Page 15 of Wolf

“I had to escape him. Run away. But it was a game, Luna. A twisted game.” I bite my lip, recalling the thrill of the chase, the heady mix of fear and excitement. “He’s so much faster than me. I knew I couldn’t outrun him, but I tried. I ran through the woods, my heart pounding. I was sure he’d catch me and?—”

“And?” Luna prompts, her breath hitching.

“And he did. But instead of...” I trail off, my cheeks burning with shame. “He brought me back here instead of doing what I expected.”

Luna’s eyes search mine, her expression a mix of confusion and worry. “What did you expect him to do, Kali?”

I shake my head, unable to meet her gaze. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter. The point is, he didn’t hurt me. He wanted to play this sick game.” I pause, my voice dropping to a whisper. “He gets off on the chase, Luna. The thrill of the hunt.”

Luna’s hand finds mine again, squeezing. “That son of a bitch. We’ll get out of here, Kali. We’ll escape him and never look back.”

Her words only highlight the twisted reality of my situation. Escape Matias? Even the thought fills me with a strange and empty sadness. There’s an undeniable truth beneath the fear and manipulation—I no longer want to run from him.

I stare at Luna, my heart pounding in my chest. “Luna...” I begin, my voice trembling. “I don’t think I want to escape him anymore.”

The words hang heavy while shock registers on Luna’s face. She opens her mouth, then closes it again, at a loss for words.

“Kali, what are you saying?” she asks, her brow furrowed with concern.

I chew on the inside of my cheek. “The game we played last night, the chase through the woods, awakened something in me.”

Luna’s eyes widen, and I see the realization dawning on her. “You enjoyed it,” she whispers.

My cheeks flush with shame. “At first, I was terrified. The thought of Matias catching me, of what he might do...” I shudder, remembering the adrenaline coursing through my veins. “But then, as I ran, something shifted. The fear became exhilarating.”

Luna shakes her head, her expression one of disbelief. “Kali, you can’t be serious. He’s our captor and pretty fucking unhinged one.”

“I know,” I say, my voice barely audible. “But there’s something about Matias that draws me in despite everything.”

I think back to the moments before he let me go, the intensity in his eyes, the way his touch sent shivers down my spine. “When he caught me, I expected the worst. But instead, he made me feel better than any man has ever made me feel. And I didn’t want to run anymore.”

Luna’s hand finds mine. “Kali, this is Stockholm Syndrome. He’s manipulating you, twisting your mind.”

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “Maybe. But maybe it’s something more. Maybe this is what I need, Luna. The thrill, the danger, the chase.”

Luna’s expression softens, and she pulls me into a tight embrace. “Oh, Kali,” she murmurs. “I don’t understand it, but I’m here for you. We’ll get through this together, no matter what.”

As I cling to her, I know she’s right. No matter what twisted desires I harbor or how much I crave Matias’s attention, my friends are my lifeline. Together, we’ll navigate this nightmare, one twisted game at a time.

8

MATIAS

The night has come, and with it, the call of my twisted desires. I seek out my rabbit, dragging her from her hovel of a cell, ready to resume our sick game. I know she also feels that sick, sweet pull toward me. Her body betrayed her before, and it will again.

Kali tries to hide her fear as I lead her down the dark corridor.

“You know, this place would be perfect for a horror movie. The creepy villain takes the final girl down a dark, lonely tunnel. Cliché, but effective.” Her voice trembles despite the faux lightness in her tone.

Her words grate on me like nails on glass. Does she think her weak attempts at lightheartedness will save her from what’s coming? I tighten my grip on her arm, a silent warning.

I stop and turn to face her. “You’ve got no idea how right you are. You’re starring in your own horror movie. And I’m the monster who will make it real for you.”

She swallows, her bravado faltering. Good. She needs to be reminded of her place.

As we near the opening, the scent of the forest fills our noses. I push Kali through, feeling her delicate body resist for a fleeting moment before she steps outside. Her soft intake of breath tells me she’s expecting the worst. That anticipation is exactly what I want to cultivate. It’s what makes this game so delectable.

Once outside, I step closer, watching her back stiffen. Her fear is like a drug, and I intend to get my fix.

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