Forbidden
Автор
Ella Bujold
Прочтений
469K
Глав
23
Chapter 1: A Walk in the Woods
AMELIA
I placed the final box into the back of the truck and pulled the door down, closing it shut. I glanced back up at the house, sighing with remorse, as this would be the last time I would see my childhood home.
I wiped the tears from my face as I rounded the truck, not paying attention to my surroundings, and accidentally bumped into a stranger.
I lost my footing and nearly fell backward, but the strange man caught me by my wrist and stood me back up. I chuckled with embarrassment and avoided his gaze. “Thank you,” I said politely. “I’m so sorry for bumping into you. I wasn’t paying attention.” I said while scratching the back of my head.
I finally looked up and gazed into the man's eyes, all words and thoughts escaping me. He was gorgeous with dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes, dimpled cheeks, and plump lips. The man was over six feet tall, and his muscles protruded from his thin t-shirt.
He smiled, and my heart fluttered as my cheeks reddened. The man raised a hand and shook his head. “No need to apologize. I don’t mind having such a beautiful creature as yourself bumping into me.”
He said with a flirtatious grin and I turned away from him, trying to hide the deep red blush forming on my cheeks.
I chuckled lightly and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Thanks again, but I’ve got to get going,” I told the mysterious man as I took a few steps toward the truck.
The man smiled again, his eyes gazing up and down my frame. “It’s been a pleasure bumping into you, and maybe one day we will bump into each other again.” He said in a hopeful tone, and I smiled broadly.
I nodded my head. “Guess we will have to wait and see,” I said before getting into the truck and driving away, watching in the rearview mirror as the man disappeared into the distance.
I finally arrived at the storage place, unable to stop thinking about the mysterious man. I drove up to my unit and saw George waiting impatiently for me. I pulled up beside him and jumped out of the truck. “I’m sorry for being late,” I told him, and he shook his head.
George opened the back door. “It’s alright, kiddo, let’s just get to work. I have to be home in a couple of hours.” He told me, and I nodded in understanding as we got to work.
I grabbed the final box off the truck. “This is the last one, George,” I said as I placed it neatly into the storage unit.
George looked at me, a solemn expression on his face. “You sure you want to do this, kiddo?” He questioned me.
George was my father’s best friend and has been good to me since my parents passed. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
He has been the support system I didn’t realize I needed to get through this. I stood there, staring into the unit, glancing around at my whole life, which was now neatly packed into boxes.
I inhaled deeply. “Yes, I am sure. I need to do this for myself and my parents.” I had thought about this for some time now, struggling with the decision. But, in the end, I decided it was the best thing for me to do.
George placed a hand on my shoulder and lightly squeezed. “I understand.” He smiled reassuringly. Even though he was against me doing this, I knew he would never stop me.
I glanced once more, then quickly slammed the door shut before I changed my mind and backed out.
I had dreamed of attending university in Toronto and becoming a coroner, something I had been working toward for years, and I saved every penny I earned to achieve this dream. However, after my parents passed, I knew I needed to do this before continuing with my plans.
After an eternity of driving and listening/singing along to every song I had downloaded onto my phone, I finally arrived at Killarney Provincial Park, my first destination. This unforgiving forest was the most crucial and was the first on my list for that very reason.
I stepped out of the car, stretching my muscles and limbs. I began to feel overwhelmed that I was here and without my parents. It felt a bit surreal, to be honest. I gazed around at the park; everything was so beautiful and lush. The trees stood tall and proud, as far as the eye could see. My goal was to reach Killarney Lake. It was a long and treacherous hike through the Crack trail, but I was determined to make it.
I grabbed all my gear, locked the car and began my journey. As I walked through the trails, I took my time admiring the beauty surrounding me and capturing photos of anything that stood out. It was so peaceful and calming here.
I stopped for a beat along the path, needing a break and a moment to rest. I gazed around, and although I was surrounded by beautiful scenery, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mr. Mysterious, and the butterflies swarmed in my belly as I pictured his beautiful smile.
I shook my head and continued walking along the trail, trying to clear my head of the strange man I would probably never meet again.
I had been on the trail for a few hours now, and the sun was beginning to set, making me realize that the day had slipped away from me and soon, darkness would be upon me. Thankfully, I was prepared and had brought a small tent with me, just in case.
I walked a bit further and noticed a small opening in the trees, almost like a path. I was hesitant to go off the trail but wanted to set up somewhere with coverage. So I veered off the course and into the clearing.
The thick brush nearly swallowed me whole as I pushed my way through. With each step, I walked further away from the path, and I could see a small area of ground that was enough for me to set up my tent. I set down my things and gazed around at the beautiful view. I honestly was astonished at the scenery here.
I started getting everything together, taking my time and setting things up how I wanted, but then I heard a loud growl behind me.
I froze as my heart began racing, and my breathing became ragged. I knew there were large animals out here, and I had just hoped not to run into any of them. Luckily, George gave me some bear spray. I did my best to remain calm, trying not to make any noise or sudden movements.
I bent down and slowly reached into my bag to grab the spray can. Then, I stood back up and glanced around, staring into the trees surrounding me, looking for any signs of an animal.
Another fierce growl resonated off the trees, but it came from my left and sounded much closer this time. I looked all around but couldn’t see anything, and I was rapidly losing light, making it harder for me to see. The sound of branches cracking flooded my ears as a vicious snarl came from behind me.
I turned around and was horrified at the beast crouched before me. A large reddish-brown wolf stood before me. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. The wolf was massive and broad but beautiful in all his glory. I was shocked and scared half to death. However, I also admired the beast before me. The wolf now stood in an attack position, his large ears folded back and deadly sharp teeth on display.
Panic was rising quickly within me. I gripped my spray can tightly and pulled the trigger, aiming it directly at him. The wolf whimpered loudly and stumbled backward. I took this as my opportunity, not wasting a second, and bolted in the opposite direction. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but within mere seconds, a loud howl rang throughout the forest, rattling me to my core, knowing I had now pissed the beast off even more.
The sound of the wolf's paws began to pound against the forest floor, echoing all around me, and he was picking up speed. I continued to run, dodging branches leaping over rocks and fallen branches. My chest and legs began to burn. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a small cave big enough to hide inside. I picked up speed and dove in, burying myself inside the muddy hole. I took a handful of mud and leaves from the ground and rubbed it all over my body, hoping to mask my scent.
I covered my mouth and closed my eyes. Never had I been so scared in my life before. My heart felt like it was going to blow out of my chest. I could hear the wolf pacing outside the cave, growling and snarling.
After a few minutes, things went quiet. I peeked outside the cave, and the coast was clear. I slowly emerged, looking all around me, and just when I thought the wolf was gone, he leaped in front of me, causing me to stumble over a rock and fall flat on my ass.
My breath hitched, and my body trembled with fear as he closed in on me. I thought for sure I was going to die. I closed my eyes, waiting for him to tear me to pieces, but something firmly gripped my arm and yanked me off the ground. I whipped my head around to see what or who had a hold of me, and I was not expecting to see a man standing there.
The man towered over me, large in stature and muscular, with light brown hair and bright brown eyes. He grinned down at me before everything went dark, and I felt something strike me on the head.
DAMON
I finally returned from my business in the city and sat in my chair, sighing with relief to be home. I thought back to my encounter and smiled, picturing her beautiful face and how her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.
Suddenly, there was a knock at my door, and one of our newest recruits walked into my office. He started telling me about all the things I had missed since being away.
I slammed my fists down, cracking the wood. “We need to increase border patrols. I want those rogue’s heads on a spike, understood!” I boomed at the new recruit.
He nodded rapidly. “Of course, Alpha.” He replied, then quickly hurried out of my office.
The rogues had infiltrated my territory for the third time this week, putting my pack at risk. They managed to kill two of my warriors, and I had enough of this shit.
If my father found out about this, he wouldn’t hesitate to strip me of my Alpha title for failing to protect the pack and fulfill my obligations.
Another knock rang at my door. “Come in,” I said aloud, then pinched the bridge of my nose.
My beta, Luca, entered the room, “Alpha, we have a problem.” He said, and I ran a frustrated hand through my hair, lightly tugging at the strands.
I groaned. “What now?” I said, annoyance in my tone. It would be nice to return home to some good news for once.
“Brian and I were doing our rounds when we came across an intruder. She attacked Brian, but his injuries were minimal. We have her in custody, down in the holding cells.” He explained, as his eyes looked everywhere but at me, and I had this feeling he was hiding something from me.
For fuck sake, this is not what I need right now. I stood to my feet, prepared to go down to the cells and take care of things.
However, when Luca didn’t move, I stopped and stared at him curiously. “What aren’t you telling me?” I questioned him.
Luca scratched the back of his head and let out a heavy sigh. “Well, the captive is a woman and…a human.” He said as he chuckled nervously, and my eyes widened in irritation.
I growled loudly. “What? You brought a human here! To our pack!” I was angry at my Beta's decision to bring a human onto our land. Such a stupid move could quickly put our kind at risk.
I rounded my desk and stepped closer to him. “What the fuck were you thinking, Luca?” He knew better and had always made the most sensible decision when it came to pack safety. So it threw me back upon hearing this unwelcome news.
He took a step back. “When Brian approached her, she sprayed him with something, and with the increase of hunter activity, we didn’t want to leave her there, being she could be a threat to the pack.
“So we thought it would be wise to capture the woman and bring her back here for further interrogation,” Luca said in a low tone.
I rubbed my hand down my face, beyond frustrated at this point. “I understand your reasoning for doing what you did, but if you had suspicions, then you should have taken her to one of the outskirts houses.
“This way, if there are others with her, they won’t be able to track her here to our pack,” I told him in a stern tone, frustration coursing through my body.
Luca lowered his head in shame. “I wasn’t thinking, and I apologize, Alpha. Should I release her?”
I shook my head. “No, she can’t be released. She must be dealt with immediately to protect the pack and our kind.” I said, my tone tired and filled with irritation.
Luca gave me a curt nod and straightened his posture. “Of course, Alpha.”
I brushed past Luca and began walking toward my office door. “Take me to the girl; I want to speak with her,” I told him as we rushed to leave my office.
AMELIA
The smell of blood and metal flooded my nostrils, making me groan in distaste. I opened my eyes and tried to sit up, but my head began to throb. I raised my hand and held my forehead, causing the chains on my wrists to rattle. That’s when the memories started to come back.
I started to panic as I looked around the room, only to find myself chained up in a dirty, damp cell. I tried to stand, but the chains restricted me from doing so. I yanked on the chains as hard as possible, but they didn’t budge and dug further into my wrists. What am I going to do?
My heart was pounding out of my chest as fear took hold of me. Suddenly, I heard voices and footsteps nearing the cell, and then two enormous figures appeared before me. One was the man who had knocked me out, and the other was standing in the shadows.
I squinted my eyes and narrowed in on the figure standing in the dark. The man stepped forward, coming into view, and that’s when my jaw dropped open. Standing on the other side of the bars was the man I bumped into the other day.
I froze, staring at the strange man, furrowing my brows with confusion. He stood there, towering over the other man, and was built like a brick shithouse, wearing a tight-fitting shirt that showcased his muscles and jeans that hugged his firm-looking ass.
The man was beautiful and built to perfection. Staring at him was hypnotic, and the sexual desire rose between my thighs, causing me to squeeze my legs together.
I gave my head a shake and scolded myself for thinking such thoughts when I was staring at the man who was holding me captive.
He stood there for a beat, staring at me before leaning down slightly and unlocking the cell door. The man bent down as he entered the cell and closed the space between us. He stood tall and proud, with a sense of leadership in his posture.
The man stood in front of me, and his scent was intoxicating. I closed my eyes, inhaled the sweet aroma, and was surprised when his smell calmed me down.
Why the hell is my kidnapper having this effect on me; it felt wrong but also felt right. I opened my eyes and stared deep into his blue orbs, watching as his eyes roamed up and down my body, taking in every inch of me. Finally, the large man lifted his hand and moved a piece of my hair away from my face.
My brows pulled together as I looked over his face. “You,” I said in a quiet voice.
His touch sent tingles down my spine, and I craved for more. A slight smile began to form on his face, but just as fast as it appeared, it was gone, and his eyes had now turned pitch black. He lowered his hand and stared at me with angry, narrowed eyes.
His darkened eyes stared into mine. “Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here?” He sneered.
I swallowed roughly, my eyes darting around the room as the fear rose. He had seemed so gentle and kind before, but now he had a totally different demeanor, and those eyes were demonic.
“Answer me!” He said in a dark and demanding tone.
I pushed the fear back down and looked him right in the eyes. “I was hiking.” I managed to get out.
He raised an eyebrow, a bewildered look on his face. “Hiking?” The man asked curiously.
I snorted at his astonishment. “Yeah, you know that thing that people sometimes do. I came here to hike through the forest when that guy.” I pointed towards my kidnapper. “Hit me on the head and then brought me here.” I motioned around me.
The man glanced back at his friend for a beat before turning back to me and furrowed his brows. “What’s your name?” He asked me.
I scoffed. “Do you not remember me? Have you been following me?” I said in an accusatory tone.
He raised a brow and chuckled before moving closer to me. “I was just going to ask you the same thing, but I’d like it if you answered my other question first.” The man said in a deep voice.
I groaned. “Amelia, my name is Amelia. Now, can you please let me go? You have no right to kidnap and keep me here when I was just hiking.” I hollered in his face; I was becoming angry now and didn’t care.
He took a step back. “Good girl, now, tell me why you are here and why you are following me?” The man questioned, and I chuckled incredulously.
I shook my head and scoffed at his remarks. “What the hell are you talking about? I just told you I was hiking, and I most certainly wasn’t following you. Please, I’m telling the truth.” I pleaded with him, and he stood there, unmoving, as he stared into my eyes.
His eyes softened, and his muscles relaxed as he continued to look into my pleading eyes. The man looked away from me and squeezed his eyes shut, then groaned aloud before turning around and walking back toward the cell door.
The man glanced back at me. “Keep Amelia here……for now.” He said to the other man, and he nodded in response.
My eyes widened in shock and horror. “No, let me go. You can’t fucking do this.” I hollered at him. I stood up as much as possible and struggled with the chains, pulling on them with all my strength. The sharp metal dug into my skin, and blood began to drip down my fingers, but it barely phased me. My panic level was now in overdrive, and tears began to prick at my eyes as I feared the worst. Before exiting the cell, he stopped and looked back at me.
With tears pricking my eyes. “Please, I’m begging you, don’t do this,” I begged him, and for a second, I thought he was going to give in to the internal battle he was fighting.
Instead, he straightened himself and continued out of the cell, locking the door behind him and disappearing from my sight.
“FUCK!” I screamed aloud, tears streaming down my face now.
I came here to Killarney Park to go hiking as a tribute to my parent’s memory. I just wanted to relax and enjoy myself, try to ease the pain I was dealing with, the heartbreak I was enduring, and now, I was utterly screwed.
I collapsed, my knees hitting the hard floor as tears stained my cheeks, and all I could think of was the fact that my life was now over. I was going to die in this cell, rotting away for the rest of my days.
