Queen POV
My heart didn't slow down. Not even a little. Manny stepped closer, boots crunching against the leaves like he had all the time in the world. His friends stayed where they were—one behind me, one off to the side—close enough to block, far enough to watch. Cornered.
"Funny," Manny said again, dragging his gaze over me, "how you always take this way home."
He wanted me to know that he had been watching me, stalking me. I didn't answer. Didn't give him the satisfaction. Because this wasn't the diner, there were no lights, no people, and no witnesses.
"What do you want?" I asked, keeping my voice calm even though my pulse was pounding in my ears.
He tilted his head, like he was considering the question. "An apology would be a good start."
"For what?"
"For embarrassing me."
I let out a short, humorless laugh. "You embarrassed yourself."
That did it. The air changed instantly.
One of his friends snorted behind me. "Told you she got a mouth on her."
Manny's expression hardened, the last bit of that fake charm slipping.
"You real bold for somebody out here alone," he said.
"I'm not scared of you," I lied.
He smiled. "You should be."
My stomach tightened. "Move," I said.
He didn't. Instead, he stepped closer.
.
"You thought that cowboy was gonna walk you home?" he asked quietly. "You thought he was gonna save you?"
"I don't need saving," I snapped.
"Yeah?" he said. "Then prove it."
My eyes flicked behind him. His friends shifted slightly. Closing in. No opening. No space. Think. Think. Think.
"Look," I said, forcing my voice to drop, like I was calming down. "It's late. I'm tired. Whatever you think happened in there—let it go."
Manny watched me. Suspicious. I took a small step to the side. He didn't move. Good.
"I didn't mean to make you look stupid," I added.
That made one of his friends laugh. "She just did it again." Manny shot him a look, then turned back to me.
"You got a funny way of apologizing."
"I'm trying," I said. Another step to my left, slow and careful. He still didn't follow.
"You got a real smart mouth on you," he said.
"And you don't listen," I shot back before I could stop myself. His eyes darkened. Yeah. That wasn't smart. He stepped forward again, closing the gap.
"Maybe you just ain't been taught right, but I could teach ya. I can teach ya a lot, sweetheart" he said, voice low. His hand came up and he dragged his dirty pointer finger down my cheek. Something cold slid down my spine. No more talking.
I grabbed him quickly and shoved my knee as hard as I could, right into his groin—and bolted. I didn't see if he fell as I heard a pained groan echo throughout the forest, my feet moving fast as I clutched my purse tight to me.
"What the fuck?!"
"Catch that bitch!"
I didn't look back. I just kept running.
Branches whipped against my arms as I pushed through the trees, my breath ripping out of my chest in sharp bursts. My feet pounded against the ground, slipping on loose dirt as I cut left, then right, weaving through the trees. I had no idea where I was going, feet straying far from the path. The sounds of their voices carried in the wind.
"You bitch! You fucked up now!"
"Where you think you going?!"
Too close. They were too close. I pushed harder, lungs burning, legs screaming.
Don't stop.
Don't stop.
Don't stop.
A branch snagged my sleeve and I quickly yanked it free and kept moving. The voices started to fade. Then, nothing. I slowed. Then stopped completely, bending forward. My hands slapped to my knees as I gasped for air.
"Oh my God…" I huffed, trying to catch my breath.
I did a quick look around and still didn't see them. The forest was dark, still, empty.
"I lost them…" Relief hit me so fast it made my knees weak.
I let out a shaky laugh. "Okay… okay… you're good…"
I straightened and froze as my eyes scanned over the trees. Fuck, I had no clue where the hell I was now.
"Check here!" I heard one yell, once again closing in on me.
Shit! These fuckers were fast. I quickly found a hiding place in nearby bushes, lying flat on my stomach to blend in with the dense area. Hand clamped over my mouth to silence myself, I watched as their shadows got closer. And closer, and closer.
"Damn that bitch is fast" huffed Derrick, the lanky red-haired man. His twin, Chris, appeared at his side, breathing hard as he scanned the area. Soon, Manny joined them, irritation and anger shown on his face in the moonlight. The night rattled with the sound of their heavy breathing. I prayed hard that they wouldn't see me in my hiding spot and squeezed my eyes tight, shoving my chest further into the ground. Suddenly, a low, heavy sound rolled through the trees. My eyes opened wide as the men turned fast toward it, breathing quieting.
"Oh hell naw man let's leave her" Chris whispered forcefully. Manny cursed, chest heaving as he glanced around him. For a moment, I could have sworn his eyes locked on my exact position before he shook his head.
"I'm gonna get that little bitch," he sneered. "C'mon"
I watched as their shadows disappeared into the darkness. A breath I didn't know I was holding was released from my chest. I waited a moment before slowly getting to my feet and brushing the dirt and leaves from my clothing. The crisp air blew through the gap in my jacket and I closed my arms tightly around myself. I was still lost, no idea how far my feet had taken me off the path. I began walking back in the direction I came when a massive shape stepped out in front of me. I paused, feet rooted in place as I processed what I was seeing—Black fur shown in the moonlight, thick, huge. A black bear. It lifted its head slightly, sniffing the air. Like it had caught the scent of something. Me.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!"
I turned and ran like hell for the second time tonight.
"Not like this! Not like this!" I had just escaped only to be ensnared again. My feet slammed against the ground, panic hitting even harder now. Behind me, I heard heavy steps, faster than I expected.
"Are you serious?!" I cried.
My foot then caught a root, and I slammed down into the ground. Pain exploded through my ankle as it twisted beneath me, a sharp sensation shooting up my leg. I screamed. "SHIT!" I tried to stand but the second I put weight on it, my leg gave out and I collapsed again. Hot tears began streaming down my cheeks.
"No, no, no…"
I scrambled backward, dragging my body across the dirt as the bear stepped closer. A low snort rumbled from its chest as if it were laughing at my misfortune.
"Back up!" I yelled, grabbing my purse and swinging it wildly. "Go! Get away from me!" It didn't stop. Didn't hesitate.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each one heavier than the last.
"I'm serious!" I cried, voice breaking. "I will hit you!"
I threw my purse, it landing just a few feet in front of the wild animal. The bear huffed. Unimpressed. It was almost on me now. Tears continued to blur my vision. I cannot believe this is how I go out. I'll never get to hold Demetri again.
The bear continued forward, a gruff snort leaving its nostrils. I would have been better off with Manny, I cannot believe my luck! This was absurd. I had done nothing but what was expected of me my entire life. I should have been more reckless, more carefree. Should have flirted with the sexy green-eyed cowboy who saved me earlier. Definitely should have.
I squeezed my eyes shut as the bear closed the gap between us. I waited for the moment its claws would pierce my skin. But it didn't come. There was nothing but silence. I blinked my eyes open. The bear had stopped. Its head lifted slightly. Then, it stepped back. A low, uneasy sound left its chest. It stepped back again.
"Yeah, that's right get gone!" I screamed.
My moment of victory stopped short when I noticed something, the bear's eyes were fixated on the place above my head. I got the feeling that something behind me just changed everything. It then turned and disappeared into the night. My heart pounded. Slowly…I turned. And my breath left me.
A massive white wolf stood there, gold eyes locked on mine. Relief twisted into fear and I cursed the universe for my sorry fate. The wolf stepped forward, approaching me.
"Please don't," I whispered. I dragged myself back again, hands trembling.
"Stay back." It didn't. It came closer. Close enough for me to see every detail—the thickness of its fur, the rise and fall of its chest.
"Please," I whispered.
It lowered its head to me, nose sniffing my hair. I couldn't move. I had been prey all night, passed from one predator to another. It was clear, death wanted me. Eyes wide with fear, I watched as the wolf sniffed down my leg, pausing there… and nudged my ankle. I flinched.
"Don't—" But it wasn't rough. It was gentle. Careful. Confusion cut through my fear.
"What are you…"
It nudged me again, softer this time, letting out a low sound that kind of sounded like a whine. The wolf stepped back slightly. My breathing slowed just a little. It then lowered itself to the ground and looked at me. Then forward. Then back again I blinked. What was it waiting for?
The pain in my ankle throbbed harder. My vision started to blur. Everything began hitting me at once. The fear, the pain, the shock. Was it wanting me to get on its back? Maybe, just maybe this wolf was my savior.
"I've officially lost my mind," I whispered.
The creature was as beautiful as it was frightening. There was a need to touch this creature—a need that I didn't quite understand, building within me. It was why despite my fear, I reached out anyway. My fingers brushed against its fur, surprisingly soft. I gasped as a sharp, warm tingle shot up my arm. My breath left my lungs—then the world spun and everything went black.