Escapes from the Wolves

"Are you kidding me? That's not funny. Werewolves don't exist." Willow started to get annoyed because she felt she was being played.

But the two horrible men in front of her were laughing.

"Many, like you, think werewolves are just lies," Lowell said. "But, werewolves really do exist. You must believe."

"Yes, you must believe," Boris parroted. "The werewolf really exists."

"Then why are you telling me this nonsense?" snapped Willow, still in disbelief. How could she trust these two horrible-looking people who broke into her house and must have killed her grandparents?

"Because you have to know. Once you know, the rest will be easier. You must realize the fact that your father is a werewolf and your mother is an ordinary human. You are a half breed. You're half human, half werewolf.

Willow felt that the longer she talked to those two, the crazier she would become. "Never mind, stop your nonsense. Go away! I have to call the police. If you weren't my grandparents' killers, you wouldn't be here."

"Just leave?" Lowell burst out laughing. "It's not that easy, Miss. I've been tracking you for a long time. You have to come with us."

Willow immediately shrank. "Why would I come with you?"

"Because I need you, of course. Your father is our alpha of the pack. The leader. But, he disappeared, leaving us leaderless. Without an alpha, our pack was scattered without a command. We need a new, stronger alpha. And, that is me."

"Then be their leader. Why would you take me if my father isn't even with your pack?"

"Because not all the group members will follow me. I don't need you if they will all obey me. Many are still loyal to your father, and await his reappearance with apprehension. Therefore, I have my own plan. I will make you my partner. Because they will definitely be willing to swear loyalty to your father's descendants. And, that will automatically make it easier for me to become the alpha of the pack.

"Mate?" Willow clung to the edge of the table. Her body was unsteady, her stomach was twisting and she wanted to vomit with fear. "You want to kidnap me?" She didn't believe they were werewolves, but she believed more that they were killers and kidnappers.

"We won't have to kidnap you if you come willingly," Lowell said. "Try to think about that prospect with some common sense. You've got no one now. Your grandparents are dead. Come with me and you'll be greater than you are now because that's your destiny."

Willow didn't say a word. She glanced around, looking for an opportunity to escape. She had to get away from that place, find safety. The police station was close by. She should be safe there. But how? They surrounded her. Her position was sandwiched by two big tall men. What chance did she have?

"Willow, I can't wait for you to keep thinking all night with two dead bodies here. That's very annoying. I'm sorry, but I'm a straightforward person, not without feelings.

"You have no feelings," Willow snapped. "I'm not going with you. I have to be here and bury my grandparents. Even if it's true that my father was a werewolf, I don't care. Just as I don't care that he abandoned me when I was a baby." Before Lowell could reply, Willow said. "I don't know how you knew about my father abandoning me. But I'm guessing, you guys have been stalking us for a long time and made up that story."

"Ah, looks like you're intent on wearing out my patience, huh." Lowell sighed in despair. "I was hoping it wouldn't take violence to take you away."

"I don't care. I can't go with you anyway. So you'd better get out of here, because I have to call the police."

"You really think we're going to just leave?" Lowell frowned. "Geez, then you'll have to be forced." He ran a hand through his hair. "There's only one thing left to do." Lowell nodded to Boris. "Boris...."

Strong arms wrapped around Willow's body from behind as Boris lifted her off the

the floor with ease. Willow struggled, trying to break free. But of course Boris' strength was no match for her.

"Let go of me!" Willow continued to struggle. Her legs kicked the air. "Let me go, damn it!"

"Stop cursing," Boris growled. "And stop thrashing around."

"It's all your fault," Lowell said calmly. He wasn't at all bothered by Willow's struggle to free herself from Boris's clasp. "I told you that you had the choice to come willingly."

However, Willow wasn't listening. She was still trying to free herself by struggling and wriggling. Unfortunately, she could not match Boris' strength. No matter how hard she tried, her body was still clamped in Boris' arms.

Boris carried her out of the dining room, through the short hall, and into the kitchen. Willow's hands tried to grip the wall, but there was nothing to hold on to, instead she just scraped her nails futilely against the wall.

However, Willow did not give up. Although they were eventually able to take her away, she couldn't just stand there without a fight. So, as Boris carried her through the kitchen, she stretched her arms out as far as she could to grab one of the pans hanging over the counter. She pulled the pot out and smashed it straight into Boris' forehead.

Boris grunted in pain and dropped her hard to the floor, her back landing first and it hurt like hell. But Willow ignored the pain because she had to get out of there. She got up and rushed to the door that led outside.

But she was barely out of the kitchen when suddenly someone wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to a stop.

"Where are you going, Willow? You need to stay here." She heard Lowell's voice in her ear while her arm was firmly restrained. His hot breath on the back of her neck sent chills down her spine. Lowell dragged her back into the kitchen.

"You villains! Let me go!" Willow squirmed in his grip.

"Well, just as stubborn as your father," Lowell said. "Be a good girl and come with me."

"No way!" Willow was still squirming.

"I'm trying to be nice, Willow. I'm not going to ask nicely anymore. This is your last chance-"

Lowell never finished his sentence. He suddenly collapsed on the floor. Willow moved away from him and when she looked down, he was unconscious.

Standing nearby was another young man, this one taller than Lowell, but not as tall as Boris. His hair was short and dark, and his eyes-like the others-were amber-colored, which immediately made Willow worry that he was also dangerous, despite having just hit Lowell in the back of the head.

"You have to come with me," the stranger said as he held out his hand.

"No." Willow took a step back. "Don't even try to come close."

"I'm not like them," he said. "I promise. If you don't come with me now, they will beat me and take you by force."

Once again, Willow shook her head and backed away. Who should she trust now? Her heart was beating a million miles an hour, her chest was rising and falling with each labored breath, and her legs were trembling.

What should I do?

Just then, she heard Boris roar, followed by heavy footsteps. The giant was coming back to get him.

The mysterious young man tried once more to grab his hand. "I swear. I won't hurt you. Hold my hand. Please."

Trusting him was not an option. Anything could happen. But not trusting him pretty much guaranteed that she would be taken by Lowell and Boris, which made the decision easier to make.

Putting her trust in a stranger and leaving her life in the hands of fate, Willow reached out and took the dark-haired young man's hand. The man gripped her hand firmly and ran to the door, dragging Willow behind him. He opened the door and ran out down the cement path. Meanwhile, Willow heard Boris' footsteps chasing after them.

"The keys," the stranger said when they reached Willow's car.

"What?"

"Do you have the keys?"

"Oh yes. Wait a minute." She rummaged through his pockets until she found the key. Then she tossed it to the stranger.

"Hurry up and get in." He opened the driver's side door.

Willow didn't need to be told twice. She opened the passenger side door and climbed inside, closing the door behind her just as the stranger started the engine.

Willow glanced down the path, expecting to see Boris appear anywhere at any moment, but he wasn't there. She turned to the stranger sitting beside her. "Where did he go?" she asked.

Before she could answer, a large gray dog jumped onto the hood of the car, its jaws stained pink and its forehead bleeding. It banged its head against the windshield, determined to get at what was inside. Willow looked at it wide-eyed. It wasn't a dog. It was a wolf.

"He's trying to break the glass!" Willow leaned back as far as she could in her chair.

"I know. Wait." The stranger backed up the Audi and stepped on the gas in one motion. The quick maneuver sent the wolf sliding off the hood of the car, its claws leaving marks in a last, but futile attempt to hold on.

The stranger turned the car around and changed gears again before stepping on the gas and driving down the long driveway. Willow turned in her seat to look back at her grandparents' house in the distance, wondering if she would ever see it again.

****