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He picked up speed, forcing me to grip the long, dark fur that covered him and hold on. I sobbed uncontrollably.

“Don’t worry, female. I’ll have you crying for a far different reason soon enough.”

8

Marcella

When consciousness slowly came back to me, I instantly realized I wasn’t alone. I didn’t open my eyes, just continued to act asleep because everything came rushing back, letting me relive a nightmare.

Being in the woods. Feeling as if I weren’t alone. Then being chased by that—that—thing.

I repressed my shiver of fear as the image of the creature slammed into my mind. It was a literal monster, and the only thing I could think about was that it only wanted me for a meal.

How I wished what had been chasing me had been a bear, because that was less frightening than whatever creature had taken me.

I could hear it close by, and the very ground beneath me vibrated slightly every time it took a step. I tried to note my surroundings while I laid absolutely still. The last thing I wanted was for this beast to know I was awake.

Whatever I was on was soft, but I could feel things scratching at my skin. The blanket—I assumed that’s what it was—thatcovered me, smelled funny and was heavy and warm, feeling almost like velvet against my skin.

I realized, although still clothed, I was no longer wearing my boots or my jacket.

The heavy shuffling sound became louder… closer, and involuntarily I tensed. I tried like hell to feign sleep, but there was no getting around how absolutely terrified I was, and how that showed outwardly.

And then came the huffing. Puffing. It felt like hot air was moving along my arm.

The monster inhaled deeply as it dragged that inhuman furry snout along my limb and up to my throat.

I clenched my eyes tightly and couldn’t hold in the whimper that left me when I felt the warm, wet feel of what I assumed was its tongue licking at my neck.

“You wake,” the creature said in a harsh tone that was deeper and scarier than anything I’d ever heard. “You don’t have to open your eyes for me to enjoy this.”

I whimpered and tried to move away subtly, but a low growl rumbled from it and it gripped my upper arm. The beast’s touch wasn’t painful, but it certainly was one that told me I wouldn’t get away.

It licked my neck, then ran its nose, which—good God felt wet—along the spot it had just licked. I shivered, and it hummed, clearly liking that reaction from me.

I clamped my back molars when it slid its massive hand—paw—God, whatever the hell it had, down my arm. As it came closer, I could feel the fur covering its entire body.

The thing was huge, and it used its hold on me to jerk me back toward it. I felt tears slip down my cheeks.

The scent of it was strong, a mix of pine, wilderness, musk, and something almost familiar.

“Keeping your eyes closed won’t change the fact you’re here with me and mine.”

I could hear its voice right beside my ear, felt the deep vibration settling into every single part of me.

I realized then what that familiar scent was. It had been in my room. I gasped, shock filling me. This thing had been stalking me and had watched me sleep.

“This isn’t a dream, Little One, so you may as well open your eyes and see your fate.”

I didn’t obey right away. I just kept my eyes closed and wished all of this away, told myself this was a bad dream and that I’d wake up and be back in the cabin.

But the way it kept running its big, furry paw up and down my arm, and the gentle scrape of its claws along my exposed skin, made it impossible to focus on anything else.

I kept replaying the image over and over again. This wasn’t a human behind me. I didn’t know what it was.

I slowly opened my eyes so I could fully grasp the reality that I was now in. Although the creature was behind me and couldn’t see my face, especially with all the darkness and shadows, it purred as if pleased I had listened to it.

I wanted to tell it to fuck off, but when it slid its paw over my hip and placed it on my belly, its palm was so massive that it encompassed my entire abdomen.