Queen POV
Sleep came in pieces. Small, broken fragments that never lasted long enough to feel real. Every time I closed my eyes, I was back there. Running. Branches snapping against my arms. My lungs burning. Manny's voice somewhere behind me…"Catch her!" Then the shift. The silence. The bear.
The huge black bear, closing on its prey. Closing in on me—
I jerked awake with a sharp gasp, my chest rising and falling too fast, my sheets twisted around my legs. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. My room. My house. Safe.
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to slow my breathing. "You're okay… you're okay…"
But my body didn't believe me. It still felt like I was in the woods. Still felt like something was watching. I turned my head toward the window. The curtain swayed slightly from the draft, the faint glow of the morning sunrise bleeding through. Nothing was there. But still, I couldn't shake the feeling. I pushed myself up slowly and regretted it immediately.
Pain shot through my ankle so fast it stole the air from my lungs.
"Ah—shit!"
I grabbed my leg, teeth clenching as the throbbing settled deep and steady.
"Okay… yeah… that's not a twist," I muttered.
I swung my legs carefully over the side of the bed, testing my weight just enough to confirm what I already knew. Nope. Not happening.
"Great," I whispered. "Love that for me."
A soft knock came at my door.
"Mommy?"
My expression softened instantly.
"I'm up, baby," I called, forcing the tension out of my voice.
The door creaked open and Demetri peeked in, his little face still puffy with sleep, curls sticking out in every direction. He stood there for a second, just looking at me like he was trying to figure something out.
"You okay?" he asked, stepping inside.
I smiled, softer this time. "I'm okay."
He didn't look convinced.
"You look sleepy mommy," he said.
"I am sleepy," I admitted.
He climbed onto the bed carefully, like he knew I was hurt without me saying it. His small hand landed on my leg, right above my ankle.
"Did you get a boo boo?"
I hesitated for just a second.
"Yeah," I said, hand reaching out to stroke his curls. "Mommy had a little accident."
Not a lie. Just not the whole truth.
He frowned, looking down at my foot. "Does it hurt?"
"A little."
His face scrunched up like that answer personally offended him. Then he leaned forward and blew gently on my ankle.
"I'm fixing it," he said matter-of-factly.
A small laugh slipped out of me despite everything. I held my sweet boy close.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah," he nodded seriously. "It works on cartoons."
I brushed my fingers through his hair, palming his small face with the first genuine smile in hours. "Well then I'm lucky I got you, huh?"
He nodded again, satisfied.
"Can I watch Paw Patrol?" he asked.
I glanced to my left, checking the time on the small clock atop my nightstand.
I smiled. "Go ahead."
He slid off the bed and ran out, his little footsteps echoing down the hall. The moment he was gone the quiet returned. Heavy, much too heavy. I leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling. And just like that, it all came rushing back. Manny, the woods, the bear. My stomach twisted.
"They really followed me…"
That wasn't something I could ignore. That wasn't something I could pretend didn't happen. They planned that. Waited. Knew my routine. A chill ran through me.
"I can't keep walking home like that…"
That much was clear. But then, there was the wolf. My breath caught as I locked its features into my mind: massive, white fur, golden eyes.
Too big.
Too aware.
I sat up slightly, wincing at the movement.
"That wasn't normal."
There was no way that was normal. Animals didn't act like that. Didn't look like that.
Didn't…
My thoughts stopped. The man.
My chest tightened.
"No…"
I shook my head. Because that part? That part didn't make sense. I could still feel it though. The warmth. The way I was held. The steady movement.
"I wasn't walking…"
My voice dropped.
"I was being carried."
A sharp knock echoed from downstairs. I froze.
Another knock, louder this time. My heart picked up again.
"Demetri?" I called.
"I'm watching TV!" he yelled back.
Good, he didn't open it. I swung my legs carefully off the bed, gripping the wall as I stood. Pain shot up my ankle, but I forced myself to move anyway, limping toward the stairs. Each step was slow and careful.
By the time I reached the bottom, my breathing had picked up again. Who was knocking like that this early? I moved toward the door, hesitating just for a second before unlocking it.
I pulled it open, "Hello?" I froze.
No one was there. Just the empty porch. The quiet street. The faint sound of wind brushing through the trees. My brows furrowed.
"Hello?" I stepped forward slightly, looking left. Then right. Still nothing.
"That's… weird."
I was about to close the door when something caught my eye. On the ground, right by the steps.
"No way…"
I stepped out onto the porch slowly, my heart starting to pound.
My purse. My phone. My wallet.
The things I dropped in the woods. All sitting there like they had been carefully placed. Not thrown. Not scattered, placed. My chest tightened.
"That's not possible…"
I looked around again, sharper this time. Nothing, no one. No car pulling away, no footsteps, nothing. But I hadn't brought these home. I knew I hadn't. My hands trembled slightly as I bent down, picking up my purse. Everything was inside, exactly how I left it. My throat went dry.
"That means…"
My mind went back: to the woods, to the wolf, to the man. The warmth, the arms—no, his warmth, his arms.
I swallowed hard.
"I didn't make it home by myself."
The realization settled heavy in my chest. Because if that was true…someone brought me here. And that someone knew where I lived. And they were close enough to come back. To stand right here, to knock on my door, and disappear before I opened it. A chill ran through me. I turned slowly, stepping back into the house, closing the door a little faster this time.
Locking it.
Then locking it again.
I leaned back against it, my grip tightening on my purse. My heart wouldn't slow down. Because now, I wasn't just confused. I was being watched. And I had no idea by who.