Chapter 12: The Dangers That Lurk In The Forest

The enraged boar lunged forward, its massive body barreling towards me. I dodged it at the last second, but in doing so, collided with Silver's muscular body. We tumbled onto the forest floor, a mess of limbs and leaves. Silver ended up on top of me, his powerful frame pressing down against mine. The heat radiating from his sculpted chest seeped through my clothes.

"Get off!" I snapped, trying to ignore the way my body reacted to his closeness.

"It's not like I did this on purpose," Silver retorted, his face inches from mine. His intense yellow eyes bore into mine, making my heart beat faster. "You're the one who bumped into me."

As we argued, our attention momentarily diverted, the boar charged again, its terrifying squeal echoing through the trees.

"Shit, look out!" I shouted, adrenaline surging through me.

We sprang to our feet before it was too late. We managed to dodge it and I stood there, observing the monstrous beast; its dark fur matted with dried blood and dirt, and its beady eyes filled with a murderous rage. Its sheer size awoke something primal in me, and I knew we had to act quickly.

I reached for my crossbow, feeling the familiar grip in my hand. As I readied myself, my senses heightened, and I struggled to calm my racing heartbeat while focusing on the approaching danger.

With the boar charging toward us again, Silver's muscles tensed as he prepared to use his werewolf strength. He moved with lightning speed, intercepting the boar as it lunged forward, stopping it in its tracks. I couldn't help but admire the way his biceps flexed and his broad chest rose and fell with each breath.

"Hold it until I give you a signal!" I yelled, my voice a mix of confidence and urgency.

He nodded and grabbed the beast by its tusks, showcasing his raw power. The fierce struggle between Silver and the boar was mesmerizing, and I found myself momentarily entranced by Silver's intimidating strength.

"Shit, focus," I mentally scolded myself.

With Silver holding the boar, I positioned myself for the perfect shot.

"Silver, now!" I shouted.

Silver released the boar, getting out of my way. I could see it. The perfect shot.

"Here it goes," I murmured, steadying my aim.

The boar approached at breakneck speed, but I held my ground. With a well-timed shot, I released a bolt from my crossbow, aimed straight for the boar's heart. The arrow flew true, striking the monster with deadly precision. It let out a pained squeal and collapsed.

"Damn, that was impressive," Silver said.

Panting with excitement, I faced Silver, a glint of respect in his eyes.

"Good shot, Red," Silver said, nodding in recognition.

"Thanks," I replied, my voice breathless. "You weren't bad yourself."

My cheeks flushed as I realized how close we were standing, and I couldn't help but notice the way Silver's sweat-slicked chest glistened in the dappled sunlight. Despite how much he annoyed me, I found myself drawn to him, captivated by his raw power and undeniable sexiness.

But before I could say anything else, we heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind us. Without a moment's hesitation, Silver grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the bushes, his muscular arm wrapped protectively around my shoulders. I noticed my heart pounding faster and faster. Was it because of our fight with the boar, or was it Silver's proximity? I tried to steady my breathing, but the scent of his sweat mixed with damp leaves was intoxicating.

"Be quiet," Silver whispered into my ear, his hot breath fanning across my neck. It took every ounce of willpower for me to focus on the figure emerging from the trees.

The girl who appeared before us was stunning. Her long, dark hair flowed like a river down her back, framing a delicate face with high cheekbones and full, pouty lips. Her eyes were an intense shade of green, piercing through the forest shadows. She wore a simple white blouse tucked into tight, brown leather pants that hugged her hips and thighs and a worn denim jacket.

"Damn, she's gorgeous," I thought, feeling a strange mix of admiration and envy.

"She's a werewolf," Silver stated all of a sudden.

"Wait, what? Like Adriano?" My heart raced at the thought of being alone with two werewolves. "Do you smell it on her?" I asked.

"Not exactly..." He chuckled quietly, his breath warm against my ear. "To be honest, I lied about being able to smell if someone is a werewolf."

"Are you kidding me?" I couldn't help but let out an annoyed huff, my frustration with Silver mounting. My fist connected with his ribs, causing him to wince.

"Okay, that was deserved," he muttered under his breath. "But I have good instincts. I was right about Adriano, wasn't I?"

"Unbelievable," I grumbled, still glaring at him. "So how can you be so sure she's a werewolf, then?"

He tilted his head, scrutinizing the young woman. "Well, there aren't many women who would go hunting alone in the forest... especially unarmed."

"Fine, you have a point," I conceded, biting my lip. My mind raced with ideas. "We should follow her and see where she leads us."

"Or we could attack now," Silver countered, his eyes narrowing. "Take her by surprise before she has time to react."

"Are you serious? We don't even know if she's dangerous!" My hands clenched into fists, struggling to keep my voice down. "What if you're wrong and she's not a werewolf?"

"Red, we can't afford to take chances. She could be involved in your grandma's murder," he argued, his grip on me tightening. "We need to act fast."

"Fine," I muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Silver. "But if she turns out to be innocent, you better pray her werewolf bite is worse than my punch."

"Fair enough," he agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice.

But before we could make another move, the girl suddenly turned her head in our direction, her eyes locking onto ours. She waved her hand as she approached the bushes where we were hiding. Before we could have time to react, she was less than two feet away from my face.

"Hello! Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft and sweet, like honey dripping from a spoon. My heart skipped a beat, and I opened my mouth to respond, but before any words could escape, Silver transformed into a werewolf, leaping in front of me and baring his teeth at the stranger.

"Silver!" I gasped, my pulse racing as I watched him snarl at the girl in front of us. His silver fur bristled, and his yellow eyes glowed with a fierce intensity. He looked ready to pounce, and I held my breath, praying that this wouldn't end in bloodshed.

But the girl didn't flinch. Instead, she met Silver's gaze with a calm determination, her own body shifting and twisting as she too transformed into a silver werewolf. Her fur shimmered like moonlight, and her green eyes burned with a cold, menacing fire that sent shivers down my spine. Despite her smaller stature compared to Silver, her presence was undeniably terrifying – a force to be reckoned with.

"Shit," I thought, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my crossbow. "So it's true, there's another silver werewolf... Could she really be the one who killed my grandma?"

"Stay back, Red," Silver growled through clenched teeth, his protective instincts kicking in.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I prepared for the inevitable clash of fur and fangs.

"Silver, watch out!" I yelled, my heart pounding in my chest as the she-wolf lunged at him. Her powerful hind legs propelled her forward like a speeding bullet, her claws extending toward Silver's exposed flesh.

"Shit!" Silver barely managed to dodge her attack, his muscular form twisting with supernatural agility. But even with his impressive reflexes, it was clear that the female werewolf was not an opponent to be underestimated. The wild energy in her eyes spoke of untamed ferocity, and her lithe, agile movements were a testament to her predatory instincts.

My shock wore off quickly – there was no time for hesitation. I leaped towards the nearest tree, using my athleticism and the adrenaline surging through me to scramble up its trunk. My fingers wrapped tightly around the crossbow in my hands, my breath coming in short gasps as I assessed the chaotic scene below.

"Think, Red, think," I muttered to myself, trying to formulate a plan. "I can't risk hitting Silver... but we need to capture her alive." The conflicting priorities swirled in my mind like a whirlwind, making it difficult to focus on any one course of action. As much as I hated to admit it, my desire to protect Silver was clouding my judgment – and potentially putting our mission in jeopardy.

Despite his strength and skill, Silver was having a hard time keeping the she-wolf at bay. She was relentless, striking at him with her sharp claws and snapping her powerful jaws inches from his face.

"Come on, give me an opening," I whispered, my finger hovering over the trigger of my crossbow. The tension in my body was palpable – a coiled spring ready to release at the slightest provocation.

The clash between Silver and the she-wolf intensified, their bodies twisting and turning like a whirlwind of fur and fury. I could hardly keep up with their movements, my heart pounding in my chest as I gripped my crossbow tightly, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Dammit, I can't get a clear shot," I muttered under my breath, sweat beading on my forehead. My fingers twitched with anticipation, but I couldn't risk hitting Silver by mistake.

"Red... some help...?" Silver's strained voice rang through my ears. My heart clenched at the sound, and I knew I had to do something – anything – to save him.

"Come on, Red, think," I whispered to myself, racking my brain for a solution. "There has to be a way..."

In that instant, the female werewolf launched herself from one tree trunk to another, her agile form soaring through the air before landing on top of Silver with a sickening crunch. Her teeth sank into his neck, drawing blood as he let out a gut-wrenching scream that shattered my resolve.

"Silver!" I cried, my eyes wide with terror. "No!"

The world seemed to slow down around me, my pulse thrumming in my ears as I took aim. But still, the she-wolf's head was too close to Silver's, making it impossible to fire without risking his life.

"Fuck, what do I do?" I thought, my mind racing as the seconds ticked by.