I recognize Brandon’s wolf, and Josie’s. As for the others, I am not sure, but they are certainly some of their friends.
Brandon growls, startling Tulip once again. As if it’s some sick joke to them, they all growl, probably laughing at the way Tulip starts running faster, more uncontrolled. He is not really afraid of wolves; he grew up with them, but this is a different situation.
He is scared, and it doesn’t help that I am scared too. I try to will the feeling down, focusing on my horse, and on keeping him calm, but a wolf runs past us like a shadow, circles around us and runs back.
Tulip rears up, and it’s only thanks to being an experienced rider that I don’t fall off right then and there. Another stagger from Tulip, another growl, and then he dashes off. Fuck, fuck, fuck! There is a reason I don’t gallop through this area. The path is not made for it, either for Tulip or for me. Branches slap into my face as I try my best to keep in the saddle and calm Tulip. There are growls all around us, and when I glance behind me, I see the wolves chasing us.
They are hunting us.
Why? Why would they do that?
My stomach starts to do backflips in panic, my breath going so fast I am scared I might start hyperventilating soon. I have no idea what to do. Nothing has ever prepared me for this. I know I am shunned in this pack, but they never went as far as to physically harm me.
Tulip dashes out of the forest, just running in any direction, his fight or flight response clearly set off. There is no stoppinghim when he is like this, so all I can do is cling to him, hoping Brandon and his friends will come to their senses and stop the chase.
But they don’t.
Even now that Tulip runs over the field ahead of us aimlessly, they keep running after him, sometimes even snapping at his legs, making him run even faster.
Their group has also become bigger, with two more wolves having joined them. I don’t know them, or maybe I do but am too stressed to tell.
And then, far to my left, I suddenly see Maddox’s dark-brown wolf. He is not alone, and he clearly stands out from the others, due to his size. I don’t know the wolf next to him, but it must be one of his close friends. Both of them are running parallel to us and stop abruptly when they spot our group. I have no idea what the fuck Maddox will do. Will he join Brandon and the others?
If an alpha wolf starts hunting me, I’ll have no chance!
To my relief, he doesn’t seem like he is going to involve himself in the chase, though; he is still rooted in place as if he is just watching.
Why is he always just watching?
“Stop it!” I yell, the shock having subsided into sheer panic and fear. My breathing is shallow, while I keep clenching and unclenching my fists on Tulip’s reins. My body doesn’t seem to listen to me, though; my arms tremble, and my lungs feel so tight I can’t breathe properly.
I start to scream at the top of my lungs, my heart beating so fast now that my head gets dizzy. When nothing helps, I just resolve to beg. “Please, please stop it.”
I spot Maddox and his friend suddenly beginning to move, running towards us. Two of the wolves chasing us suddenly fall back the moment they spot Maddox. Did he link them and tell them to stop?
We are almost at the back of my cottage now. Tulip must have subconsciously targeted his safe space.
“Please!” I blurt out.
One more of the wolves halts and falls back as well, joining Maddox, but my vision is starting to get blurred, little black dots appearing in front of them.
Then there is a crack, and another one.
A rumble goes through Tulip’s body as he crashes to the ground, rolling over several times. The fall has tossed me to the side, or I would have probably been crushed to death with Tulip on top of me.
My heart is hammering in my chest as I scramble up on my feet and run to where Tulip has come to a halt. I stumble and fall more than once, my legs not listening to me. My shoulder and knee hurt, but I don’t care.
“Tulip,” I whisper, finally reaching my horse, my friend. He is panting heavily, foam in front of his mouth, his eyes still wide in panic. He struggles but can’t get up.
Our pursuers have all stopped. Just one of them shifts and comes running towards me. “Gwen!” Brandon yells. “Goddess, Gwen, did you get hurt? This-“
“Go away,” I scream. “Don’t come closer, you monster.”
He stumbles backwards, while I turn away from him, wrapping my arms around Tulip. “Please calm down,” I whisper. “Everything is going to be okay, it’s going to be alright.”
I should get up and get help. I need to do something, but my legs don’t seem to listen to me. Eventually, I manage to stand and grab a blanket from the fence and put it over Tulip. I try to pull myself up again, only to almost fall over.
“Gwen!” Someone grabs me before I can drop to the ground again.
