Chasing back his Rejected Mate

I felt a chilly wave of doubt sweep over me the instant his hand left mine. With all of my instincts telling me to flee, I stood there in the dark, surrounded by the depressing silence of the forest. But where would I run to? Going back to the group that desired my death? Or into the rogues' awaiting jaws?

The thought of being discovered by those who were seeking me or staying with this stranger who seemed to know too much scared me equally.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying not to lose my cool, but my voice was unsteady.

The man remained still while the wind rustled through the trees. He had his back to me, rigid, as though he was listening for something in the distance. It was too quiet in the forest. Not even the sound of leaves rustling against one another, not a single bird. The entire world seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for anything to suddenly disturb the stillness.

"Hi!" This time, I tried louder. "I have a question for you."

Just enough for me to notice the flare of something in his eyes-annoyance?-he glanced over his shoulder. Laughing?

I was uncomfortable since I couldn't tell. His jaw's sharp edges were highlighted by the moonlight that just barely touched his face, giving him an even more menacing appearance.

With a gentle but foreboding tone, he said, "You ask too many questions, Nixie." "You should concentrate on staying alive right now."

That was a response I didn't like. Not even close.

And I'm supposed to put my trust in you to keep me alive? I shot back, crossing my arms in an attempt to look defiant while concealing my mounting anxiety. "You just appear out of nowhere, save my shit from heaven knows what, and now I'm just gonna blindly follow you?"

Although he didn't answer right away, I could tell that my remarks had any impact on him since I could see his jaw tensing.

With his eyes gleaming slightly in the dark, he fully turned to face me, giving me an unpleasant reminder of his strength.

"I could have just left you to die," he murmured.

"However, he didn't." That was the issue. Why hadn't he?

I started to argue but stopped when I realized I had nowhere else to go. My throat tightened. For the time being, this man, whatever he was, was my only hope of surviving. However, that didn't make the gnawing doubt stop trying to get inside of me. What was it he wanted with me? Why did he feel so...like this? I whispered, more to myself than to him, "I never asked for your help."

His eyes never left mine as he said, "No, but you needed it." My hands were balled up, annoyance rising within me. It was made worse by the fact that he was correct.

A rustle sounded from the trees behind us before I could reply. I stiffened, my wolf growling inside of me. The stranger's body froze, every muscle tensed like a predator about to attack, as his head snapped toward the noise.

"What's that?" I uttered a barely heard murmur.

"Remain near," he whispered as he moved forward and scanned the shadows with his eyes.

"We're not by ourselves." I drew nearer to him, my senses sharpened, my heart hammering in my chest. I could sense that eyes were observing us from somewhere, as the shadows appeared to stretch and move. It was unfriendly, regardless of who or what was out there.

"Who's in the vicinity?" I hated how fragile my voice sounded as I called into the darkness.

The hush that enveloped them was oppressive. A voice answered then, coming from the shadows, a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down my spine.

"Little Wolf, it's too late to flee." I became motionless. The voice was near, harsh, and full of hate. Too near.

With barely a second to respond, the person with a wicked grin came out of the shadows. The savage gleam in his eyes and the smell of blood on him gave away that he was a rogue. He wasn't alone, either. Beside him emerged two other forms, their eyes sparkling with the same predatory hunger. Fear gripped in my stomach. Three Rogues was no match for me, not in my current form.

I looked at the stranger next to me, but I couldn't read his face. But his gaze was fixed on the outlaws, unblinking, as though evaluating, calculating.

"Three of you?" he asked in a cool, almost bored voice. "Is that all?" With a growl, the lead rogue advanced, his eyes getting narrower. Do you believe you could take us?

The stranger didn't respond. Rather, in a flurry of motion so swift I could hardly see it, he leapt at the outlaw, his hand snaking around the man's throat like a vice. With a terrible thud, the stranger hurled the rogue to the ground before he could even gasp.

"Does that address your query?" the unfamiliar man barked, his tone now tinged with the icy threat.

The other two rogues paused, obviously surprised at how easily their leader had been neutralized. Their eyes flickered with uncertainty, but it was only momentary.

They had no intention of giving up that simply. With a deep growl, one of them charged at us, his claws extended. I braced myself, ready to protect myself, but the stranger went faster than I could follow once more.

The second rogue was down and moaning in pain in a matter of seconds. The third outlaw stopped, panicked and with wide eyes. He stood back, obviously weighing his choices. But before he could get away, the stranger spoke, a chill in his voice.

"You'll wish you hadn't run." The outlaw paused briefly, caught between running away and fighting. Then he turned and vanished into the trees, his footsteps vanishing into the darkness with a piercing snarl. I stood there, breathing shallowly, my thoughts racing. I was in shock at what I had just seen.

With a strength that shouldn't have been possible, this man-a stranger-had quickly dispatched two rogues. I was supposed to feel relieved. Grateful, even. But terror was all I felt in its place. Dread of the man.

He turned to face me, his eyes gleaming slightly in the darkness, and I saw something unnerving about his stare for the first time. Something inhumane.

"Who are you?" I uttered a barely heard murmur.

He did not respond immediately. Rather, he advanced toward me with an indiscernible face. "You'll find out soon enough," he remarked softly, sounding almost kind at this point.

However, there was a promise-or a threat-beneath his words. Which one, I couldn't tell.

Before I could reply, I heard more footfall coming from the jungle. They sounded heavier this time like a group was rapidly approaching.

As I glanced around, my anxiety returned. However, the stranger didn't appear concerned. He appeared to even anticipate it.

"They're on their way," he stated in a quiet and composed tone. "We must leave."

"Who's coming?" With a beating heart, I asked.

He remained silent. Rather, he took hold of my hand and dragged me back into the shadows. However, as we made our way through the shadows this time, I couldn't get rid of the impression that I had just exchanged one threat for another.

And I couldn't help but wonder: had I just avoided death only to stumble into it as the sounds of footsteps got closer behind us?