THE NAKED SHE-WOLF.  

LIAM’S POV.

 

“Oh!.” I groan under my breath as I stare down at the creature I had shot with the gun, lying still in front of me. Only this time, it isn’t a deer, as I think it is. It is a living being. Not just any living being but a female, one that lies there stark naked.

 

“Oh!” I groan again and run my fingers through my thick Brown hair. My head is reeling with thoughts of things to do.

 

Is she dead?

 

I wonder and take a step closer to assess her breath by leaning forward with a finger under her nose. I feel something like air against my skin, but is it hers or that of the breeze here?

 

 Confused, I drop my shooting gun and kneel right next to her. My eyes trail down to her tiny round butt, and I breathe.

 

I am sure I won’t find holding a dead naked woman in my arms ‘fun.’

 

I take my hand firmly under her to roll her over, her skin against my innocent flesh. Soon her face is up, and I try so hard not to take a glance over her body, but I do. My now greedy eyes took a not-so-quick survey of her body. Her fair round breasts divided themselves as each stuck to the side for survival from the cold air. Her nipples stand from the coldness.

 

 I groan softly as I try not to picture her lying in my arms, her bare skin against mine. After all, I am not a pervert.

 

 My eyes follow the lower part of her body, tracing it till the end—her long slender legs and what is between them. I see a little bit of hair around her woman, and goddess help me as it takes more than ‘I’m not a pervert’ to stop myself from bouncing on her and taking in every bit of her.

 

But I am not a pervert. At least I don’t want to be one. So I pushed the thought aside and stared at her right hand, where the blood was gushing out.

 

What am I to do next?

 

Maybe I could flee and pretend this all never happened since Wolves like himself barely tread this path.

 

 

“Is she dead?.” I whisper to myself, expecting an answer from my Wolf, who seems to have abandoned me in this mess. Unable to get a response, I let out a loud sound and gnashed my teeth before standing up.

 

I know all I have to do is pretend this never happened since I never saw her coming. I had thought it was a deer and….. I push replaying the scene aside and stare at her now pale face. She looks pretty with her pointy nose and small rounded lips. Reflection from the moonlight dancing on her Red silk hair as I run my fingers through them.

 

My thoughts wander to what she was supposed to be doing in a forest this thick, naked, and by this time. A chaperone every-time must accompany a woman like her every day to prevent perverts from feeding on her.

 

Maybe she is a witch. Or evil, Or maybe there is a wicked stepmother somewhere who had pushed her out to….Just like in the stories I read to my sister growing up.

 

I push my thought aside and quickly pick up my gun, standing on my feet and walking away.

 

Halfway out, I heard a roar, one that sounded like that of a bear. I ignore it and go my way, stepping out to where I had parked my car. I open the boot and throw my gun in it, then step into the vehicle.

 

“Are you going to leave her there?.” Olcan say as I ignite the car, turning the key in it with my left hand on the wheel, ready to move.

 

“She is dead,” I respond coldly. I didn’t care if she was. Or am I supposed to be?

 

“How sure are you? What if she isn’t?.” Olcan snaps. I can imagine him rolling his eyes in an attempt to pass on his message.

 

 I pause to think about it; never did it occur to me to confirm her death, but what could be done now? What if the bear had gotten to her by now? Or maybe other animals did? Creepy reptiles…. There were so many things in this thick dark forest that would kill her in a few minutes.

 

“You caused her this, so it’s your responsibility, or will you leave her out there to the bears? The innocent lady probably came out for a run in the forest. Her family is probably out there looking for her, worried as hell and….jeez Liam, I thought better of you.” Olcan says and lets out a soft growl to show his disappointment.

 

I pull in a shaky breath.

 

Maybe Olcan is right. Perhaps she isn’t dead.

 

I can’t say for sure.

 

I left even before I could correctly check.

 

He feels other Wolves’ pains, including animals as well. He isn’t as cold-hearted as I am. It makes me wonder if maybe that's why the moon goddess paired him with me. I can is everything differently from me.

 

“But what if she is dead?.” I ask, confused. I didn’t want to put up his hope on something that might not be true. I know Olcan more than himself to understand that he never lets things go and gets attached to things quickly.

 

“We will never find out if we don’t try.” Olcan snarls, and I immediately know I have to get out of the car and get her.

 

 Olcan acts more feminine than masculine most times with the way he reacts, keeps grudges, and brings up old issues over and over again. I am still yet to recover from his constant reminder that I had killed a Mother antelope to leave her young one to fend for themselves. According to Olcan, I acted like a monster.

 

 Getting out of the car, I slammed the door behind me and started to walk back toward where I had come out. I hear the roar again. This time it sounds louder and angrier. I quickened, running fast in the order I had left her. Not because I care but because I can hear Olcan's soft growl of disgust.

 

***

 

I slow my pace as I get closer, putting out my feet a step at a time, careful not to awaken or alert whatever danger lurks around. Olcan had gone silent again, and it made me wonder if there was something he knew that I didn’t.

 

I’m starting to think coming back here to save a stranger is a bad idea, especially now that Olcan makes it look so. Plus, I found it hard to remember where I had hit her—the spot I picked her up. Nonetheless, I still remember her body's appearance and how soft and sensitive her skin is. It makes me want to feel her again.

 

Argh!

 

I groan softly to control my mind from going astray and push the thoughts to the back of my head.

 

I hear soft groans and push the flowers to the side gently to see the back of it, and its black back turned towards me as it seems its attention is on something else. I sense a familiar scent in the air, one I have smelt somewhere.

 

 I pause and tilt my head to see what captivated it.

 

Oh!.

 

I exclaim on seeing her still-pale feet. The little naked creature I had hit with my gun. My victim. Its prey.

 

I turn around to leave,e wanting to mind my business.

 

“Oh! Oh! Oh!.” Olcan exclaims, finally talking. “Your best, silly. It looks like someone chickened out at the sight of a big scary bear. Scared to challenge one?.” He adds and giggles.

 

I scoff.

 

“Scared of a bear?.” I say. “I’m scared of nothing. Have you heard my hunting tales?.” I add with pride in my voice.

 

Olcan let out a mocking laugh.

 

“Your made-up hunting tales. Yes, yes, I have.” He responds, arching his lips upward.

 

I roll my eyes this time. Pissed that Olcan sometimes gets on my nerves by mocking things; he knows I’m proud.

 

“They are not made up.” I snap angrily. None in the whole pack ever doubt my stories, not even the newly borns. I’m the strongest, and everyone admits to that.

 

“Well, it looks like they are, Chicken Boy.” He mocks and giggles again, sticking his tongue out to annoy me the more.

 

 The giggling is starting to piss me off.

 

“I will show you. I will show you just what I can do.” I respond. The anger in my blood builds up as my blood boils.

 

He does know how to get to me, and that was one thing I like and dislike about him—his attempt to always put me to the edge with the sharpness and bluntness in his voice.

 

“By what?.” He questions mockingly. “Chicken boy.” He mocks again, then follows a dry laugh.

 

I clench my teeth hard to hold myself back from driving my fist into his lower abdomen and watching him roll on the floor with his palms clutching onto his stomach as he pleads for mercy.

 

“Chicken boy.” He whispers, then adds a brief soft chuckle before going silent.

 

 Annoyed and pissed, I storm towards the bear, the ugly-looking creature with its back turned to me with its feet dug in the sand.

 

“Hey! Over here!.” I scream aloud, and the anger is visible in my voice. But it seems to ignore me as it gives me no attention.

 

“Hey!.” I scream and pick up a big stone, throwing it at it...

 

Grummm.

 

I hear its soft, angry growl, then pick another and strike it in the back with it.

 

Its growls get louder and more intense as it turns its head to look my way; it is drooling, dropping on her pale skin.

 

It groans again as though warning me of something.

 

“Here goes nothing,” I mutter underneath my breath and roar too. One that shows that I am ready for a fight too. Its eyes glued to mine as mine to its.

 

 I watch it turn around to snarl at me, its enormous body fully visible. Its stocky legs are firm on the ground, its two small rounded ears stretching and alert. Its hair looks so shaggy. Its plantigrade paws are flat on the floor with its five nonretractile claws pulled out, ready for a fight. Its tail is so short and barely visible.

 

Bears are the last thing I want to fight, not because they scare me but because I find them so easy to resist. This isn’t my first fight, after all, and I have fought creatures much more substantial than it.

 

 I jumped out of its face as it launched forward to descend on me, scratching him on the left side with my claws. It groaned, then turned around with its claws stretched ahead, aiming for my face. I dodge its attempt by jumping to the side, not noticing its other effort from the other side as its claws dug deep into my shoulder arm, leaving it with a deep scratch.

 

 I let out some air as I endured the pain, realizing the bear was exceptionally strong. Other bears would have gotten weak from my claws tear because of the poison in them, but they seem not to be moved.

 

“Chicken boy,” Olcan whispered and laughed hysterically, echoing as it faded.

 

He does that every time. He does the same thing every time he tries to get to me, which always works.

 

My blood boiled as I stared at the bear, my anger shooting its bullets straight to the sky. I hold its gaze as I position myself well.

 

“Rrrrrrrrr.” I roar and launch at him.

 

 Jumping on him, we roll down on the floor as I try to tear him with my claws any chance I get. I bury my fangs in its neck and eat out its flesh, sucking on its blood as much as possible. It groans and groans as it tries to free itself from my claws. I sit on it and dig my claws into its stomach, twisting my right hand sideways to get in deeper. A smile on my lips as I watch it slowly fade away as I manage its once strong arms getting so weak and its groan getting so low.

 

“Grrrrrrr.” It summons strength and roars as it strikes me with its claws.

 

I roll off it in pain, my head banging loudly as I clutch to my aching stomach, and soon my eyes close slowly, with everywhere getting blurry.