Fear, untrammeled and raw, swirled throughout my soul, clouding my better judgment like a suffocating black smog. My blood seemed to crystalize into ice within my veins, freezing my body in place. Yet my tears remained hot and flowed down my cheeks, uninhibited by fright's frigid caress. I knew that I should probably run for dear life, but I was held back by the biting chains of terror.

The wolf anxiously paced back and forth before me, with its massive black physique standing out forebodingly against the peaceful forested backdrop. Its crimson eyes stayed keenly focused on my every move with a calculating gleam as if it were trying to figure out the best way to get closer to me. The grass rustled beneath its big paws, while it lowly growled, slowly inching ever so closer. The now familiar scent of sweet alyssum and birch wood filled my nose but didn't offer any comfort. I wasn't sure if it was Haiden or not, and I honestly wasn't sure what would be worse. Him, or an actual wolf.

"H-Ha-Haiden? Haid-d-den, is that y-you?" I piteously stammered like a broken record, while cautiously holding my hands up and slowly taking a step back. 

That was a bad move. It immediately noticed the I'd begun to retreat, and swiftly lunged at me with a loud snarl. I screamed like a fucking banshee while toppling over, as a massive paw landed on my clean shoulder. My butt slammed to the lush ground with an "Oof," while it hastily nuzzled against my cheek with its wet doggy nose. Pained little whines and small growls came from it, as it licked my tears away.

...Holy fucking shit!

Naturally, I did what I think most people would do if ever attacked by a massive wolf, and had a hysterical meltdown. My body crumpled over into fetal position, while I frantically buried my face within my trembling hands. Tears flooded my eyes, as I desperately gasped out words like "no" and "stop" repeatedly like a pathetic lily-livered lump. The wolf seemed highly distraught by my actions and worriedly tried to nuzzle and lick all over my scrunched-up face.

Then the sound of bones cracking suddenly came from right next to me. I sucked in a deep shaky breath, dreading that my suspicions about the wolf's identity were correct. The gentle touch of a large hand graced my shoulder, sending warmth and tingles effervescing from the point of contact. Strangely enough, it did actually calm me down just a smidgen.

"Isabelle?" Haiden's voice was soft and full of concern. "It's okay, it's just me." He gently caressed the disheveled hair from the side of my face, then tenderly kissed my cheek. "Please, don't ever try to run away from me like that again. You frightened me."

...I frightened him?... I FRIGHTENED... HIM!?  

I sucked in a furious breath with the burning rage of a thousand fire ants marching through my veins. This motherfucking, dunderheaded, lycanthropist asshole legitimately had the flapjack flippin' nerve to say that I frightened him!? 

"Are you fucking serious right now!? Oh, I frightened you, did I!? Bold words coming from the douchebag who literally ripped a fucking hole in my throat, then attacked me as a goddamn wolf!" I hissed with distain for his very soul, while removing my hands from my teary face for a quick second to angrily point at my throbbing neck wound. "You've already done enough damage! Now leave me alone, you, you filthy beast!" I curled my body up a little bit tighter.

A heavy sigh came from above me, and I was certain that he was running his hand through his hair again. "Dragostea mea, please try to understand. I was unaware that you had wolfsbane in your blood. Had I been able to mark you properly, the wound would have healed instantly." He leaned down and nuzzled into my hair. "And I'm sorry for frightening you. I panicked when you ran off, and shifted to track you quicker. Then when I found you all bloody and teary-eyed it was kind of hard to focus on shifting back." He apologetically explained, while rolling me onto my back.

...Mark me!? Did this dickhead seriously just confess that he tried to MARK ME!? 

His ridiculously handsome face hovered above mine, with a few loose strands of his silky dark hair dangling down. The bright blue sky and wavering canopy of trees framed his head beautifully behind him. His brows were slightly scrunched as he intensely inspected my wound.

I seethingly glared up at him, with rage still brewing within the pit of my stomach, like an acidic and bitter dark roast coffee gurgling in a pot. "You son of a bitch!"

"Well, yes, technically I am a son of a bitch. Considering that I'm a wolf and all." He shrugged with a smirk, then tenderly brushed my cheek with his thumb. I tried to bite it but missed. "Luckily my canines weren't able to sink too deeply in, and you've stopped bleeding. We just need to get you home and all cleaned up, that's all."

My scowl only deepened, as if I were trying to make his head explode with laser beam vision. "How dare you! How dare you try to fucking mark me!" I screamed while furiously pointing to my neck. "I did not consent to this!"

His powerful thighs swiftly straddled my waist with a 'don't-even-start-with-this-shit-again' look on his face. "Yes, Isabelle, I tried to mark you. Because guess what? You are my mate! And I don't need consent to mark my mate, because it is my goddess given right to do so!" He growled. "Unfortunately my canines weren't in you long enough to activate the blood magic. So I'm going to have to do it again once we get you all detoxified and whatnot." He waved his hand in aggravation.

"Haiden, is everything alright?" Some sweet little elderly woman asked with concern before I could full on unleash one hell of a tyrannosaurus tirade on this man's arrogant ass. She was slightly leaning over the railing on the front porch of the nearest cabin, right below the singing windchime. Her long silver hair gracefully cascaded down her back and flowed in the breeze along with her long purple and blue bohemian style dress.

Haiden looked up and politely smiled at her. "Yes, Mrs. Nister. Everything is just fine."

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she took in the sight of us. "Well, what on earth are you doing to that poor human girl?" 

My face flushed with embarrassment, as I realized what a distressing and unusual sight this must be for a poor little old woman to have randomly appear near her front lawn... A crazed, naked, and very erect man pinning my bloody and bedraggled body beneath him.

"This human girl is my beautiful and charming little mate, Isabelle." I would have assumed that he was being sarcastic, but the way he was happily gesturing down towards me with a proud boastful grin said otherwise. "And I'm taking her home."

"No, I'm not his mate! He's kidnappi-Hmmuph!"

My plea for help was swiftly muffled by his giant hand swiftly clapping down over my mouth. "She's still just a little shocked. But I'm sure that she'll adjust wonderfully." He kindly reassured the now very worried-looking elder. He stood from his position on top of me, pulling my body up with him. Then with one hand still strangling my mouth and the other firmly latched onto my upper arm, he started dragging me down the windy dirt path. "We'll be off now. It was lovely to see you this morning!" He cheerfully hollered back at her.

"Alright, I suppose I'll give you a small tour as we make our way home." He spoke into my ear, while I helplessly flailed my arms and tried to scream. We were now making our way up a softly shaded hill. "And please for the love of the goddess, stop trying to scream and thrash around! It's not going to make me let you go, and is only making this more difficult for the both of us!"

With a muffled huff, I slumped my shoulders in defeat. Deep inside, I knew that it was probably no use struggling against him. I was already at the lycan village, and I had no idea which way to run even if I did actually manage to escape his sequestering clutches. Plus, he could easily track and recapture me before I got too far anyways. 

...No, running's not an option... I'll have to use my wits to escape this blubberheaded beast. 

"I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth because I really don't like muffling your beautiful voice... like this. But the moment you start screaming again, it's going right back on!" He firmly stated, then reluctantly pulled his hand away.

"Gee, thanks." I grumbled with a scowl, as we walked past more off-grid cabins with beauteous yards and lush gardens. Most of the homes had some sort of livestock on the property. Chickens, cows, goats, and sheep all moseyed around, munching on grass and other tasty things. Although, they were very spread out and within the forest, so it didn't feel like we were on a farm. "So, are all of the homes here off-grid?" I curiously inquired, trying to go all Lieutenant Columbo on him, and sneakily snoop for valuable information. Like if there's a phone line or internet connection lurking around somewhere. 

"Yes, they are. All are solar-powered, and heated with wood." He lovingly smiled down at me, as he gave his useless information. I tried to touch him with my bloody wolfsbane arm in retaliation.

We began walking past a peaceful picturesque pond, cradled by the forest's edge. A lofty weeping willow mournfully caressed the water's surface with its flowing branches and fluttering leaves. They gently swayed in the warm breeze, softly tickling many lily pads and the yellow water lilies resting upon them. Mallards meandered, and ferruginous ducks flipper flapped all around, weaving in and out of the water, tall grass, and rounded stones lining the muddy shore. A bright blue dragonfly fluttered in front of my face, flashing iridescently like a sapphire in the gleaming sunlight.

"Luckily, our home is beside the river. Those cabins are coveted for their size, and also because they have running water." He proudly boasted, as if running water was supposed to impress me, a spoiled American brat.

"Woo... Lucky us." I sarcastically rolled my eyes.

He abruptly pulled me closer to his side, careful not to touch any of my blood. "That over there is Gootsy, the guard goose." He pointed to a large grey goose with black speckles on its back. Its black beady eye honed in on us, then it threateningly hissed, revealing its sharp goose teeth and serrated tongue. "Trust me, you do not want to mess with him! He's by far the most vicious creature in the whole village!" He animatedly moved his hand in a sideways chopping motion as he spoke.

"Well, maybe he just needs a hug? I think that you should go give him one." I sardonically replied with a smirk.

The goose hissed again, then started aggressively walking towards us... Yikes, that thing is actually terrifying! 

"As much as I'd love to demonstrate my immense bravery, I don't trust that you wouldn't run away while my life was in danger." He laughed while hastily hustling us further down the path. 

After another ten or so minutes of him enthusiastically dragging me through the dumb yokel village, and having a few more encounters with other curious lycans, who didn't seem even slightly phased by his nudity, we finally arrived at our destination. A woodlark happily sang upon the gnarled branch of a wise old maple tree above, as we turned and began approaching what was shockingly a very beautiful log cabin with lofty intersecting roofs. 

Sunlight glimmered through wavering leaves and evergreen needles and sparkled upon a large meandrous river which flowed behind the home. Frizzy white blooms cheerily swayed upon the branches of a linden tree, which stretched up in front of the sheltered front porch. A variety of light blue scabious, soft pink valerian, red rose, and little yellow wall rocket blossoms embellished around the cobblestone foundation, lining the house and wooden stairs which led up to the beautifully paned dark wood french doors. Hungarian lilac and irises accompanied the other flowers, but they weren't in bloom this time of year. Many large paned windows embellished the walls, including an elegant hexagon-shaped one tucked within the center a-frame roof.