It’s one of Jeffrey’s men. I’m sure of it, but why is he naked? And how did he get here so fast? And what about the wolves I heard chasing me?
I focus on breathing, on getting through the moment. Surely there must be a way I can escape. I just have to find it, right? Only as I’m thinking this, my hope is crashing.
The man grabs me and hauls me through the woods. I try to kick and fight, but he punches me in the stomach and I vomit everywhere. Waves of pain pour over me and my head goes fuzzy. My eyes go black for just a second, and when my vision clears, we’re in a small, grassy clearing.
There are four wolves there. My body tightens as I see them, and I look up at the man, questioningly.
Is he going to feed me to them?
“Time for some fun, boys,” he says, and throws me to them. I scream as I land on my hands and knees in front of the wolves. My hands sink slightly in the damp earth and I start to cry as I look up at the four faces staring down at me.
I start to shake.
This can’t be happening.
This.
Can’t.
Be.
Happening.
I ran for so long and finally, I found a place I was happy. Finally, I found a place I belonged. Finally, I found something – someone - that made me happy. And now it’s gone, ripped from my hands before I even had a chance to get comfortable.
The wolves move closer and I can feel their breath on my skin. I close my eyes. I don’t want to look into their eyes as they tear me apart.
This is it.
This is the end.
I hope they go for my throat.
I hope they make it fast.
But before I die, the air around me changes, and I open my eyes.
And gasp.
The wolves are gone, replaced with four very big, very naked men.
“Changers,” I whisper. They’re real. Grandmother’s stories were always just that: stories. Oh, I knew about my brother, but part of me thought he was an anomaly. Part of me thought I was imagining it. Part of me didn’t want it to be real. Her stories, though… Grams always warned me about wolves in the forest. I sometimes suspected her stories had a hint of truth to them, and the realization that I’ve definitely, undoubtedly been living with a wolf who may very well be a changer, as well, settles in my stomach.
If only Wolfy had trusted me enough to reveal who he really is.
If only I had believed in Grandmother enough to focus more on her stories, to realize there were more men out there like Jeffrey, that him being a wolf wasn’t just some freak accident.
“Why?” I ask quietly. They’re going to kill me. Now that they’re changed into their human selves, I wonder if they plan to do more. Rape me? Torture me? Play with me? What are they going to do? I’m no virgin, but I’ve never been abused.
Not like they’re going to do to me.
Not like they want to hurt me.
“Your brother sends his love,” one sneers, and he yanks me to my feet. I stand still, crying quietly as he rips my clothes from me.
I don’t fight back.
I don’t protest.