Forever Mine

EIGHTEEN

Later that night Roxy was curled up beneath the blankets. Despite it being another warm summer night, a chill ached her bones and goosebumps prickled her skin. She shuffled down into the cocoon of the blankets deeper, burying her face into the soft pillow. Something was making her nervous. Sweat suddenly broke from her cold skin and her heart began accelerating. The wolf inside her stirred, on alert for potential danger.

Roxy's eyes sprung open when her ears twitched at a noise. Remaining frozen, she didn't dare breathe as she waited for another sound. Her heartbeat thudded in her chest as she waited. Nothing. She was about to let her eyes flutter shut when she heard the sound again. A frown settled on her face when she tried to pinpoint it, only for her heart to skitter into a nervous flurry when she recognised the sound of claws against wood. Tick, tack, tick, tack. With a nervous whimper, she slowly rolled over so she was looking out the French doors.

The footsteps continued, making the timber of the veranda creak, the claws clacking with every step. Trembling, she peered over the edge of her duvet, waiting for whatever it is to appear on the other side of the glass doors. Outside the moonlight glowed, the full moon white and bright in the clear sky. She looked up to the roof, imagining Isaac in his bed above. She wouldn't be harmed as long as he was here. Then with a nauseating realisation, she remembered he wasn't home. He was out on night patrol.

Roxy shrunk back into her bed, fear consuming her courage to fight, as a tip of a nose appeared at the edge of the doorway. It was twitching from side to side and she could hear its quick sniffs. It was looking for something. Her. A bony paw came into view, followed by another. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the skinny wolf standing outside the doors, the moonlight showing the poor condition of its coat dotted in shaggy patches. Not daring to move a muscle she continued to look at it simply standing out the door, as if it were a statue.

Then, its head suddenly whipped around. Glowing yellow eyes stared into her. A scream tore from her throat as the wolf gave a roar on the other side. Glass shattered as it launched itself through the doors, the sharp shards tumbling into the carpet. With her heart in her throat, Roxy scrambled out of the bed but her sheet tangled around her foot, leaving her to fall onto the carpet. During her entanglement, the rogue launched itself onto the bed, sending feathers flying as its sharp claws tore open the covers of the pillows. With a sharp yank of her leg the sheet tore, allowing Roxy to scurry away from the creature, her eyes widened with fear as her back collided with the bedside table. She wanted to call out for help but her voice box had disappeared, strangled by fear. Tears began streaming down her face and her body trembled uncontrollably as the rogue crept towards her, its yellow irises glowering with anger while its pupils dilated with bloodlust.

She whimpered as she inched away from it, pushing herself against the bedside table so much that her belongings slid from its tilted surface. The photograph of her and Cleo dropped to the carpet by her feet. Keeping her eyes on the photograph, she tried to transport herself back to the happy memory at the lake in summer, jet skis and watermelon juices dribbling down her chin. The rogue's hot breath fanned across her face. Its breath stunk of rotten carcass and blood. A spine-chilling growl came from its throat, exposing yellowing and snapped teeth connected by strings of saliva. Panic clutched Roxy in its grasp as her wolf let out a frightened howl. Sobs escaped her lips when the rogue's forehead pressed against hers. Its fur wasn't like any other wolf's soft coat, but rough, scratching her skin.

Death danced around her. Images of her life flickered through her mind in snapshots; waking up to find her father gone, her mother's crumpled body locked away in her bedroom, Cleo's smiling face, the beaches of Saltwater Woods, the mountains and clear lakes of Moonlight Ridge, Kayla, Abigail, Levi and Isaac. The image of Isaac hung around, his green eyes piercing into her as she was held in his strong embrace. Clutching onto her, begging her not to go.