to do was to run and hide, like my mother had. Except I was in a place I wasn’t familiar with and surrounded by enemies.
At the castle’s entrance, a guard stopped me before I could enter. "They all just... turned into wolves. I didn’t know what to do, so I ran back here," I told him, panicked. His face was immovable, giving nothing as to whether he believed me or already knew. Grabbing my arm, he escorted me back to my chambers and locked me inside.
I was given no maid this time. I undressed myself and changed into the jeans and shirt I had came in. Being back in my clothes made me feel not only more agile, but more myself. I tested the windows and door, and looked for any hidden entrances but could not find my escape. Eventually, I gave in and sprawled myself across the hard bed, hoping my rapid breathing would slow. I would just have to wait and see what would happen to me now.
I hadn’t intended to fall asleep but I slept deeply, dreams filled with full moons and glowing eyes. When I woke, it was slow. I pulled my hand to my face but found it stuck, I reached the other to free it but was unable to move that one as well. Panicked, I opened my eyes to realize my every limb was tied to each bed post as I lay on top of the covers.
I kicked and punched but was unsuccessful in my efforts. From the corner of my eye, a dark figure moved and I cried out as it jumped on top of me. Mounting my hips in a seated position, Grayson peered down at my trapped body, hunger in his golden eyes. He was shirtless and back to his human form but just as dangerous looking.
He grabbed my chin with one hand, squeezing my cheeks together aggressively as he allowed his other hand to drift from my neck, slowly across my chest and down to where our waists met. His hands, rough and strong, evoked prickles against the delicate parts of my skin as his touch glided like a feather across it. I tried bucking him off of me but his weight wouldn’t budge above me.
He leaned down, turning my head in his hand as he did so. At my ear he spat, "I could take you right here, right now... If I wished." His free hand wrapped around the back of my jeans, gripping into the skin below my hips.
"No one would stop me. They would applaud." I wanted to cry, to spit in his face, to burn this whole place to the ground.
"There she is." He spoke and I could see the purple from my eyes luminating against his chest as he rose. He chuckled before disembarking from me, leaving me stranded from my breath.
Pulling a knife from its sheath along his waist, he cut the ropes with ease. I pulled my arms and legs inward, afraid of what he might do next.
"Relax, love." He said at my trepidation. "I’m not in the game of forcing women. If I wanted you, you would be on your hands and knees begging for it. Ideally with your bare ass up, or maybe mouth open wide," he mused, pulling at my chin and I jerked away.
"So what do you want?" I asked, raising myself to a sitting position and removing the binding from my ankles and wrists.
"To be done with you." So tying me up was more of a show of power, a scare tactic. As though I wasn’t scared enough already.
"Unfortunately, my rejection may have marked you, but it isn’t enough to break our bond."
I never felt bonded to him to begin with. He was a monster and I would take whatever punishment would come with leaving this place, even if it was my father’s wrath.
"I will escort you back to your country. Back to your father," he continued. "A contract was signed in blood, a sacrifice must be made to undo what has been done."
A sacrifice? Was that going to be me? I wouldn’t put it past a man like my father or like Grayson.
"Pack your things," he demanded. "I’m taking you home."
Home. There I could make my escape, I could find a way and seek out my mother for help. Grayson left and I put together the few things I had as quick as possible then waited by the door for them to let me out.
It was only a few minutes before the guard opened the door and I was led to a waiting limo. Impressed, I climbed in. Grayson was at the end of the long car, a girl on either side of him like he was some hot-shot gangster.
They were caressing the black suit that hung tightly around his arms while he scrolled through his phone, bored by their presence.
I rolled my eyes and sat back, ready for the long ride and the even longer flight. I hadn’t eaten and was looking forward to the in-flight meal, or at least some nuts and a soda.
I watched as we left the rolling moss-green hills behind. The unexplored manor and its villages shrunk until they vanished. Grayson was back to pretending I didn’t exist, occasionally entertaining the girls as we drove. Their girlish giggles making me want to vomit.
At the airport, I struggled to keep up with Grayson’s long strides as he led us to a place that didn’t look like it was meant for us. The guards, who were now dressed in matching suits, escorted us through doors that led to a large garage of smaller planes. We were guided to one that held the design of a howling wolf on its tail.
Inside was empty and I was able to seat myself far from Grayson before strapping in. With him out of view, I was finally able to relax. The two women stayed behind but there was a single stewardess that checked on me. She seemed nervous when noticing my eyes and I had to almost beg her for food. She brought a few bags of chips and crackers for me to munch on as we departed, to which I devoured.
I never thought I would visit another country and now I was more than happy to be leaving this one. The city fell away and turned into a blur of colors, land turning to ocean as we flew through the sky. I stared at the deep blue that stretched as far as the eye could see, mesmerized by its vastness. The long drive had taken its toll and the lull of the airplane mixed with the ocean view caused me to drift into sleep.
I woke with a jolt. I looked around the empty plane, all seemed calm and thought it may have been a dream, though I couldn’t remember. I sat back but was again tossed against the seatbelt as the plane lurched. This time the shuddering continued, a slight shaking that caused the overhead masks to drop.
Grayson unbuckled and headed towards me, a strange look set deep in his creased forehead. Another jump before he made it, causing him to be thrown into the air. When he landed, it was on one foot and a knee, the glow of his eyes growing with the sharpness of his teeth.
He stood and took another step towards me when the airplane flipped. Crashing, explosive noises were surrounding me as I cradled my head. My stomach dropped like I was on a roller-coaster and I squeezed my eyes shut and began screaming, knowing we were headed straight down.