This Was A Great Dress

Roman’s words hurt more than I thought. I realized that perhaps I cared for him also more then I was willing to admit. Putting myself together, I got out only to see Beta Art’s stoic face looking at me with unreadable expression. “Are you ok?” he asked, his eyes never leaving me..

I simply nodded trying to keep whatever pride and dignity I had left. Werewolves had excellent sense of smell and hearing.. He had to have heard and known or perhaps guessed as to what transpired. The thought of Roman’s hot breath and his hands made me blush..

“Alpha King Johnathan will be happy to see you”, he continued trying to maintain neutral conversation… “I can take you?”..

“Fresh air will do me good.. I’ll walk through the forest by the south of the compound” I said.. Lake house is not far away”.. “Are you sure??”..his kind eyes were asking.. “Sun is setting – it maybe dangerous out there”..

“Nobody dares come to Alpha King lands, you know that”, I said now laughing trying to brush of his concern and act like nothing happened. Roman and his warriors were known as ruthless and effective. Art knew that..

“Ok then” he said begrudgingly. “But I am coming to pick you up when you are finished”, Art said, his tone leaving no room for the discussion. “Thank you”, I said giving him a small smile..

The clearing leading to the forest was basking in glows of the sun which was setting on the horizon.. Colors of pink and orange were flowing over the meadow littered with daisies and other wildflowers. It was quite beautiful and it temporary took my mind off my issues with Roman. I did not know until today I had feelings for him.

“Are you lying to yourself?”, the voice in my head said. “Remember the summer on the lake?”.. Blushing again, I recalled many moons ago, when we were still technically children.. I was 16 and he just turned 21..It was our first year of life with the pack.. that was the day Alpha King Jonathan announced his retirement effectively crowing Roman the new ruler of the packs.. There was a huge party on the lake.. Lanterns lit everywhere, banquet tables placed under a huge white tent.. Live music was playing and everybody was having a good time.. Few of us decided we will go skinny dipping away from adults and their prying eyes. It was all fun and games until somebody decided we will race swim to the nearby skiff tied to the dock.. Unbeknownst to us, the underwater currents going in that direction were strong, and I ended up being pulled by one underwater.. Next thing I knew, Roman appeared out of nowhere diving in, with no regard for himself.. Pulling me to the shore he revived me and to this day I remember bewildered look on his face, fear and anxiety and relief when I came to… The same electricity I felt today, cursed through my veins back then and I felt this strong pull towards him, and by his reaction I knew he felt it too.. I locked that memory in my mind long ago..

“So, I guess I have liked him for some time, huh”, I said to myself..

Daydreaming, I did not notice two very large strange wolves which appeared seemingly from nowhere.. Snarling they raced towards me and cornered me in between them.. They were most definitely NOT  from our pack and I had no idea what to do, as I could not shift as I had no wolf, nor outrun them. Circling me, they were clearly mind-linking talking to one another.. I stood scared, not really knowing what to do.. If I screamed, would anyone hear?? I was not very far from the compound and the pack house, but was far enough from closest guard. Likewise, I was not close enough to the lake house so none of Alpha Jonathan’s people could hear me.. As I was contemplating what to do, the larger, brown wolf on my right decided to shift..

A tall, very muscular man with ash blonde hair, torso covered with elaborate tattoos I have never seen before started walking towards me slowly, as if he were stalking a prey… “There is no use in screaming.. Nobody can hear you Dragana”… “How, what? How do you know my name??” I said to a stranger, whose eyes were glowing golden.. “You can come willingly or we can use force”, he said smug smirk on his face. “I’d rather not injure the merchandise”, he was snickering. “My employer is paying very handsomely to bring you, in one piece preferably”, he said his cold face grimacing a smile.. “So, I will say this again.. Come willingly, or my friend Rufus here, may just have to force you”.. Looking back at the black wolf, his canines were visible, snarling at me.. .My heart sank.. I had absolutely no idea what to do and how to defend myself..

Before I could utter a word, a flash of light passed through, something was moving at incredible speed. Next thing I knew, Rufus body was on the ground, a pool of blood seeping into the flowery meadow.. His friend screamed, only for me to turn around and see that his guts have been spilled out and he too was falling down..

Turning around, I saw Lady Jasmine, her left arm covered in blood, half shifted into her Lycan form, eyes glowing.. “Now, see what you made me do”, she snickered… “This was a great dress”.. she said laughing, her face splattered by the blood of two dead intruders..