Page 1 of Ensnared By the Werewolf

1

Belinda

This was a stupid idea.

I jolt at the hoot of an owl and shake my head in dismay.My days of being afraid of the dark are long past, and as a witch, I’m more than capable of handling anything I encounter in this forest, but it doesn’t stop the dark shadows being cast by my cheerful light spell from beingspooky.

The texture of the air seems to thicken and the glow of the ball of light I’d summoned as soon as I made it far enough from the nature reserve parking lot wavers.The light the spell provides me to navigate the floor of undergrowth and branches softens.The shadows around me take on a fuzzy look.Not the cute fuzzy, but the kind in a horror movie when the director doesn’t want you to know what the ominous shape on screen is.

Is an actual fog rolling in?All the gods above and below, if the shadows start looking like creepy hands, I’m going back.

It had been the height of stupidity to trek into the woods without contacting my date, but when I’d parked earlier, the last rays of the day had lit the sky, and the forest appeared positively charming.The vibrations of the protection wards over the woods had been clear, and I’d assumed it would be easy enough to trace those sensations to the male creature I’m meeting with tonight.

A walk through the trees had sounded sonice, such a departure from being cooped up in my apartment, wallowing in heartbreak.I’d momentarily forgotten that I’m not what anyone would call outdoorsy.This was supposed to be a simple little hike to get to what would hopefully be a sexfest.

A walk would give me time to mentally prepare myself for the whole rigamarole of dating, even if this date is under strange conditions.

That had all been before the sun had set.Now, a lonely walk through the woods is inspiring the hair on my arms to rise and every sound has me swearing.

And I may be lost.The vibrations had seemed so clear from the outside of the woods, but it’s as if the strands of magic are coming from every direction now and I’m starting to question my senses.

I should have just stuck to the plan.Get to the nature reserve parking lot, call my date to tell him that I’d arrived, he would have come to meet me, walking me to his cabin, and if all went well, we’d spend days fucking through his heat.

A guy going throughheat.I’ve experienced my fair share of paranormal beings, but this is a first.

Just what I need to get my mind off a certain wolf shifter.To stop myself from making yet another useless phone call that he won’t pick up.

When the matchmaker at the sexy bathhouse I used to frequent called me, it had seemed like deliverance.Rose’s voice had broken me out of my grieving state and provided direction.I just need to keep moving… and move on.

I don’t know much about my date but had been given more details than usual because of the situation.This is an emergency match because somewhere in these woods is a being of some water variety preparing to go into heat.

Rose had made sure to express that while she believed that my mystery date and I were compatible, we aren’t a complete match.

Not like a fated mate.I shake the thought and the pang it delivers away.

I am moving forward.Action over inaction.

So, I’d pulled on some fancy underwear, put in some contacts, thrown on a dress, and prepared myself to get fucked.I hadn’t had the heart to put on one of my fancier dresses, my embroidery projects, though the dress with little skulls around the collar would have certainly matched my mood.

The one concession I’d made of my favorite art form for this date is my fabric headband.

I’d finished the moonlit forest design with a carefully stitched lone wolf howling right before my heart had been shattered.I wear it now as if it’s a final goodbye.

This is me letting go.

At the very least, if I like this man, I’ll be getting a good and thorough fucking.And maybe if things go well, we can talk about the future.It’s not out of the realm of possibility that this guy could even convince me to carry his eggs.Stranger things have happened in this world.

Maybe this is exactly where I’m meant to be.The thought dispels some of the creepiness of my surroundings and leaves a pleasant tingle of truth down my spine.

And none of that will happen if I don’t find that stupid cabin.

I pull out my phone again to check for service, to no avail.I sigh.Stupid magic in the air is probably scrambling my reception.If I make it out of this alive, I’ll have to spring for one of those magically enhanced phones.

I could make my way back to the parking lot...I think.The floor of the forest is dry, and it’s a struggle to make out the trail I’ve taken.My other option is to continue forward and hope to stumble over my date’s place.

I rub my chest and the tingling from before seems to spread until goose bumps break out over my skin.I inhale air that is suddenly still.The sounds that I’d cursed for startling me are gone.There are no more owl hoots and distant crickets.The forest has fallen silent.

I swallow.Fear has my heartbeat starting to thud in my ears.The sensation creeping up my spine clicks.

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