Page 12 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

MARIE

I was in the middle of the bedtime routine, tucking Belle in and reading her a story, when a sudden disruption shattered the tranquility of our evening. The motion sensor lights outside flickered to life, casting an eerie glow through the bedroom window, making both Belle and I jump. There was something weird about it, a strange energy that we all picked up on.

“Wait a moment,” I murmured to Belle with my heart hammering in my rib cage. “You just stay here for a moment.”

She gripped tightly onto my arm. “I don’t want you to leave me,” she pleaded. “This isn’t my home, and I’m scared.”

I tried my best to put on a reassuring smile, brushing a strand of her golden hair away from her worried face. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll be right back, I promise.” I kissed her forehead gently and tucked her in a little more securely before making my way out of the room. “One minute, I swear. I will only be a moment.”

My father, always vigilant and protective, had noticed the disturbance from the living room. He approached the window and peered outside, his expression turning pale as he witnessed something.

“I’m just headed out,” Dad told me, but I couldn’t ignore the slight tremor in his voice. “Stay here and make sure Belle is okay.”

His worry made it harder for me. I swallowed back the giant ball of terror that had lodged itself in the base of my throat and nodded hard, letting him go. But I wasn’t going to just leave it. I peered through the living room window, watching as Dad scanned the area outside, his gaze darting back and forth. He was tense, on high alert, and it made me uneasy. I couldn’t help but think about the recent killings on the mountain, and a sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach.

I would have to keep Belle safe. She was my top priority, no matter what.

After a few tense moments, my father returned, his face even more pale and his movements cautious. He didn’t say anything immediately, which only deepened my anxiety.

“What did you see?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Dad’s eyes met mine, and he spoke in a low, hushed tone. “There’s a strange wolf outside, Marie. Probably a shifter, but it’s alone. And it’s acting… odd.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. “A wolf? Here? That’s unusual. Did it seem dangerous?”

Mike nodded, his expression grave. “It seems to want something. I don’t know what. I can’t put my finger on why I feel all weird about this, but I do.” He shuddered violently. “There’s something off about it, Marie, and I don’t like it.”

Fear clawed at my chest as I thought about the implications. Could this wolf be connected to the recent attacks? My mind raced, and I knew I had to tread carefully. We all did so no one got hurt. “What should we do, Dad?”

Mike’s jaw tightened. “I’m going to grab my pistol, just in case. You stay here with Belle. Make sure you’re with Belle no matter what.”

I nodded, watching him disappear into his bedroom to retrieve his weapon. The air in the room felt charged with tension as I stood there, my thoughts a whirlwind of worry and uncertainty. Something strange was happening in our peaceful little hamlet, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that our lives were about to change in ways we couldn’t yet comprehend.

I couldn’t resist the urge to see for myself, so I cautiously made my way to the window once more, careful not to make any sudden movements. As I peered outside, my eyes locked onto the figure of the lone wolf. She was there, just staring right back at me. Oh my God! And she was an unusual sight, too, with an unmistakable diamond-shaped white splash on her chest. It was a striking and distinctive marking that set her apart from any wolf I had ever seen.

Our gazes met, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. The wolf’s eyes, filled with a curious intensity, bore into mine. It was as though she had caught me watching her, and she held my gaze for what felt like an eternity.

Then, without warning, she returned to sniffing around the porch. I watched as she moved about, her behavior oddly familiar. It was as if she had detected something of interest–a scent, perhaps–that had drawn her to our home.

“Hey!” I heard Dad call out, anger rolling off his tongue in waves. “Get the hell out of here, will you?”

I held my breath as the wolf turned to look at him. Time seemed to stand still while there was a standoff, the wolf staring at my father, and him holding his shotgun right back at the creature. But neither of them acted. Neither of them made the first move.

Come on, Dad, I pleaded silently because I didn’t want anything to happen. I didn’t want my father to get hurt. Come back inside, please. Don’t do anything silly.

But he didn’t move. He continued to stare the wolf down, acting like he was going to shoot at any given moment. My heart was absolutely hammering against my rib cage. So, when someone touched my hand, I let out a yelp and jumped in the air.

“Oh, sorry.” Belle recoiled, snatching her hand backwards. “I didn’t want to be on my own anymore. I’m scared.”

I embraced her, brought her back to me, and held her against me for a moment. I could also hear poor Belle’s heart drumming against her rib cage. She must have been terrified. I felt dreadful for leaving her on her own. “Don’t worry,” I whispered. “Everything is going to be okay. Dad is just out there at the moment, making sure we’re okay.”

Dad returned from the outside, thank goodness, a hint of concern etched across his face. He placed his pistol carefully on the table and stood there, his mind clearly racing just as fast as mine. “It’s gone,” he said a little sadly. “I don’t know what scared it off, but it’s gone at last.”

I nodded in agreement, the uncertainty of the situation hanging heavy in the air. “Do you think it’s connected to what’s happened on the mountain?”

Dad sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely suspicious. We need to be cautious, Marie. There’s no telling what this wolf’s intentions are.”

I glanced toward Belle’s room, concern for her safety weighing on me. “Should we call Jesse or the pack? Maybe they can help. I know they’re already out there on patrol, so we can probably get hold of them somehow.”

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