Fateful Encounter 2

Dazed, Scott groaned as he pushed himself up, using a fallen tree for support. He hurriedly made his way through the trees, wanting nothing more than to escape. Suddenly, a low growl echoed from behind him. Fear gripped him, and he turned slowly, heart racing.

A massive wolf stood before him, its glowing red eyes fixed on Scott, filled with primal intent. Scott gasped, barely having time to react before the beast lunged at him. He fell backward, scrambling away as the wolf bit into his hip.

"AHHH!" Scott screamed, pain radiating through him. He clawed at the ground, desperate to escape. And when he freed himself he ran with his heart racing as he tried to catch his breath. The sudden rush of adrenaline from his encounter with the wolf still surged through him, but he couldn't shake the panic that had settled in his gut. He had stumbled onto something he couldn't fully comprehend, and now he was racing back to the road.

As he burst through the treeline, he barely registered the burgundy SUV speeding past him, its driver swerving just in time to avoid a collision. The car continued down the road, leaving Scott shaken and gasping for air. He staggered forward, still trying to process the chaos of the night.

But just as he thought he could collect himself, another vehicle approached—a sleek, black car with a polished finish. It luckily came to a stop screeching just as it neared him and the driver, stepped out

"Hey! Are you okay?" Jasper's deep voice cut through the night, both calming and commanding. He leaned slightly out of the car, his impressive figure framed by the headlights.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine!" Scott stammered, trying to gather himself. "Just… almost got hit by your car."

"Sorry about that," Jasper replied, his expression softening as he approached. "I didn't see you. So what happened?"

Scott took a shaky breath, trying to comprehend everything. "Just… just a wolf attack. I think… I think I'm hurt."

Jasper's gaze sharpened while hiding a thin smile, and he stepped closer. "Where?"

"Right here." Scott pointed at his hip, panic still evident in his voice.

"Let me see," Jasper instructed gently.

As Scott hesitantly lifted his hoodie, revealing the injury, Jasper just looked at it for a few seconds with a slight smile. "You'll be okay. Just stay calm. Can you walk?"

"I— I think so," Scott replied, still trembling.

"Good. We need to get you checked out," Jasper said, his tone reassuring as he offered a steady hand. "Let's get you to safety."

Scott took a deep look at the hand offered to him. After some contemplating he decided to take the hand.

Scott knew nothing of the journey that lay ahead or the role Jasper would play in his life, but in that moment, all he could do was take this stranger's hand and hope for the best.