Page 50 of Rescued By the Beast
"There's a protective barrier around it. No one crosses my territory without being invited."
His voice sounds casual, but there's a hint of concern there.
"I should have asked Balthazar to reinforce it along with the rest of the things..."
But he quickly shakes his head, muttering that the barriers will remain strong for another six months before needing reinforcement.
When we arrive, he carries me inside. The woody scent of the cabin envelops me as he locks the door behind us. I watch his movements, each gesture calculated. He leaves the keys on the kitchen counter, stretches his neck and runs a hand through his damp hair. Then he heads upstairs with me still in his arms, carefully sets me down on the floor before grabbing a change of clothes from the wardrobe and heading to the bathroom.
I wait. I wait until I hear the shower running.
My gaze falls on the bedroom window. He left it ajar, just enough space for me to slip through. The night wind blows through the room, carrying the scent of the forest. An opening for my escape. My heart starts to pound in my chest. My muscles tense as I prepare myself. I jump onto the dresser, then onto the window sill. The cold night air caresses my feline skin as I sneak outside.
From the second floor, I assess the drop. I take a deep breath and jump.
I land softly on the grass, the impact cushioned by my agile body. The forest stretches out before me, dark and inviting. I pass through the barrier and feel something vibrate around me, like a pulsing energy, but I don't stop. I glimpse some stones with runes engraved on the ground, but I don't have time for curiosity.
If I hesitate, I'll miss my chance.
I need to find Luther. If I can get to the city and find him, maybe he'll realise who I am. Maybe he can help me.
The trees pass by me like shadows. The more I run, the more identical they all seem. I no longer know which direction I'm going, I'm lost... But I must continue, at some point I will find a way out. My breath begins to weigh heavily, I may be healed, but not one hundred percent.
Then I hear it.
A growl.
I stop instantly, my heart pounding in my ribs, my spine arching instinctively, my hair standing on end. The sound came from ahead, in the direction I'm going. I hold my breath and listen. The forest rustles, something moves. An animal. A big one.
My blood runs cold.
Memories of the monster that attacked me flood my mind. The pain. The despair. Before I realise it, I'm running back, without looking back. My instincts scream, my body acts on its own. The cabin. Protection. I need to get there before it's too late. I don't remember where I came from, everything looks the same, but I keep running towards what I think is the way back.
The stone on my collar warms against my skin, throbbing like an uneven heartbeat. With each hurried step, the frantic pulse intensifies, mirroring my own urgency.
The damp forest floor gives way beneath my paws as I run, my heart pounding against my ribs like a drum in a frenzy. The darkness between the trees seems to close in around me, shadows dance in the corners of my vision, and the damp smell of turned earth and vegetation envelops me. My instincts scream for me to keep going, but something ahead makes me freeze.
A deep growl cuts through all other noises, reverberating through my chest like thunder. The air seems to grow thicker. My fur stands on end. Something huge moves in the shadows, eyes glowing like embers between the trees.
And then, it emerges.
The creature is colossal, almost merging with the darkness of the forest. An elongated snout, teeth glinting between lips pursed in a silent growl. Pointed ears stand erect, picking up every sound, every frantic beat of my heart. The wolf-like shape dissolves as I notice the details – humanoid hands, long fingers ending in sharp claws, a presence that exudes pure predator. It stands. Tall. Strong. A monster made for hunting.
Oh, stars, I'm dead.
My body instinctively shrinks, muscles tense, teeth clenched for a futile attack. Fear tightens my chest, the stone on the collar around my neck vibrates against my skin, accelerating as if echoing my own terror.
He's going to kill me.
Gigantic hands, filled with lethal claws, descend towards me.
But then... something unexpected happens. Instead of attacking, instead of descending upon me with all his animal fury, a firm but careful touch lifts me off the ground. The beast holds me against his broad chest covered in caramel fur, and the scent invades my senses—wild, earthy, with a familiar touch of something that makes me hesitate.
The growl is now not one of threat, but of protection. The claws that could tear me apart wrap around me gently. And then he speaks, his monstrous voice vibrating against me:
"Kitten..."
My tense body relaxes for a brief moment, absorbing the realisation.
