Page 21 of Monsters and Beauties: Complete Series Collection

7

Marcella

T oo much wine.

That was the first thought in my head as I woke and gave a groggy groan, a pounding already present behind my eyes. In fact, that’s what woke me up.

I rolled over and snuggled underneath the sleeping bag further, the early morning chill in the air like a bite to my exposed skin.

But as I shifted, my clothes tugged against my skin, scratching at me uncomfortably. And then there was the tightness around my mouth as if something had dried on it.

I felt my brows lower in confusion as I unzipped the sleeping bag and pulled the top away, looking down at my body.

At first I saw nothing, but upon closer inspection I could see parts of my thermal top and bottoms had some kind of dried substance on them. I reached out and picked at it, the material stiff.

I ran the digits along my mouth, feeling some substance covering them.

“What the hell?” I ran my nail over a spot on my thermal top, the tip scraping over whatever had dried on me. “What is that?”

Whatever this shit was had a distinct scent to it. It wasn’t unpleasant, just… strange.

After getting up, I braved the chill outside to use the bathroom. I probably would have made the world record for holding my breath before entering that outhouse.

Once back inside, I heated some water and took a quick bath. But calling it a bath was very generous, as it was just me cleaning the important bits and any part of my body where that weird stuff had been on my clothes and seeped through.

Once dressed, I scrubbed out my thermals and let them air dry over the deck banister outside.

I still had a slight headache from the half bottle of wine that I drank last night, but despite the minimal hangover, I probably had the best night's sleep I’d had in quite a while.

I had heard no creatures outside, or I’d been too out of it to hear them. But I was feeling more optimistic and courageous today, and decided I’d save the island trip across the way for tomorrow.

Today I was going to explore those trails that were behind the cabin.

After eating breakfast, I gathered up my gear, put on a pair of long pants and some thermals underneath, and laced up my hiking boots. Then I slipped on my red hooded peacoat.

I even found a tiny basket in the cabinet, and would use it to collect some flowers to dry out so I could take them home. And then I was off, rounding the back of the cabin and going to the first trail.

For the first hour, I stayed close enough to the cabin that I could still see it. I brought my sketchbook with me and doodled some of the natural flora I came across. The mushrooms, the wild berries, the wildflowers in all their vibrant colors.

I even found a black raspberry bush that I’d been able to snack on as I sketched.

I’d had to take my coat off as all the walking around had worked up a sweat, and finally went back to the cabin to grab some lunch before I trekked back into the woods and took the second trail I’d seen.

This one was a little rocky with a steep incline, but it led me to a gorgeous creek. I spent a good chunk of time there, continuing to sketch and even feeding crumbs of my muffin to a squirrel that was courageous enough to get close to me.

I’d been outside most of the day and lost track of time, and before I realized it, I was quite a way from the cabin and the sun was setting.

The temperature had dropped considerably and so I buttoned up my coat and put my hood on as I held the basket. I collected more wild black raspberries and decided I’d eat them with dinner tonight.

As I started making my way back, I realized I had wandered further off than I intended. Although I was still on the path, I could no longer see the cabin.

I glanced up at the sky, the waning sunlight peeking through the tops of the trees, casting shards of light.

Everything had since dried from the rainfall, and I could hear birds chirping overhead, and small wildlife scurrying around me.

I glanced at the ground to watch where I was going. Boulders, pebbles and debris from the weather scattered across the clearly unused trail.

And then I felt this tightening on the back of my neck, this prickling sensation that had me lifting my hand and rubbing my nape.

I stopped and glanced around, unsure what I felt, but knowing there was something out there. But there was nothing around. Despite that, I still felt this uneasiness of not being alone.

My heart was racing, my body knowing something I didn’t, that instinctual survival part of me was urging me to move quicker.

So I picked up my pace, feeling as if I were being watched.

A twig snapped in the distance, a flock of birds scattering overhead. I was panting now, running, my haste causing me to trip several times.

The heavy sensation around my body increased, and when I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see something following me, my foot got caught on an exposed root, taking me down.

I fell onto my hands and knees, the little basket dropping out of my grasp, my sketchpad and the berries scattering all over the place. I made a gasp of pain as pebbles dug into my palms, but I pushed the discomfort away and got back up, running again.

By now the sun was swiftly setting, dusk covering the sky. Because I was in the woods, everything seemed more ominous, more shadowy.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I should’ve been paying more attention, especially with the bear activity the other night. I only focused on getting back to the cabin, not caring about the basket or berries or even my sketchpad that was now left behind.

And then I heard it… something moving toward me. It was picking up its pace, twigs snapping under its heavy footfalls.

Whatever was there was huge, and all I could see was some big ass black bear charging toward me, starving and ready to tear me apart. Involuntarily, I gave out a startled cry and heard the creature move even faster. I was crying now, my vision becoming blurry.

And then it huffed out, made this deep, rumbling sound that was far too close.

I screamed when I felt something reach out and touch my hair. No way was I going to slow down or look behind me. Fuck that.

“Running only excites me,” I heard it whisper.

I felt my eyes widen. Oh God, it wasn’t an animal. It was a man. He was stalking me, chasing me.

And when I felt something skate down the length of my spine, I screamed again and went down hard, my ankle twisting, my body falling to the side and right down a small drop-off. I lifted my arms to brace myself from the impact as I rolled.

When I landed on the bottom, a harsh breath left me. I was dizzy, my body sore from the fall, and for a moment I couldn't move as I panted. But then I heard twigs snapping far too close for comfort and forced myself to roll onto my back and pushed myself up.

And then I saw what was several feet from me. I crab walked backward as the creature came closer. That wasn’t a man. That wasn't even human. How did it speak, then?

My lungs burned as I hyperventilated.

The creature was wolf-like, but… not. It was some monstrous animal/human hybrid that was plucked out of my damn nightmares.

It came closer, his body hunched over as it walked on all fours.

When the thick trunk of a tree stopped me from retreating, I wanted to scream, to fight back. But I was terrified, unable to move, this cold dread washing over me.

When it was a few feet from me it stopped, the shadows of nightfall shrouding too much of this beast. I could make out its massive body and inhuman head. I could see a longer face and a snout, sharp teeth, and fur covering its entire body.

And then the thing slowly rose to stand on two hind legs, its calves angled like a wolf’s so they looked bent.

It came closer, the ground vibrating from how powerful its steps were. The thing had to be at least seven feet tall, completely covered in fur, with bulging, massive arms, hands that were more like paws and tipped with black claws. It had a thick, furry tail that was moving back and forth, reminiscent of a predator about to pounce.

God… the thing was naked and aroused, and what hung between its legs was massive.

“No,” I whispered and shook my head, holding my hands out like that would actually ward it off.

I trailed my gaze up its barreled chest and to its wolf-like face.

Holy shit.

Although it looked like a wolf— werewolf, my mind whispered—it held very clear intelligence behind its dark eyes as it watched me.

“Oh God. Please. Please don’t hurt me.” My voice was whisper-thin. I wasn’t even sure I’d spoken the words aloud. “W-what are you?” It was so close now that all I smelled was this wild scent that clung to it.

Here was this primitive creature crowding me, breathing on me… refusing to give me space. It was going to eat me. I was sure of it. Why else would it be here? What other purpose would it have for me?

“I’m the one that is going to make you mine.”

I shook my head and lashed out, raking my nails along his chest, feeling hard, defined muscle underneath. He was fast as he snapped his paw out and curled it around my wrist, my palm and fingers so tiny compared to his.

I felt my survival instinct rise as I screamed and kick out, but I was like an annoying gnat compared to him, I was sure.

And when he let go of my wrist to grab my ankle, stopping my foot from connecting with the huge thing he had between his legs, I screamed again. But this time it was in fear. Bone-chilling fear.

He stood and started dragging me away like I was a damn sack of potatoes.

I twisted my body, clawing at the ground, dirt digging underneath my nails. Tears made my vision blurry, and then the world turned as he lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder.

For a second, the wind left me in a rush when my stomach connected with his shoulder. I lay there, flopping around from his movements.

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.”