Page 11 of Hunted

Gasping, I scramble to get my feet under me, terror lending me strength. Where is the path? Which way is the cabin? My eyes dart frantically between the towering pines surrounding me. Goddamn it. Everything looks the same.

The wolf emerges from the trees, its muzzle wrinkled in a vicious snarl as a growl reverberates through its chest. This is it. I'm going to die here, torn apart by a wild animal in the middle of the Norwegian forest.

The wolf tenses, hind legs gathering beneath it, ready to pounce. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the attack, when a deafening roar shatters the air around us.

My eyes fly open to see Aksel charging toward us, a terrifying sight. He's shirtless, his chiseled torso glistening with rain, tattooed arms bulging with corded muscle. An axe is gripped in one powerful fist.

The wolf falters, ears flattening against its skull as it turns its attention to the threat. Aksel is like a force of nature, power radiating from his imposing frame. He advances with deliberate steps, the axe swinging menacingly at his side.

A warning growl rumbles from the wolf's throat as it analyzes this new adversary. For a breathless moment, the two titans of the forest stare each other down, the air crackling with tension.

Aksel's chest heaves with each breath, raindrops glistening on his tanned skin. His eyes blaze with a primal intensity that makes my heart stutter. He raises the axe slightly, muscles coiling in readiness to strike.

The wolf's lips peel back over its fangs again, and I can't help the whimper that escapes. Please don't let them fight. I can't bear the thought of either one of them getting hurt.

Aksel's head snaps in my direction at the sound, and our eyes lock. His nostrils flare. A fleeting look of concern ghosts across his harsh features before that steely resolve slams back into place.

With a powerful swing of his arm, Aksel hurls the axe. It spins end over end before embedding itself in the ground mere inches from the wolf with a dull thud. The beast startles, letting out a yelp of surprise and dancing back a few paces.

"Leave," Aksel growls, his deep voice laced with quiet menace. "Now."

The wolf's eyes dart between Aksel and the axe. For a tense heartbeat, the great beast appears to weigh its options. Then, with a last look at the both of us, it turns and melts back into the shadowed forest.

The moment the wolf disappears from view, the fight goes out of Aksel. His massive shoulders slump, and he drags a hand down his rain-drenched face with an explosive sigh.

I can't tear my eyes away from Aksel as he strides toward me, the rain sluicing down his sculpted form. His expression is thunderous and his jaw is clenched so tightly the muscle is twitching. But there's also a glimmer of relief flickering in those stormy blue-gray depths.

"What the hell were you thinking wandering off alone like that?" he growls, stopping before me. Despite the anger lacing his words, his hands are remarkably gentle as he grasps my shoulders, giving me a slight shake. "You could've been killed."

I flinch at the intensity blazing in his eyes. The scent of rainwater, musk, and something unmistakably male surrounds me, making my head spin.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammer, feeling impossibly small beneath his smoldering gaze. "I needed some air. I didn't mean to worry you."

One dark brow arches skeptically. "Worry me?" He lets out a low, humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "littlefugl, you terrified me."

My eyes widen at the unexpected admission, and I search his face for any hint of deception. But Aksel's features are an unreadable mask, that tiny flicker of vulnerability already tucked away. Still, I can't ignore the way my heart stumbles over itself at his rare show of emotion.

Seeming to realize how close we're standing, Aksel drops his hands from my shoulders and steps back, raking a hand through his dripping wet hair. "Just don't wander off again without me, okay?" His tone is gruff but laced with an unmistakable undercurrent of concern. "These woods can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If that wolf had been with a small pack, you'd be torn apart by now, and I wouldn’t have been able to save you.”

I nod mutely, unable to find my voice beneath the weight of his intense regard. My skin tingles from where his calloused palms gripped me, the memory of his solid warmth searing into me.

“Follow me,” he growls, spinning on his heel and leading back toward the cabin.

I trail after him, my steps faltering as I see his broad, muscular back, each flex and ripple of muscle mesmerizing. He’s so fucking beautiful.

By the time we reach the cabin door, I'm practically panting, desire and adrenaline swirling in a heady rush. Aksel pauses on the threshold, turning to face me.

"Get inside and dry off," he rumbles, holding my gaze captive with those piercing eyes. "We'll talk once you've warmed up."

I bite the inside of my cheek and don’t move. "The storm seems to have cleared. Can't I do some research this afternoon?" I'm eager to get started. Sitting around in a tiny cabin with this man is driving me fucking insane.

I suck in a sharp breath as Aksel's eyes narrow at my request, his expression darkening like a thundercloud rolling in. Tension crackles between us, the air practically sizzling with it.

"You want to go traipsing around the woods again?" he growls, taking a slow, deliberate step toward me. I instinctively shrink back, my heart pounding as that predatory gaze rakes over me. “After nearly becoming a wolf's chew toy?"

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I bristle at his condescending tone. "I'm not a child who needs to be scolded," I snap, lifting my chin defiantly despite how my pulse races beneath his smoldering stare. "I made a mistake, but I'd like to start my research soon."

Aksel gives a low, rumbling chuckle. He closes the distance between us in two long strides, his imposing frame towering over mine. I track the rivulets of rainwater trailing the cords of muscle on his chest and abdomen.

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