Monsters... all I see are their fiery eyes! Yearning for my blood to be spilled in this cursed territory. My eyes dart frantically, fear consuming me. Shifted wolves surround me, hunger etched on their faces. Towering tall, grey and black fur challenging me with a menacing glare. No hint of humanity in those dark eyes. Some stick out their tongues, others wear a sinister grin. Lost and alone, I always knew the day would come when I'd face against rogue wolves. Trouble was inevitable, and today luck is not on my side.

The peace I briefly savored in a bath earlier was shattered. Peace seems like a distant dream in this strange land that has become my reluctant home. Banished from my own pack, the pack I knew since childhood. My past of heartbreak and betrayal is a story for another time. Right now, all that matters are the rogues standing before me.

"Do it or die," one of them growls threateningly. A low growl escapes my throat, no words needed as I turn and bolt away for my life.

Perhaps they see me as a coward, but I'm weary of fighting and unwilling to submit to any rogue clan's rule. Being a kiss-up is not in my nature, not now or ever. My wolf Helena snarls at the thought of being subservient. They give chase, but I'm swift and elusive.

Running tirelessly until I'm certain they've lost track of me, I pause to catch my breath at last.

I did a big oopsie in my regular self and got dressed quick. Gotta check for danger before running like a maniac without looking around properly. Oops, tripped and face-planted hard on the ground!

Thought I was about to hit dirt when surprise! I almost kissed a really good-looking face right in front of me instead. Heart's going crazy loud. Wide eyes staring into grey eyes, messy black hair, all the place, red cheeks blushing back.

His eyes roll back, shut tight, waking me up from my little daydream. Shook my head a bit and slapped myself on the cheek.

"Helena, come on, what was that?" Silence is her only response.

"How can a demi-god be here in the woods?" wondered to myself as I leaned in to check his pulse.

Still alive. Phew.

Look around and see dead wolf bodies everywhere. How did I miss that? Oh right, too busy admiring the view. Not just hot but strong too! How did he fight off so many bad guys? Check his wounds - deep cut on his side. Ahh, wolvesbane.

Good thing my wolf side can help heal him for now but we need more help.

Shifted into my wolf form without asking nicely. Gave myself a little scratch and let blood drip onto his wound. Shifted back to human form and got dressed again. Checked his wound - not fully healed yet. My eyes wandered from his wounds extended from his abdomen to his face, with few scratches visible.

Oh, thank the goddess for keeping those cruel ruffians from ending his life.

His face, artfully painted. His abs, solid. Not overly muscular but sculpted perfectly for me. His lips, irresistibly tempting. I mentally scolded myself for such thoughts No, stop it. But I couldn't resist examining him while he lay there, near death.

I licked my dry lips, imagining how it would feel to kiss. Glancing at his chest, the hardness and the tattoo stretching from his arm made him even more appealing.

"Oh no, am I losing it?" Dismissing the sinful thoughts, I tore a piece of my dress to clean his wounds and tied another around them.

"Thank goodness! Gianna Lawson, I thought you were going to strip and have your way with him," my inner wolf exclaimed dramatically. "Hahaha...very funny," I replied defensively.

"Don't lie to me. I know your little game," she said before cutting off our connection. That wolf really knows how to push my buttons and leave me hanging. Looking down at the handsome stranger once more, I felt drawn to him like a magnet.

My heart raced, strangely craving his touch despite his near-death state. The moisture between my legs only worsened matters. In simpler terms, I was both aroused and captivated by the man lying before me.

I should've been running after helping him, but I couldn't bring myself to his side. I just needed one last glimpse of him before we went our separate ways. The of those rogues hurting such a handsome man troubled me deeply.

Suddenly, a loud 'SLAP' broke the silence. It was me slapping own cheek in a desperate attempt to clear head. How could I think straight when the man I rescued looked so captivatingly dashing? And how could I ignore this strange attraction pulling me towards him? With a heavy, I curled my legs up against my chest, lost in my own thoughts.

Time seemed to slip away as we sat there together. Carefully, I removed the piece of cloth covering his wound to check if it was healing properly. The sound of a twig snapping nearby startled me, and I jerked away from the stranger, scanning the surrounding area with cautious eyes.

Before I could utter a word, a low growl cut through the air, freezing me in place with fear. My heart pounded as I turned to see another strikingly handsome man glaring at me with intense anger, as if he wanted to roast me alive.

My voice trembled as I tried to explain, pointing shakily at the injured man beside me, "I-I was just checking his wound."

What had possessed me to say something so foolish? Mortified, I covered my mouth with my hands, praying for divine intervention to save me from this embarrassing situation.