Property of a Gordon

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

It seemed as if I'd almost forgotten how sound the outside air could be. It instantly calmed me, my muscles relaxing as the whispers and stares trailed farther and farther behind. I was finally alone, but not as alone as I'd felt in the ballroom.

There was the cool wind that played gently around me, whistling and sweeping through my fur. The prickly grass tickled the pads of my feet while the leaves crunched beneath, killing the silence. The stars and moon illuminated my path, guiding me lightly from the palace.

My mind had cleared itself by the time I reached the edge of the forest where I found myself hesitating. Was it wise to enter after what had happened last time? Yet, Kendall owned the land, and it would be redundant to capture the same wolf twice. They would see the tribal sun marking on my ear soon enough and know I was already the property of a Gordon boy.

So with the latter in mind, I took a step into the forest and continued on, the illuminated path cut short by the tall, towering trees. I no longer had guidance, but I also still was not alone.

I could hear the sounds of numerous animals tending to their dens and nests as the prepared for yet another night. As I stepped closer, they would abruptly quiet, recognizing the sound and scent of a predator. None of them wanted to take the risk to find out if I was truly to be feared or not.

It wasn't until much later that I realized I was lost. I had managed to become distracted enough by my thoughts to not pay close attention to my surroundings. I considered using the scents around me to lead me back, but I took too long deciding.

Just as I raised my head to sniff the air, droplets fell on and around me before the rainfall became steady. The rain destroyed the scents within a few minutes, leaving me lost without a hint. All because I wanted to avoid the crowd of royalty's judgment.

It was then that I heard the footsteps. I darted behind a pair of nearby bushes to use as crude protection, cursing myself inwardly. Not only had I gotten lost, but I had allowed someone to get too close to me. Both were things that did not commonly happen to wolves. That was, unless they were as naïve and dense as me.

My trail wore a dark, thick coat, masking his or her face. Judging by their size, I assumed they were male. He carried a flashlight, which he swung slowly from side to side. The object would make a useful weapon, but it'd become useless against me when I attacked him.

He suddenly stopped, his back towards me. I lowered closer to the ground, my hackles raised and my hind legs coiled tight in preparation for jumping. I waited patiently as he slowly turned, almost facing me. There was an eerie howl and the flashlight swung in my direction. I let out a threatening snarl before pushing off the ground.

The flashlight flew out of his hand as soon as my paws met with his upper chest. We drew closer to the ground, and I was able to hear the slam of his body against the hard dirt as they both met. I remained over him, baring my teeth, ready to attack at a moment's notice.

Through my growling and teeth snapping, I could hear his voice. It sounded as if he was calling out to me, his voice trying to overpower my growls but only succeeding in scaring off any nearby creatures of the night. I took a closer look, wondering if I should consider him as a real threat or not.

Judging by his body, he wasn't a true threat. He knew better than to struggle or touch me, but he hadn't remained quiet, which made me hesitate. However, the more I studied him, the more I realized my judgment had been right. I would recognize those blue eyes from anywhere, even in the dark depths of a forest.

"It is Kendall!" He snapped, sounding irritated and cautious. I huffed at him, my growls subsiding reluctantly.

Kendall let out a sigh, one that sounded too much like relief, before giving me a pointed look. I didn't move as he wanted but gave him a toothy grin. Only he didn't laugh as I expected he would. In fact, Kendall looked annoyed.