Page 11 of Ruining Red
As this girl’s grandmother, she should be in tears at the idea of her kin being dragged through the woods and devoured.Granted, that’s going to happen, but not in the way this mortal thinks.She stands there, proud, arms crossed as she allows the men to defile themselves, stroking their bodies at Teagan’s discomfort.
The only saving grace is that none of them smell like they’re related.If even one of them had her familial scent, I would have allowed the beast to run off his tether and cut them into ribbons.As it is, however, I’m still not convinced allowing them to live is the best course of action.
Snarling, I hunch down behind the matriarch, biding my time.Someone is bound to notice me soon enough.It is a sacrifice, after all, and even as daft and muddle-headed as these humans seem to be, eventually, they’ll wonder where their god is.
Minutes creep by like hours as I force the beast to stay still.His claws rake through my mind, slicing me open, weakening my resolve.For Teagan’s sake, I must keep the beast in check.It’s her that’s allowing me this one thread of sanity.
Eventually, the men grow tired of their idle stroking and slide in closer, choosing now to run their hands over her body,mybody, as they slide up and down with renewed vigor.The vitriolic words they spit land on her like physical blows.
Again, that gut-wrenching cry howls from her lips, ringing in my ears.It’s enough.These humans have crossed a line they will never return from.Their blood will stain the snow, turning it crimson, but not tonight.
There are far more important things to see to right now.I need to take my mate away from these miscreants and chain her to my side.Closing my eyes, I commit every scent to memory, determined to seek them out after I’m finished claiming my precious omega.
With a roar, I pounce upon the matriarch, driving her down into the snow.Keeping my weight off of her, I rest a paw against her chest, pushing down only hard enough to keep her pinned.Saliva drips from my fangs, dripping down onto her face and neck as I lean in close.
Fear widens her eyes and clouds the air around her with a putrid scent of fear and piss.The men break away, their shouts and cries frantic as they huddle together, unsure of how to rescue this woman.Lifting my snout, I growl at them, allowing my claws to lengthen and dig into the matriarch’s skin.
Though human, this woman is mystical enough that I can lock my mind with hers, communicating as the wolf.Fear twists her spine until she’s squirming underneath.She understands the depth of my rage, even if she cannot put it into words.
“S- Step away from her,” she cries out, voicing my orders to the men.“How dare you touch what does not belong to you!”
They hang their heads, shame, anger and hatred intermingling into a murmur of violence.Releasing the hag, I lope after them, snarling and snapping my teeth.Exhilaration races through my limbs as they dart from before me, racing off toward the path that will take them home.
At least this way, they’ll have fear following them, keeping their thoughts occupied until I can come back and finish the job.It will be a delicious form of torture, one that will work on its own while I claim my mate.Even now, she trembles in her bonds at each and every roar, but it’s not all fear that makes her body vibrate.
I smell the tendril of lust and need which wafts from her body.Each exhale is laced with desperation as she writhes about, her body knowing what her mind refuses to understand.She will though.Soon enough, she’ll understand her fate and embrace it with open arms.
Pausing just outside of her periphery, I struggle within myself.The plan I have for her will only work if she thinks she has an opportunity to be free from me.If I approach her as the wolf, there’s a chance she’ll just give up, thinking her life is already over.
I picture her running from me, her body tearing through the woods as I give chase.Groaning, I force myself to shift back, knowing it won’t last for long.The wolf wants her just as much as I do, and there is no stopping him from taking what he wants.With great reluctance, I pull my clothes back on and head over to my prey.
Chapter6
Teagan
Screams continue to pepper the air long after the men race toward the woods.Straining against the ropes holding me aloft, I long to join them, to flee from whatever this new threat is.If it’s powerful enough to send grown men crying into the forest, then it certainly bodes ill for me.
Grunting, I tug at my arms, yanking as hard as I can, but all that does is cause searing pain to shoot down into my shoulders.Tears wet my cheeks, hot and angry, a stark contrast to the cold wind whipping about my body.Again, I twist about, not content with just standing there as I meet my doom.
I turn my head, desperate to look behind me, to find whatever terror lurks in the night.It’s nearly impossible.Between the thickness of the pole to which I am bound and the tightness of the rope holding me in place, I can only see to the sides or straight ahead.
Awareness prickles the back of my neck as I grind my back into the wood, making myself as small as possible.This isn’t how things were supposed to go.I was supposed to be taking over as the new matriarch.Or, at the very least, nursing my sick grandmother back to health.
If I had even an inkling this was in store for me, I would have let her rot in this cabin.Biting down on my lower lip, I watch as the last of the men disappear into the tree line, their torches a faint twinkling in the night.
I am alone.
Slumping forward, defeat settles deep into my chest.What does it matter now?I’m fodder for some sacrifice, not fit for saving.I wish the ‘god’ would just get it over with.Waiting like this is agony — my senses attuned to every sound, the dread winding through my veins hard enough to nearly crush my bones.
Ears pricked, I listen to any hint of noise, analyzing and overanalyzing it.Off in the distance, birds flutter about, unable to settle in their nests.Animals scurry, seeking refuge.None of them sound large enough to cause me any harm.By all rights, it sounds like a typical winter night.
Only now, it’s as if the world itself holds its breath, the pregnant pause swelling until it overtakes everything.My heart pounds in my chest as silence descends, smothering everything in its path.I don’t dare speak or even breathe for fear of disrupting it.
Crunch.
The sound rings out into the night, causing me to freeze in place.Perhaps I’m just hearing things.My ears strain in the darkness, hoping I don’t hear it again.
Crunch.
