Page 16 of A Kiss From a Wolfman

“You fucking bitch. It was here!” His hand around my throat tightens. My fingernails shred his skin, but his grip never loosens. “I’m going to kill you. You hear me? Kill you!”

His other hand wraps around my throat as well, and my breathing becomes entirely restricted. I fight to stay awake and to keep fighting. Darkness dances around the edges of my vision. The deadly look in Timson’s eyes tells me there is no stopping him.

I cannot believe this is how my story ends. I escaped certain death only to find it at the hands of another man. There are so many things I should’ve done to avoid this, but it’s pointless to dwell on them now. I have moments left before I’m gone.Perhaps it is the lack of air, but my heart reaches towards Ciaryn. If only he had stayed. If only?—

A low growl cuts through the air—deeper than the sounds from the hunting dogs. At first, I think I’ve imagined it, but Timson releases his hold, and I suck down precious lungfuls of air. He whirls around towards my open door and slings the gun off his back.

“On second thought,” he snarls, gripping my arm and pulling me out towards the front of the cottage. “I’m going to make you watch me slaughter that beast.”

Dragging me out of my house with force, he tosses me onto the damp grass of the front lawn. My head still feels cloudy as I try to gulp down more air. Timson marches towards the other hunters, and they each grip their guns.

“Spread out and find that fucking beast!” Timson commands, training his gun towardThe Woods.

The hunting dogs are let off their leashes. They snap and snarl towards the treeline. A deep growl permeates the air just as they disappear into the darkness. Rushed footsteps charge back toward us, and the two hunting dogs whimper as they run in the opposite direction, tails tucked firmly between their legs. A few hunters shout at them, but they are long gone.

“You!” snarls Timson. “Get closer.”

One of the hunters—whose name I never bothered to learn—swallows before training his gun on the forest's edge. He ambles over, his boots dragging along the damp grass.The Woodsseem impossibly large as he reaches the first row of trees. After a couple more steps, he pauses, lowering his gun and turning back towards us.

“There’s nothing—” The words break off on a wet gurgle as blood spills from his mouth.

The hunter looks down in time to see a clawed hand emerge from his chest with his heart clasped in its palm. Pulling back,his body drops like a doll’s in a clatter of twisted limbs. Above him stands Ciaryn, his eyes like two golden fires. His ruby lips pull back in a snarl. He tosses the organ towards the other hunters, and it lands with a wet slap.

My heart thunders in my chest at the sight of him. He’s returned to me. He’s?—

“Shoot it!” Timson yells.

The sound of bullets raining echoes around me. Screaming, I cover my ears and drop further onto the wet grass. It is hard to see in the darkness. My eyes wildly search for Ciaryn—needing to know he is okay. There is a streak of movement from the corner of my eye. I barely register it before a hunter is snatched off their feet with a loud yell. The others turn towards the noise only for a few moments later, another to be grabbed.

The sounds of firing guns grow quiet as Timson becomes the only one left. He yells as he goes to reload his weapon—his trembling hands cause silver bullets to fall to the grass. A soft whooshing sound echoes through the air, quickly followed by another and then another. Three round objects roll toward Timson, and he freezes.

There at his feet are the severed heads of the rest of his hunting party. I can’t help but whimper at the brutal sight. Timson whirls on me. I scramble away as he stomps towards me, but he’s too quick. Brandishing a knife, he hauls me up against his chest and presses the blade to my throat.

From the treeline, Ciaryn emerges, prowling on all fours as blood drips from his mouth. I whimper as Timson presses the blade harder against me. My hands wrap around his arm, but he is stronger than I am.

“I’ll kill her, beast. Just let me go, or I’ll slit her throat.”

Ciaryn’s eyes narrow. They connect with mine, and I will him not to act rashly. Timson has lost it, and I know one wrong movewith the knife will mean my death. The blade presses harder against me, and I’m surprised he hasn’t broken skin.

Ciaryn whines before turning and disappearing into the darkness. Timson pushes me to the ground and reaches for his discarded gun. He fires rapidly in Ciaryn’s direction.

“No!” I scream.

Timson doesn’t stop; he just keeps firing and firing. A flash of movement dances at the corner of my eyes. I turn in time to see Ciaryn emerge from behind my cottage. I have no idea how he moved so quickly, but I don’t get long to consider it. Not as Ciaryn launches, claws extended, and locks his jaws around Timson’s neck with a satisfying snap. The man screams, dropping his gun as scarlet pours down his body and soaks his clothes.

Ciaryn locks his claws around his arms and twists Timson to look up at him.

“Die, human,” he snarls into his face. “For touching her against her will, for daring to hurt her—you will understand the meaning of pain.”

There is a wet snap sound as Ciaryn embeds his claws in Timson’s arms. The hunter screams and soaks the front of his trousers. He thrashes and yells, but it is of no use. With one mighty tug, Timson’s arms are ripped from his body and tossed onto the overgrown grass. Blood pours from his shoulders and soaks the ground. His mouth is parted, but no sound comes out. The hunter’s body twitches slightly before going completely still.

The night air is quiet as death surrounds my cottage. My fingers sink into the wet grass as I take in the gruesome sight. Such violence should repulse me—scare me—but when Ciaryn’s eyes meet mine, it takes all my restraint not to throw myself into his arms.

His approach is tentative as if expecting me to recoil from him. I merely reach for him, allowing the hands that have justslaughtered so many to help me to my feet. His pine scent calms me and sets my blood on fire.

“You saved me,” I whisper, staring up at him. “How’d you get here so fast? I thought you’d?—”

“Left?” he interrupts. “I tried to—ran for hours before turning back. I had to see you again.”

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