Chapter 4: Returning (1)

A cold stream of icy air sneaked through Sascha's clothes, stroking her skin with invisible fingers, bristling the fine strands of her body hair. She shivered with a shudder, the cold of her making her teeth chatter.

Had James left the windows open again?

It was the first thing she thought of herself. Strange, because she would swear that she was burning until not long ago as if she had fallen asleep before a hot stove. She pressed the sheets against her trembling body hers and shifted. Half asleep, half restless she frowned in annoyance. The bed felt stiff and lumpy under her body, stiff and rough. She didn't have a luxurious bed, but at least it was softer than this.

Had she fallen again?

The thought of her made her eyes snap open and the first thing she saw was the tangled canopy of tree branches. Mind blank and utter confusion, Sascha slowly raised her torso, she took a seat at the foot of the great tree as the events of the previous day ruthlessly ravaged her mind.

My husband betrayed me. Not once, but many, many times as well she exposed her lover's distended belly. And to top it off in my bed, how many times have I slept in that bed after they rolled over on it?

Her emotions trembled. Her thoughts trembled. Her temper wanted to erupt. She hardened her jaw and with fierce determination adjusted her control over herself. But the carousel ride wasn't over, nope. Her mind kept spitting out memory after memory, like a cat spitting out hairballs.

I fled. I entered the forest like a stupid girl and a monster chasing me I needed a new chew toy and I was the closest. Yupi, how lucky is mine. After raping me, the monster also gave me the most amazing orgasms of my life.

A low growl erupted to the left of her, diverting attention from her and covering Sascha's skin with goosebumps and instinctively rolled to the right of her. Static exploded, arching over her skin. She gasped and looked up, green eyes tracking the sound source. Her gaze slammed into the monster's fierce gaze.

Sascha shivered and this time it was not from the cold. An undesirable heat grew and settled in her lower belly, unleashing a little moment of what the hell? in her mind.

She held her breath and stiffly met the predatory, unblinking gaze of the wolf. The seconds stretched between them and nothing happened, Sascha understood why when the air fluctuated and sparks of electricity fell to the ground.

The barrier, Sascha was on the other side of the barrier that separated the Forest from the human lands.

She carefully stood up, the wolf following her movements from the shadows, where only the slightest outline of her fur was distinguishable. If it weren't for her gleaming eyes, she would never have distinguished her presence.

She pressed the canvas against her semi-naked and trembling body, slightly aware that her bad leg didn't hurt anymore and she took a step back. The monster growled again but did not come near. She took another step, and the growl rose an octave to rise again as she spun on her heel and walked away from her.

The sound of something crashing and the smell of burning fur made her look back. She blinked in surprise. The wolf watched her, he stalked from the barrier, thin beams of light fell on her fur and Sascha glimpsed the fine wisps of smoke covering part of her face and her shoulders.

The barrier is not there, to separate. She understood. It is there to keep monsters out.

The wolf studied the barrier with chilling attention. Sascha watched with a ragged breath at the monster's actions as it raked its claws over the invisible power barrier and a shower of sparks dripped onto the ground.

"You promised." She accused him and despite the distance, the wolf's ears twitched. The wolfish head fell and the creature stopped trying to break through the barrier, with a reluctant expression he looked at her without moving.

She had been heard. She should be relieved, instead, she felt ... Disappointed? What the hell was wrong with her? What kind of curse had the wolf put on him?

Without looking back again and still feeling the gaze of the wolf on the back of her neck, Sascha walked away from her, leaving the forest behind. With each step the human took, she felt that she breathed better, the influence of the forest magic diminishing her grip on her.

She pushed aside the low branches of a pine tree and stepped outside, the forest ending as abruptly as it had begun. The landscape of grasslands bathed in soft silver moonlight greeted her. She had returned to the human part of the earth.

In the distance, she heard the howl of a wolf. She staggered, overwhelmed by the strong feeling of loneliness carrying the wolf's voice. She clenched her teeth.

It was him.

How did she know it was him? She shook her head irritably.

"I bewitched." She rubbed her face in frustration. She had no other answer. Why if she didn't react the way she did? She should hate the monster, not want to run back. A sad, wry smile curved Sascha's lips.

"I guess this makes me a monster-loving whore, right?" The derogatory term slid easily across Sascha's tongue, the words portraying the thoughts of a xenophobic and racist society. To humans, monsters were vermin, wild beasts with no greater intellect than a common animal.

Her mind, her faithful companion, took advantage of that moment to spit out the memories of what happened to the last monster lover she had heard of. Torture, rape, and death.

"No one should know. Never." She squeezed what she previously considered a sheet.

She hardened her jaw and pulled away from her. The howl died so suddenly, filling the night with expectant silence. A foreboding feeling filled Sascha.

Why do I feel like it wasn't the last I've seen of you?