Hunted At Nightfall by Tianna Arwood (books to read in a lifetime .TXT) 📕

     Just my luck, I thought as I trudged through the pooring rain. I got stuck walking home from the party I was at because some jerk wouldnt keep his hands off of me and he wouldnt leave me alone. I tried to see if my best friend, Kenzie could take me but she was sucking face with some guy she wouldnt remember in the morning. We also have a rule; if one of us is with a guy, the other cant interupt unless it was extremely important. Well I just wasnt having it with that guy so I headed home.

All of a sudden, I heard something in the woods next to me. Being me....and a liitle drunk, I headed toward the rustling noise. Curiosity is what killed the cat, my foster mom always says. Soaking wet and shivering, I continued through the woods. I stepped in a puddle and got mud up to the ankle on my knee high black leather wedges.

"Shit," I muttered kicking my foot, trying to get some of the mud off. Just then a huge black wolf stepped from behind a tree. I stared to turn back the way I came, but two more were coming from behind me. They all started coming towards me, the two in the back now also in front of me. They werent growling, that scared me more. They were completely silent!

"Help! Someone please help me!" I screamed into the night. I doubted anyone would hear me out here. I felt tears begin to mix with the water on my face. All three of the huge black wolves were walking side by side towards me. I was walking backward further and further into the woods. If i somehow did manage to escape these wolves, which I doubt will happen, how will I find my way out of the woods. I slipped on some wet leaves and fell back catching myself with my hands. White hot pain shot up my arm as I heard my wrist make a horrible crunching sound.

Sobbing even more now from the pain, I managed to croak out, "Please someone help me! HELP!" Dizzy with the pain, my eyelids began to get heavy. I laid back craddling my wounded hand to my chest. I heard a wolf cry out and waited for it to pounce but then I heard a thud. I wouldnt allow myself to sleep until I was sure I was safe.

Threre was rustling and and thudding then a heard a male voice cry out in pain followed by a hiss of pain. All the while I stayed on the ground with my eyes closed and tried to stay awake. Suddenly I heard the wolves retreating and thought, Now, now I can rest. I felt strong arms wrap around me as I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I was outside my cabin, chopping wood in the rain, when I heard a girls voice call out for help. I immediately stopped and looked around for for where the voice was coming from. I was at the brim of the woods when I heard, "Please someone help me! HELP!" I took off faster than humanly possible towards the girl, thanks to my wolf speed, I got there in no time. When I got to the clearing, I saw the shape of a girl curled up in a pile of leaves surrounded by wolves. The second they heard me they all turned and one lept up at me.

I knocked it out of mid air and it let out a cry in pain. While I was distracted with the first wolf i didnt notice the other come towards me until it was too late and it bit my hip making me cry out. I kicked the bastard away and it retreated with the one I knocked out of the air. The last one, seeing that it was alone, took off after the others.

I stood for a moment trying to catch my breath before I went to check on the girl. When I got to her, I couldnt see her do to all of her thick white hair covering her face. I crouched down and swept a strand away. The second I saw her I sucked in a sharp intake of air. Its her!  My wolf yelled at me.

I know, I thought back as I stared at her. Shes my mate. I reached to pick her up, then I noticed her craddling her wrist. I pulled her hand back to reveal that it was broken! A growl rumbled deep in my chest. I've waited many years to find my mate and once I do shes freezing and broken?!? I picked her up and began to carry her back to my cabin.

I felt her move a little and I looked down, she was still asleep, but her brow was furrowed. Shes waking up, my wolf thought excitedly. She obviously wasn't one of us, so I forced my wolf to quiet down before his excitement gave us away. She cant know. Not yet, I told him reluctantly.

My head was resting against a warm, strong chest, when I woke up. My first instinct was to escape, but after a few seconds of struggling, I realized I wasnt getting anywhere. Forcing my eyes open, I saw shiny black hair, a chisled jaw, and deep blue eyes. Whoever he was, he was gorgeous, and carrying  me through the woods! I thought beginning to panic again. I slammed my hand against his chest and that caused me to cry out in pain. The man looked down at me with what looked like sympathy in his eyes.

"What are you gonna do with me? Please dont hurt me," I said looking up at him.

"Hey, dont worry. Im not gonna hurt you. You hurt your wrist and I think it might be broken," he said as he stopped walking and looked down at me. In the moonlight he looked absolutly beautiful. I know its wieird to call a man beautiful, but thats exaclty what he was. " If its ok, I'm just gonna take you to my place really quick and let you dry off, and I want to take a look at your wrist," he said sincerly. I completely forgot about the wolves until now. He saw the shock on my face and softly tightened his arms around me reasuringly.

I considered it for a moment, if I dont let him take me back to his place, I risk the chance of getting lost out here. But if I let him take me, he could turn out to be a really great guy.Yeah right, the man in the woods is probably a killer. Realizing that he was patiently watching me sort my thoughts, I quickly made up my mind. "Ok," I said hesitantly. He gave a small smile and continued walking. I realized he was still carrying me, I was about to say something but realized how comfortable I felt. I feel at home. What am I saying? I dont even know this man! I cant "feel at home" in his arms!

I quickly pushed the thought aside as we stepped through a clearing. In the center of the clearing there was a small but cozy looking little cabin. "Is this where you live?" I asked as he stepped up the three steps to the front door.

"Yeah," he said absently as he opened the door while he was still holding me bridal style. When we stepped inside I saw a comfy little couch in front of a small fire. There werent any pictures, but what do you expect from a guy who lives alone in the woods. He carried me over to the couch, and very carefully he set me down. Without a word he walked to the back of the cabing, I heard him open and then close a door. He came back holding a fluffy white towell. He handed it back to me and as I took it I saw rips in his shirt, and red stains.

I gasped realizing that it was blood, "Are you ok?!" He seemed confused at my question and then he looked down to what I was staring wide eyed at. "Were you bitten?!" I asked feeling bad because he got it helping me.

"Oh. No. I mean--dont worry about it, I'm fine," He sat on the couch beside me and held out his hand. I slowly put my broken wrist in his hand. Very delicalty he turned it over, examining it. "It's definitly broken, but it'll be fine soon. How bad does it hurt?" He asked me quietly.

Looking up I said,"Actually it doesnt really hurt at all."

"Ok, it's probably just the shock of whats happened," he seemed to hesitate before saying, "I'm really sorry, this is gonna hurt."

I didnt understand what he meant until white hot pain shot up my arm, making me gasp and bite my lip hard enough to draw blood. As quickly as the pain came, it was gone again. As I stared at my wrist wondering why it didnt hurt as bad as it should have, he began wrapping it in gaughs. I continued staring at it even after he finished. When I noticed how quiet it had gotten, I looked up and saw the stranger looking at me in question.

"What," I asked after a while of not saying anything.

"Oh-I--um it's just that you're a very stronge girl," he pausesd for a moment, looking like he wanted to say more. It surprised me when, instead he let out a deep chuckle."Um, sorry about that. I guess I'm a lot more tired then I thought."

He began to stand up, but didnt get very far before sucking a gulp of air then plopping back down on the couch. It was only then that I remembered he was injured too.

 "Oh my God! I completely forgot that you were bitten," I said scooting closer to him, "Please let me help you. Do you have a peroxide so I can clean it?"

He hesitated before saying,"Yeah its in the bathroom cabinet, but really you dont have to, I can clean myself later."

Ignoring the last part I went in search of the peroxide.