The Chase Through the Park
“Run, run, run, Little Riding Hood. The big bad wolf is coming for you,” he said, his laughter echoing through the trees. The sound of his fast strides was a sinister reminder that he was toying with me.
I sprinted through the dense underbrush, my legs burning with exertion, lungs gasping for air. I hadn’t run like this in ages, and the fear surging through me made every muscle ache. I dreaded the thought of him catching me. I should have seen this coming; the cards had warned me, but I was too rushed this morning to heed their advice.
“Don’t be afraid! I won’t hurt you,” he cackled. “Not in any way you won’t come to enjoy, anyway.”
“Fuck off before I freeze your dick off!” I shot back, my voice a mix of bravado and desperation.
I turned just fast enough to throw a spell at him, but his agile form dodged it effortlessly. A curse slipped from my lips as I spun back to continue my run. That was the fifth spell he had evaded; a trail of ice shimmered behind me like breadcrumbs in a dark forest. “Was that meant to be your dick? A little off on the aim there, sweetheart.”
His laughter sent a shiver down my spine—cold, cruel, and devoid of joy. It was the laughter of a predator playing with its prey.
“Yeah, well, small targets are often hard to hit! Don’t worry; I won’t miss the next time!”
Home was just beyond the park. I had taken this route to gather herbs for Mom after work, wanting to collect black sage I’d seen growing on the cliffs. Now, I regretted that decision; I wouldn’t have caught his attention, and I wouldn’t be running for my life, hearing his taunting voice.
“When I get you, I’m gonna huff and puff and blow your mind, Little Riding Hood. Just you wait.”
“Go to hell, you overgrown fur ball!” I yelled, stumbling over loose rocks but managing to regain my balance. I couldn’t afford to be caught due to clumsiness; that was how killers in movies always caught their victims. Not me. I was the final girl, not a chew toy for a werewolf.
I hurled another spell over my shoulder, cursing as it hit the ground behind him, the ice reflecting the moonlight.
“Come on, Riding Hood. I promise you will like it. Who doesn’t enjoy when their mate makes them scream?”
“Well, I’m not your mate!” I growled, twisting to throw another spell. This time, it found its mark. “So, take your popsicle dick to hell!”
The spell wrapped around his feet, freezing him in place. He let out a feral growl as I kept running, casting a magic spell to hide my scent and cover my tracks. I had to move fast; I couldn’t hold the ice spell for long. He would be free and searching for me soon enough.
I could hear his howl echoing behind me, my scent mixing with the salty air of the nearby ocean. His howl transformed into a snarl, filled with rage at the loss of my scent, as I ducked and wove along the rocky cliffs.
“I’ll find you!” he howled, the sound reverberating through the night. “You can try and hide all you want! But I always get what I want. Don’t you forget that, Little Mate.”
Still, I didn’t stop running—not until my feet hit the pavement, narrowly dodging a car before leaping onto the sidewalk and racing towards my family home.
“Aye! Paige, what are you doing crashing in here like that?” Mom exclaimed, startled by my sudden entrance.
I glanced through the peephole, panting as I caught my breath. When I saw the nearly empty street with no sign of him following, I finally relaxed.
“Sorry, Mom,” I gasped, pressing my hand to my chest.
“What are you so worked up about?”
I shook my head, unwilling to worry her further, confident that I had evaded the threat. He couldn’t find me without my scent, and I had covered my tracks well. It was a big city; what were the chances I’d cross paths with him again?
“Nothing. I thought it was going to storm,” I lied, wincing at the clear night sky.
Mom frowned and rolled her eyes. “Well, go get cleaned up. Did you eat dinner?”
“Yeah, I ate at work,” I replied, heading towards the stairs.
“Paige,” Mom called as my foot hit the first step.
“Yeah?”
“You’re tracking in sand. Take off your shoes and put your clothes in the laundry.” I heard her sigh, muttering under her breath, “Sometimes I wonder if fairies or spirits didn’t bring me a changeling. That girl cuts years off my life, I swear.”
I smirked, taking off my shoes and carrying them upstairs to clean them before getting ready for bed. My heart still raced from the chase; now that I had time to look at myself, I realized how filthy I was. Sand and seaweed clung to my jeans, dry grass and weeds stuck in my hair, and my shirt had new holes.
Walking into the bathroom, I sighed at my reflection. My faded, purple-streaked hair was a mess, and one of the hoops in my nose was askew. I flicked it back down, noticing that one of the stones on my ring was missing.
“For fuck’s sake,” I groaned.
It was the tourmaline ring I’d just bought a few days ago, meant for protection. But it was a common rule with crystals; they’re not meant to last forever. Once they’ve fulfilled their purpose, the universe takes them back.
“I guess tonight took its entire ability,” I muttered to myself.
After a quick shower, pulling out grass and weeds from my hair, I crawled into bed. The night had been filled with more excitement than I ever wanted to experience again. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.
Darkness engulfed my vision. It was unnatural, void of all light. My window blinds had been opened; there should have been some moonlight streaming in. My breath caught in my throat as fear crept into my chest.
Light. I need light.
Suddenly, a bright light filled my vision, blinding me. I covered my eyes, trying to turn away, but something pulled me toward it.
A figure emerged at the center of the light. Broad shoulders blocked out enough brightness to help me adjust my gaze. He felt familiar, as if I had known him for a lifetime.
“Who are you?” I whispered, my voice echoing in the void.
He extended his hand. My legs moved forward, taking hold of it. As I touched him, his form began to shift. His ears elongated into points, his mouth elongated into a snout, and his hands and feet morphed into paws as he dropped to all fours. A howl escaped his lips, and my heart leaped into my throat as realization hit me.
“No!” I screamed, casting spells in vain, but nothing happened. “What?”
Panic surged through me. I looked up at the werewolf, his glowing eyes piercing my soul. A whispered voice filled my mind with a singular word, sending chills through my veins.
“Mate.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I jolted awake, heart racing. Sunlight poured through my open blinds, and the sound of seagulls filled the air.
“Paige, are you still in bed?” Mom called from the other side of the door before entering with a basket of clean laundry. “What are you doing? Get up! We have company.”
Confusion clouded my mind as I stared at her, trying to process what had just happened. The last thing I remembered was going to bed and turning off my light.
“What time is it?” I asked, shaking off the remnants of my dream.
“It’s half past noon,” Mom replied. “Get up. Your brother is here with his friend, Nyte.”
Her excitement over my brother’s long-time best friend, soon to be Alpha of the Coronado Pack, was palpable.
“Andale!” she urged, waving her hands in a shooing motion.
“Okay, okay!” I replied, pushing back the covers and rolling out of bed. I could hear Anthony and Nyte downstairs, calling out for something to eat—always the first thing out of my brother’s mouth when he visited.
But at the sound of Nyte’s voice, my back straightened. An idea began to form—one that defied fate.
Paige.
I turned at the whisper, my gaze landing on my tarot deck beside my bed. Hand-painted by my grandmother, they were my prized possession and a vital tool for my craft.
Let us help you.
A smile spread across my face as I realized my plan might just work. I quickly shuffled the deck, drawing three cards: the Four of Wands, the Moon, and the Hierophant. The Moon’s presence warned of hidden enemies, indicating my supposed mate—the stalker from the park. The Four of Wands signified good results from my choices, paired with the Hierophant, symbolizing alliances.
Confidence surged within me; my plan could succeed.
With my cards collected, I dressed quickly and rushed downstairs to the kitchen.
Anthony stood by the stove, munching on an apple while regaling Mom with tales of his latest adventures. But everything faded into the background as my eyes landed on Nyte. The familiar butterflies stirred in my stomach, a feeling I had always experienced since Anthony first brought him home. Our eyes met, and his lips curled into a smirk.
I took a deep breath, reminding myself of my mission.
Approaching the table, I leaned forward, locking eyes with Nyte, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
“Can I have a word with you, in private?” I asked, nodding toward the front porch.
“What do you need to talk to him about?” Anthony interjected, suddenly losing interest in his stories.
“What part of a private word don’t you understand?” I shot back, hands on my hips.
“Yeah,” Nyte said, stepping in. “You can talk to me.” He brushed his fingers through his chestnut hair, smirking as I caught a glimpse of his bicep.
We stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind us to keep Mom and Anthony from overhearing.
“So,” Nyte began, crossing his arms and leaning against the column. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I want you to pretend to be my fiancé,” I blurted, feeling my confidence waver but not allowing it to show. “Only until I can find a way to sever the ties of the fated mate bond.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You want to sever a mate bond?”
“Yes, mine. It’s a long story, but I had a premonition about my mate. I’m pretty sure it’s this creep who chased me through the park last night, and I can’t do it. People think the mate bond is never wrong, but this time, it is.”
Nyte’s expression turned serious, his gaze drifting as he processed my words. Just when I feared he would refuse, his eyes returned to me, determination etched on his face.
“I’ll do it,” he said, “under one condition.”
“Yes! Anything! Whatever it is, I’ll do it.” I replied without hesitation.
“If we’re going to do this, we do it right. You’ll have to come live with me at the packhouse.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. I stepped back, gripping the porch railing as my heart raced. I hadn’t expected that condition. But to say I was opposed would be a lie. Living with Nyte would be an adventure, and it might just give me the time I needed to sever the bond.
Looking back at him, I nodded. “Deal,” I said, holding out my hand.