Chapter 12- Simone
The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. A cold wind swept by and it seemed as if Jack Frost himself had come by and kissed my cheeks. I peered around me, trying to look through the trees to see if I could spot any signs of movement.
My leather gloved hands found their way into my pockets and my hand tightened around what I had hidden inside of my coat. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and called out.
"Fedor!" I exclaimed. "Here boy! Fedor, come here buddy."
Being kidnapped by Lucien had totally screwed up my mind. I was out here calling a wolf to me. An actual, hand on the Bible, wolf, as in an Apex predator. Sticks crackled out of my view and found myself face to face with his golden eyes.
He licked his chops and the sun seemed to bounce off his fur. Wolf or not, he was truly a beautiful creature. While the fear was there and I didn't plan on being eaten alive, I sobered myself. I eased myself down and called to him again, but this time softly.
"Fedor, come," I smiled.
His front paws timidly stepped forward. There was no way that this powerful creature was being shy but in any case, I continued to wait. He inched forward again until finally, we were nose to snout. Sitting back on his haunches, he waited. With ease, I pulled my hand from my pocket.
"There's a good boy, I smiled."
Offering him the jerky I'd bought from the grocery store earlier in the day, he looked at it.
"Really? You eat it, silly boy," I took a piece and nibbled on it.
Fedor's head seemed to tilt and he waited for me to offer him another piece. This time he opened his mouth and allowed me to feed it to him.
"Imagine this...I'm feeding a wolf," I laughed quietly to myself.
"What in the hell are you doing!"
A voice came out of nowhere and startled me, causing me to fall back. Scrambling to my feet I came face to face with Lucien. He seemed to be looking between both Fedor and me. Fedor's mood had changed and his hairs were standing up on his back down to his fluffy white tail.
"I was feeding him a treat," I replied standing and dusting snow from my clothes.
Lucien's face was turned into a scowl. The man had probably never smiled a day in his adult life. In truth, I hadn't seen him in a few days. I had been quick to come back to the mansion, after long days of tattooing. My schedule had been filling up as word of Tainted Ink spread. Not to mention Mallory had been running specials across social media and double booking me. Today, was my day off and I had a few plans. Get a massage and feed this wolf. I could now cross off one of those things.
"I can see that," Lucien came closer. "He is not your pet."
Fedor growled at his master and secretly I was jumping up and down with glee.
"He seems to like me," I shrugged. "And it was only jerky."
Another growl escaped the animal’s lips as he eased his way in front of me; it was as if he were creating a barrier between Lucien and myself.
Fedor was not amused.
"Hah!" He exclaimed. "You've turned him against me. I knew letting you meet Fedor was against my better judgment."
"Oh please, he just doesn't want you cutting off his new found jerky supply," I stated and rolled my eyes.
I called the wolf's name and began to shush him before his master broke down in tears. Lucien was acting like a child who'd gotten their favorite toy taken away. It was entertaining for sure. Reaching down I brushed at Fedor's fur and felt him relax.
Cold fire ran down the side of my face.
I stumbled back for just a moment, almost losing my footing again, and tried to figure out what in the world had just happened to me.
Lucien stood back, a smirk on his face.
"What's a matter?"
"You...did you just throw a snowball at me?"
