––––––––
I'd seen wolves in zoos, but never one as large as the one in front of me. I was shaking from head to toe, but not from the cold. The creature had broken cover of the trees, and was no more than fifteen metres from where I stood. It raised its head and growled. I could see the teeth which would soon tear my flesh apart. The creature sniffed the air—smelling my fear? He growled again, and started towards me. I tried to close my eyes, but my eyelids refused to shut.
“Fuck off!” I screamed. “Leave me alone!” From somewhere, I'd found my voice.
The creature was unaffected by my words. He took another step towards me. I had only moments to live; I prayed the end would be quick and painless.
“Louise!”
Was this another dream? Someone was calling that same name again.
“Louise!”
The voice came from behind me. I recognised it now—it was Craven. I glanced around to see him standing some fifty metres up the road. The wolf growled again—it too was staring at Craven. I felt no sense of relief. Neither of us would be a match for the huge creature. Craven was walking towards me. He didn't appear to have a weapon. My only hope was if the creature attacked Craven first, and allowed me time to make a getaway.
“It's okay, Louise,” Craven said.
The wolf growled and began to walk towards Craven. He should have been terrified, but there wasn't a hint of fear in his demeanour. The wolf growled again, and then broke into a charge. Still Craven showed no sign of fear. The man was either incredibly brave or stupid. Either way, I was about to see him torn limb from limb.
When the wolf was no more than ten metres from Craven, it suddenly pulled up. It sniffed the air, shook its head, and growled again. Craven still hadn't moved. His gaze was locked upon the creature. The wolf turned and looked back at me. I saw something different in its eyes. It turned back to Craven, growled one final time, and then ran back into the forest.
I took a huge gulp of air. I'd been holding my breath—afraid even to breathe.
Craven was walking towards me. All thoughts of escape had long since evaporated. I just wanted to be back in the safety of the cabin.
“Are you okay?” he said—not the least bit ruffled.
“Not really. What happened? Why did it run off?”
Craven shrugged. “We'd better get back.”
“I don't think I can.” All the strength had drained from my body.
I didn't object when he scooped me off my feet. It was less than an hour since I'd tried to escape, but now I felt safe in his arms with my head resting on his chest. No words were exchanged on the walk back. Craven didn't break sweat despite the steep climb back up the road and track.
“You'd better get some sleep.” He lowered me to my feet. We were in my bedroom.
“I have to shower first,” I said.
“Okay, but then you have to sleep. Tomorrow, we move on. It's not safe here any longer.”
“Where to?”
The question went unanswered. He'd already walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.
*********
As I showered, I ran the incident back and forth in my mind. Craven had saved my life—of that I was sure. What I didn't understand was how. Why had the wolf turned-tail and run? Craven had done nothing which might have spooked the beast. I could have understood it if he'd had a gun and fired a warning shot. It didn't make sense, but then very little did at that moment. On my way down the road, I'd made regular checks to see if I was being followed. Not once had I seen or heard Craven. It was as if he'd appeared out of nowhere.
There was something else on my mind too—something which I'd tried to ignore, but could ignore no longer. When I was in Craven's arms, I'd had a sense of —it was difficult to put into words—a sense of familiarity. I couldn't explain it any other way. Ever since my accident, I'd felt adrift and abandoned. When we'd arrived back at the cabin, I hadn't wanted him to let me out of his arms. I'd wanted to stay right there forever.
As I rest my head on the pillow, I remembered Alison. Her death had been my fault. She'd been in the way—collateral damage. I craved sleep, but was scared of the dreams which might await me. Didn't I have enough nightmares to contend with while I was awake?
*********
The wolf's teeth were inches from my face. I could see my terror reflected in its dead eyes. I had only moments to live.
“Louise! Wake up!”
“Help!” I screamed.
“Louise! Wake up! It's okay!”
Craven was sitting beside me on the bed. I was so relieved to escape the nightmare that I didn't resist when he put his arms around me. With my head resting on his chest, I felt safe again.
“You were dreaming,” he said. “Everything's okay.”
“Is it?” I lifted my head, and looked into his eyes. It was the first time I'd noticed their colour. “I don't understand any of this.”
“You will. You'll remember soon.”
“Remember what?”
“We don't have time now. We have to hit the road.”
“Why did that wolf run away?”
“Something must have spooked it.”
“What though? You and I were the only ones there. I thought it was going to kill you, but then—”
“How did you feel at that moment?”
“Scared.”
“Is that all you felt?”
“Yes, that's all. I was shit scared. What did you expect me to feel?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“It does matter. Everything matters. I want to know what's happening.”
He turned his back to me, and walked over to the window.
“Don't walk away! Talk to me! What did you expect me to feel?”
“I hoped—”
“What?”
“I hoped you'd remember.” He turned to face me again. “I hoped you'd remember us.”
“Are we back to that again? What exactly is it I'm meant to remember? That we were once lovers?”
“We were mates. We still are.”
“Mates? Lovers? What's the difference?”
“Wolves don't have lovers.”
“Wolves? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Do you remember I asked if you believed in shifters?”
“What's that got to do with anything? Wait a minute. Are you saying what I think you're saying?”
He nodded.
“You're talking bollocks!” I laughed.
“You'll remember.” His demeanour was deadly serious. “You just need time.”
“I'm going to need a helluva lot more than time. Let me get this straight because I might just be a little confused. You're telling me you are a shifter. That you can turn into a wolf?”
“That's right.”
“You are so full of shit. Go on then—turn into a wolf.”
“That wouldn't be a good idea.”
“Why not? I'd have to believe you then.”
“We have to get moving.”
“I thought so. Everything that comes out of your mouth is bollocks.”
“You felt it. I know you did,” he said. “When I carried you in my arms. You felt the connection.”
“I didn't feel anything,” I lied.
Without warning, he grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me to him. His lips pressed against mine. I placed my hands on his chest, and tried to push him away, but my heart wasn't in it.
“Are you still sure you don't feel a connection?” he said when he pulled away at last.
I wasn't sure of anything any longer.