Just forget about me!

I shivered, desperately trying to fend off the biting coldness of the forest and the looming presence of the Alpha king behind me. Although I had managed to momentarily break free from his clutches, the respite was fleeting. With every step I took, I could feel his scorching breath trailing my neck, his menacing teeth ready to sink into my flesh at any given moment.

The sound of his commanding voice echoed through the trees, reverberating in my ears. He intended to claim me as his possession, and I knew he would stop at nothing to achieve that. All I yearned for was to find an escape, to reunite with Oliver in the safety of our pack.

As I sprinted through the forest, my senses heightened, alert to the faint rustling leaves and distant movements in the underbrush. I cautiously slowed my pace, straining my ears to catch any potential signs of danger. A low growl pierced the silence, followed by a vivid flash of orange fur emerging from the shadows.

It was a werewolf unlike any I had ever encountered. Its coat was a deep, luscious orange, its eyes an arresting shade of green. Its expression was brimming with pure aggression as it snarled and bared its gleaming teeth at me. The looming danger was evident, but I knew running away was not an option, I had to confront this challenge head-on.

"What do you want?" I mustered, my voice wavering yet attempting to sound braver than I felt. The Alpha king's words echoed relentlessly in my mind, his commands etching themselves into my very being. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound reverberating in my ears, as my breaths grew heavier with each passing moment.

The wolf growled once more, drawing nearer, its fierce gaze locked onto mine. I could feel its searing breath against my skin, its sharp teeth hovering perilously close to my throat. Bracing myself for the inevitable attack, I closed my eyes tightly.

However, instead of the piercing pain I had anticipated, I felt the unexpected caress of the wolf's lips against my neck, its tongue sweeping lightly across my skin. My eyes flew open, my heart racing, desperately attempting to comprehend what was unfolding before me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, filled with confusion and apprehension. The wolf growled again, pressing its body against mine.

"You smell like my mate," it murmured, the warmth of its breath brushing against my ear. Realization dawned on me, my eyes widening with understanding.

"I'm not your mate," I weakly protested.

I sat there in complete shock, my heart racing uncontrollably as I struggled to comprehend what had just taken place. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined being kissed by a wolf, let alone being claimed as its mate. The thought raced through my mind, sending waves of confusion and uncertainty crashing over me. Oliver must be consumed with worry, wondering where I had disappeared to. Yet, here I sat, in the heart of the forest, with a wolf I barely knew.

I tried desperately to collect my thoughts, to recall what Oliver had taught me about the wolves and their customs. I knew they adhered to a strict hierarchical structure, with the Alpha reigning as the pack leader. But this wolf, it seemed, was defying convention by claiming me as its mate. I found myself grappling with a sense of bewilderment, unsure of how to proceed.

I gazed at the wolf, its eyes gleaming in the moonlight, both menacing and alluring at once. It was an enigmatic creature, its teeth a stark reminder of the danger it posed. And yet, it possessed a certain beauty, its fur shimmering under the moon's radiant glow.

"I don't understand," I managed to utter, my voice barely escaping above a whisper. "Why would you claim me as your mate?"

The wolf growled once more, its sharp teeth glistening in the moonlight. "You smell like my mate," it responded. "I must claim you or the other wolves will challenge me."

A chill shot down my spine, sending a shiver throughout my body. I was well aware of the wolves' territorial nature and their inclination to fight for their chosen partners. However, I had never fathomed that I would find myself thrust into the midst of such a conflict. Nevertheless, here I was, with a mysterious wolf asserting its claim on me, trailing the uncertain path of what would unfold next.

"What do we do now?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What happens from here?"

The wolf growled again, its eyes piercing in the darkness. "We return to my den," it declared. "And then we shall see what unfolds."

Fear gripped my heart, undeniably aware that I knew nothing of this wolf or its true intentions. Yet, faced with this unsettling predicament, I understood I had little choice but to follow its lead. Remaining in the forest alone would undoubtedly carry its perils and unknown consequences.

I rose to my feet, casting one last, longing glance towards the direction from which I had come, where Oliver and the safety of our pack lay. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the road that lay ahead, praying that this leap into the unknown would not be my undoing.

My mind swam as the wolf led me through the forest, its hot breath on my neck and its paws brushing against my leg. I knew that I was in the middle of something dangerous, something dark and wild that I didn't fully understand.

We approached a small clearing up ahead, my heart began to pound in my chest. The wolf's den was just beyond the trees, and I knew that once we were inside, there would be no turning back.

The wolf stopped in the clearing, its green eyes shining in the moonlight. "Our den is just beyond those trees," it growled, its voice low and menacing.

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. I tried to imagine what would happen once we were inside the den would the wolf let me go? Or would it take me as its mate, whether I wanted it or not?

"What will happen to me?" I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.