Page 45 of The Wolf's Bullied Bride

There was something he did or something he knew that needed to be kept under wraps, and I had the feeling I was much closer to discovering it than I had been before.

As the sun began to set, throwing its golden glow across town, that discomfort began curling within me again. Pulling in a deep breath, I did my best to quell that anxiety. I needed to keep my wit, even if the woods were getting darker by the minute, and I was losing the opportunity to leave with every step I took.

I was caught in between two opposing thoughts, wondering if I should keep going or turn back and forget all about it. Regardless of how much my stomach started to ache, I kept moving forward.

To a fault, I was stubborn, and when I had a story dangling in front of me, I never gave up that opportunity.

With dusk moving in, the trees seemed to close in around me like a cage. My throat tightened up, and every muscle in my body strained. Continuing through that awkward haze, undecided between daylight and night, only made me feel more on edge.

While the cemetery was in sight, some distance away, it all started to feel so much more real. The closer I got, the more insane I felt for ever agreeing to the meeting. Not only was it on the outskirts of town, as far away from everything as possible, but I was alone, and it was getting dark.

In hindsight, it was an awful decision, but at the moment, I had to see it through.

A chill scurried down my spine as that familiar sensation settled beneath my skin, triggering that fight or flight instinct. It was just like before when I thought I was being followed through town.

But at that moment, I was entirely alone, and I had no street lights to act as my protection.

Gripping my notepad even tighter, I sucked in a deep breath and tried to ignore my restless legs. I wanted nothing more than to peel away and run back to town. I wanted to give in and forget why I even walked there in the first place.

A rustle in the trees claimed my attention, forcing me to zero in on that sound completely. Squinting through the low light, I couldn’t quite make out what I saw until a figure came at me far faster than I could comprehend.

Thinking it was an animal, I tried to dodge it, but the shadow reached out, making me realize it had arms. It was a person.

Each thought clicked into place one by one and far slower than I needed them to.

Those hands were on me in a flash, gripping my arms tightly. Dressed in all black with their face covered, I couldn’t get a good look at them—even if the mere idea terrified me even more.

With my heels dug into the ground, I tried to work against them, pulling and yanking myself away.

Everything was happening so fast, and I couldn’t think straight. Only pure instinct kept me going, fighting as they tried to wrestle me to the ground.

They were stronger and bigger than I was, and their ambush put me at a disadvantage no matter how I tried to wiggle myself free.

“Let go of me!” I shouted, hoping my voice would travel through the woods at the very least.

The fleeting thought passed through my mind, wondering if Liam’s old boss was nearby and if he might hear me. If someone, anyone, was around, maybe they’d hear me.

“Stop fighting,” the gruff voice said, struggling enough to sound strained.

Gritting my teeth, I brought my knee up in a swift movement, connecting with their lower half.

The assailant grunted on impact and loosened their arms just enough for me to slip out of their hold. Not wasting a second, I sucked in a deep breath and ran.

The man cursed to herself, but I tried to ignore it as I tore through the trees, notepad long forgotten in the underbrush. I weaved through the woods with bleary eyes, terrified by the attack.

Even if I was free, that panic gripped my heart, making every movement painful. That flush of fear made my feet feel useless, despite how crucial it was for me to get away. It ran through me, urging me forward yet acting like a heavy weight around my ankles.

I heaved in every breath as I tried not to freak out, confused about what was happening and why I was being attacked. I just wanted to get home. I wanted to get out of there and never find myself near the assailant again.

Chanting over and over again in my mind, I told myself I’d never go out there alone again. It was a horrible idea. It was idiotic.

Getting information on Liam wasn’t worth potentially losing my life.

The crash of heavy feet and the subsequent crunching of dead leaves behind me stiffened my entire body. I felt like I was a small mammal, moments away from being caught and eaten by a predator.

He was gaining on me too fast, and there was no hope for me to slip away.

I only had one option left.

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