Page 23 of The Hidden Guardian

Dark eyes bore into me, as a dark wolf prowls closer. I scuttle away, retreating until my back slams against the wall. I stand petrified. His menacing growl echoes like shards of broken glass, making me flinch with each step. My heart hammers in my chest, my breathing ragged as an unnamable dread rises up. The sensation is so intense, it’s as if all my nerve endings are on fire with terror and anticipation. Something’s warm and wet on my leg. My eyes glance down and meet the gaze of the dark wolf licking up my jeans; the look in its eyes sends pure terror flooding through me. That look only means one thing—primalneed.

A flash of fur dives into my predator from the side.Renall.He deals the lethal blow to his opponent’s neck before ripping his throat out and spitting it on the ground. It’s only then I notice the three bodies lying limp in a pool of their own blood scattered on the cavern floor. Blood and skin drop from Renall’s mouth as he turns to me. His lips part, blood staining them crimson red. His wolf form towers above me and his glittering eyes search mine for some unknown answer before he shifts back into his human form. He holds out his hand, smeared with crimson stains, and with trembling fingers, I place my palm into his.

Renall grips my arm tightly and drags me up the steps. The onlookers stare, their eyes burning with judgment. I feel like a caged animal in a zoo, exposed and judged for my performance. They wanted to see what I could do. A gift that would justify why Renall risked everything to save me. As we pass, I can almost hear their thoughts: was I worth it?

Not even I can formulate that answer.

We finally reach the door; the stares boring into my back begin to fade. I reach for the key around my neck, open the door, and slip inside so fast I almost smack Renall in the face with it as it closes.

“Can they get in? It’s just a puny lock and key?” Surely that’s no match for a full-grown wolf.

“No,” he responds.

No. It’s not comforting, but seeing as he just tore people to shreds in front of me seconds ago, I suppose they won’t be quick to attack. Renall killed them. Renall tore them to shreds. Have I just traded one murderer for another?

I shiver, crossing my arms across myself.

Ro-kay?” he asks me, eyeing a scratch on my arm. In the madness, I didn’t even feel it happen, but it’s starting to turn red.

Without warning he reaches for me. My eyes can only stare at the blood that still drips from his mouth and hands.

“No, I am certainly not okay!” I smack his hands from me, backing away. Fear now replacing the adrenaline that’s since faded. He flinches at my terror before his downcast eyes spot his red hands dripping along the floor. Renall quickly disappears across the cave and behind the curtain and running water trickles behind it.

My gut twists in anguish. I spin away from the feeling and notice the saliva still wet on my jeans that’s now splattered with blood. I tear my pants off and tug sweatpants on instead. When I turn around again, my eyes meet Renall’s gaze. My cheeks flush, regardless of the fear boiling inside me. I’m wearing a thong, and he just got a whole view.

“Rokay?” he tentatively asks again without approaching.

“No,” I whisper as tears fall from my eyes. Granted, he’s less intimidating in human form without the blood gushing from his hands and face. But the wolf … I witnessed first-hand what he can do. He killed them. Three human or half-human lives. It goes against everything my Mother taught me. Preserve nature. If you use it, replace it. A life is a life. He just snuffed out three lives in seconds. No one batted an eye; in fact, it appears to be encouraged.

He takes a few steps forward.

“Who are you?” I back up against the wall. “Why did you have to kill them?”

He kneels before me.

“Renall.” He points to himself, “Rawe-tum.” He leans forward.

I flinch as his finger hovers above my chest right where that sixth sense tingles.

“Grr-dan.”

“Yes, Guardian, but what does that mean?” My emotions swirl inside me like a tornado of confliction and fear. “What am I doing here? Why am I here?”

He squirms frantically, glancing around before rising to his feet and leaving the room.

A cool chill makes me shiver as I slump against the wall and slide down to the floor. What have I gotten myself into? I’m in a cavern of literal wolves. Goddess Autumn. I rise to my feet and run my fingers through my hair. What am I going to do? Will Renall let me leave? Will the wolf follow me? He found me once.

As I reach for my bag, a knock sounds at the door. I allow another knock before walking over and opening the door.

Only when I open the door, it’s Lupe’s brown eyes I meet instead. “Renall said you needed to talk to someone, someone who wasn’t him.” Her lips form a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. The welcoming friendliness from before is gone. I sigh, moving back to allow her entrance.

She shuts the door behind her.

“Will I be safe in here tonight? Will they come again?”

“No. A wolf’s den is sacred. It’s been an Alpha order for ages now. No one that means a wolf or his mate harm is allowed to pass the threshold of their den.”

That offers some relief that I can feel safe in the confines of our cave at least. “What are you people? I mean, I know the obvious … on some level, I knew he killed rabbits to feed me, but that–” I point toward the door, the cave with the bodies behind it. I shiver. “That was cold-blooded murder.”

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