Chapter 13
I exited the hut to a wave of hot humid heat. It stuck to my skin and made me feel dirty with sweat. My pants had never dried and they felt uncomfortably tight around my hips.
Grayson was sitting by the creek, shirt off and feet sprawled in the water. He was whittling away at a stick, surely making some sort of weapon or trap. His only purpose seemed to be the hunt.
I sat down at my log and noticed his shirt bundled up beside it. A frustrating urge told me to bring it to my nose to smell the sweet notes of his sweat on the fabric. I fought it but did notice something colorful peeking out of the black fabric.
I sat and moved a bit of the shirt away to reveal a collection of fruit in the bundle before me. I looked towards Grayson whos furrowed brow stayed concentrating on the project in his hands.
Lifting the food to my nose, I smelled the bright red fruit before taking a nibble. It was small yet shaped like a pumpkin. The taste was sweet and tangy and delicious. I took a large bite, savoring the juice as it dripped down my throat.
I didn’t know what made Grayson decide to bring me such a delicacy but I relished every bite. The tiny sweet pumpkins were piled in many colors alongside oranges and small strawberries. I ate as much as my stomach would allow, knowing I would probably be paying for it later, and laid back against my log.
I could see that Grayson was making several spears from his spot by the creek. He used his knife to slice each end to a sharp and pointed tip. There were dozens by his side, each about two feet long. I wondered what plan he had for these weapons but didn’t dare ask.
I relaxed into my position and watched him. I could see his muscles twitch with each strike of the knife against wood. I studied the shape of his silhouette, observed the curve of his jaw and his lips.
It was as though he had been crafted carefully, every detail of him planned and precise. His hair fell in perfect dark locks and his sullen eyes gave the notion of authority and mysteries.
His eyes were a bright and pale blue, almost the color of the ocean. I would drown in them if they were attached to anyone else. When they turned that glowing yellow with his transformation, I would wait eagerly for them to return to this striking depth.
Everything about him stood and sucked you in except his personality. If he never spoke, he would be the perfect man.
As though he were reading my thoughts, he blinked and caught my eye. A look of irritated expectation colored the air as he paused his whittling to see why I was staring at him.
I couldn’t look away for some reason. My stare was locked in a curious gaze, lost in the pull of the ocean blue. An eyebrow twitched slightly, as though he was sensing the same thing I was. There was something... something enticing.
My heartbeat quickened in my chest and I held a want for him. A need for him. The feeling was so familiar, so irrational. There was a tickle in my stomach and his eyes lowered while he licked his lips.
This feeling couldn’t be, it must be fake. He does one small gesture, something as simple as bringing me fruit and I’m suddenly wanting him to devour me whole.
I forced myself to get up with the intent to walk it off, breaking the spell between us. He blinked a few times and looked away, as though he had been lost in thoughts of sinking in me and only just now resurfaced.
I was able to put very little weight on my bad foot and hopped towards the trail he usually took.
"Where are you going?"
Refusing to make eye contact in case I became trapped again, I continued towards my goal.
"I want to take a walk."
"It isn’t safe," he warned.
"Neither are you." I said it quietly but was sure he still heard since he didn’t follow.
I didn’t plan on going far, the fear of the intruder was still fresh. I wanted to head towards the beach but knew it wouldn’t be a good idea and thought I would probably get lost on the way.
Even though I could hear the ocean waves crashing, I couldn’t see anything through the plants and trees that surrounded me in every direction. Just a few steps into the trail and I lost sight of our camp and Grayson.
Searching for the perfect branch, I grabbed a stick tall and sturdy enough to act as a crutch to help me on my way.
Being away from Grayson had cleared my mind enough to find my anger for him again. I stewed over every dirty thing he’s said to me since I met him, replaying the words leaving his lips. The way he claimed he could take me whenever or however he wanted, the way he treated me like all I could be was his fuckdoll.
Soon I lost track of time, the forest colors blurring together. White and purple and yellow wildflowers popped up alongside me as I walked and I began plucking them, creating a lovely bouquet for myself.
The heat lessened as the sun dropped from the sky and I decided it was finally time to turn back. I was slow moving with my crutch and collection of flowers. Every step was a struggle and the soreness in my body had come to a breaking point.
I had over done it with the walk, my injuries were not ready for this type of exercise and I frequently had to stop and rest.
Following the trail back was easy enough, there weren’t any crazy crossroads or confusing areas to mix up my path, yet I was starting to feel uncomfortable. A feeling was beginning to itch at me and I tried extending my time between stops to rest.
I hobbled as far as I could before needing to sit, breathing hard with the pain. I tried to put a word to the feeling inside me. I hadn’t felt this type of unease before and I thought hard to decipher it.
I waited for my breathing to calm, concentrating hard when it hit me. Eyes on my back, invisible noises, whispers in the dark. I was being followed, watched from the shadows.
Hyper aware of my inability to run, I rose and steadied myself on my crutch. I hopped down the trail, using my peripheral vision to try and see where the stalker might be. Every noise made me jump and I felt like I felt a breath on the back of my neck with each step.
A rock, only a small pebble, rolled across my path and I jumped, screaming Grayson’s name out for help.
His breath blew through my hair as his accent licked into the still air. "I told you it was dangerous."
I scrunched my face with irritation, of course he was my stalker. "Why are you following me?"
He emerged from behind me, his shirt still missing and sweat dampening the impossible definition of muscle protruding from skin. He was in predator mode and I his prey. "To keep anyone from claiming what’s mine."
I smirked, "I am not yours, you rejected me. Remember?"
His smile turned cocky, "Until it’s finalized, you still belong to me."
I raised my wrist to show him the mark he burned into my wrist with his wolfy moon magic. "This wasn’t final enough?"
"There is a process. Come, let’s get back."
He was being oddly kind to me this afternoon, despite hunting me through the woods. I was suspicious of his intentions but turned to continue back to camp when he swooped my legs from underneath me, holding me against the hard ripples of his chest.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I protested, and attempted to wiggle my way free.
"You are incredibly slow and I’ve grown bored of waiting. The gods did not create you to survive on your own."
There it was, he couldn’t resist making some sort of demeaning comment on my worth. I huffed, "and you are nothing more than a complete ass."
He chuckled but didn’t disagree as he walked us back to our little home by the creek.