Raven's Rose

              I slapped his arm. “Stop.”

              He laughed and ducked away, running deeper into the forest. “Come on!”

              I lost sight of him, but could still hear him laughing.

              “I’m not coming!” I yelled back. My feet were frozen in place. I was terrified to keep moving, but for some reason I wasn’t scared when Eli was with me.

              Suddenly, I squealed as he ran up and grabbed me from behind. “I told you nothing would grab you except me.”

              “Don’t do that!” I shrieked. “You scared me!”

              “Oh please.” He waved his hand dismissively, as if he thought I was overreacting.

“You’re a little too bold for your own good I think.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that’s what my sister-in-law tells me.”

“Your brother is married then?”

“Yes. She’s a pain in my butt, but I love her. She’s the reason for this red streak in my hair. My brother and I are twins, and she keeps getting us mixed up.” He laughed at some hidden memory, and I was instantly curious, but before I could ask he interrupted.

“What do you think grabbed you in your dreams anyway?” His eyes widened, waiting for my reply.

              “I’m not sure, but it was big and furry with snarling teeth.” I said, shuddering at the memory.

              His eyes narrowed. “It sounds like a werewolf to me.”

              “A werewolf?” I thought about that for a moment. “Yes, yes, now that I think about it, it was a werewolf.”

              He looked at me skeptically. At least that’s what I thought he looked like. Maybe I was just paranoid. “And you think there are real werewolves running around?”

              I shrugged. “Do you?” I was suddenly afraid to admit it. Would he think I was crazy?

              He shrugged. “Hey, anything’s possible.”

              “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

              “Of course, that’s why I like you—and I believe you.”

              My eyes widened. “Really?”

              He began to walk toward me, taking one baby step after another. “Really.”

              “You don’t think I’m a freak?”

              His eyebrows arched. “Why would I think that?”

              He had me backed totally against the tree now, his face just inches from mine.

“Because my eyes are different.”

              “I happen to like your eyes. It’s the first thing I noticed about you, even in the dark I could make them out clearly. I think you have beautiful eyes. As a matter of fact, I think everything about you is beautiful.” His mouth came down on mine then, and I was powerless to refuse him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and drew him closer. His mouth ravaged mine, over and over.

              My mind cleared momentarily, and I was able to pull away. “Wait! When I first met you it was daytime.”

              “Huh?”

              “You said you could make out my eyes in the dark, but when I first met you it was in the middle of the day. What did you mean by that?” My heart was beating heavy now.

              “Oh, I meant the daytime, of course.” His eyes flashed yellow.

              I jerked back and eyed him suspiciously, and suddenly the connection was made. I ducked and squeezed away. “I’d better go.” I made my way around him and quickly darted through the forest, headed back in the direction I’d come.

              “Wait! Don’t go! I can explain!”

              Panic took over and I began running. “No! I don’t think you can!”

              “Please, Shae, let me explain!” He was instantly in front of me.

              I squealed, darting around him. “No! I have to go! Leave me alone!” Pure fear had consumed me.

              I finally made my way out of the forest and through my yard. When I entered the house, I slammed the door closed and locked it. I was breathing hard as I pressed my back against the door, relieved to be in the safety of my home.

              What had just happened? Did I just discover what I think I discovered? No, it’s not possible. My mind rejected my thoughts as I ran up the stairs and into my bedroom, where I collapsed on the bed and pulled a pillow over my head.

Chapter Six

                                        Shae

Saturday morning, after breakfast, I headed out to the picnic table in the back yard to work on my report. It was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the flowers were blooming. I also felt safe since my parents were home and working in the yard around me.

              By lunchtime I had accomplished a lot and decided to take a break. I called to Mom, but she didn’t answer. Dad, too, was missing in action. I stepped up to the deck and spotted a note taped to the door.

Shae,

Your father and I headed to Home Depot to get some mulch and some lunch. You were too busy with your work to interrupt. See ya soon. We’ll bring you something back.

                                                                                     Love,

                Mom

My heart raced. I was home alone. I turned and scanned my surroundings, but no one was there. I sighed and went into the house, locking the door behind me. I went upstairs to my room and set my things down on my desk.

“It’s about time you got in here.” I spun to see Eli sitting on my bed, arms crossed.

My heart jumped and I made a mad dash for the door, only to be intercepted by him as he grabbed me from behind and held me.

“Let me go!” I squealed.

“Shae, listen to me. Let me explain!” There was pleading in his voice.

I struggled to get free until he finally picked me up and dumped me on my bed. “You’re going to hear me out!”

“Are you a werewolf?” I blurted out in exasperation.

He let out a big puff of air. “Yes, but I’m a good guy. We don’t hurt humans, I promise. We protect humans.”

“We?” A wave of nausea hit me, and I bent over and put my head between my legs. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

He approached, kneeling down by me, but he didn’t touch me. “Shae, please. I would never hurt you. I tried to tell you in the forest all those times but you kept passing out.” His voice turned mocking. “You don’t handle stress very well, do you?”

I looked up and gave him a stern glare.

He held his hands up in defense. “Okay, I know it seems like I’m the bad guy here, but trust me I’m not.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How can you say that? You’re a werewolf! How’s that even possible?”

“Being a werewolf is awesome. And I have the coolest family ever. Wait until you meet them.”

My voice rose a notch or two. “Meet them? What on this earth makes you think I’m gonna meet them?”

“You mean you don’t want to?” He looked hurt.

I stood and began pacing in exasperation. “Eli—are you totally insane?” My arms were flailing in the air.