SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Five
I was not able to pay much attention to my surroundings at all because we were moving so fast. It was so dark, though, I’m sure I wouldn’t have even seen things if we were crawling. These guys were creepy.
They were already creepy because of the whole cult thing, but they moved fast and seemed like they could see exactly where they were going- even in the pitch-black. Then there was also the fact the guy named Jonah heard something I had said when he was nowhere near us.
I guess there were perfectly reasonable explanations for those things though. Maybe my words had echoed and I didn’t realize it. Maybe their eyes just adjusted well in the dark. Maybe they were not going as fast as I realized and it just seemed that way. Still, it did not feel this simple to me.
Suddenly we began to slow down and I saw a lantern lit, the flickering of the flame growing in the dark. Who still uses a lantern? I thought to myself.
I heard the horse neighs right before I saw the cart, which looked like one of the old buggies on the Western channel. With a start, I realized these men also traveled like this. Not with cars, but with carts. I turned to ask why we were taking this and not a car when I realized there were considerably fewer men than before.
A thought occurred to me that maybe this was my chance to run. But then common sense kicked in. Even if I could escape, it still was likely they would find me right away.
The man who fought and bought me, Jonah, faced me just then. I had not even realized we were still holding hands and was glad it was still pretty dark because I blushed. The last thing I needed was for my captor to see my blush and think I would lay down and accept whatever he planned to do to me.
Jonah spoke in an attractive gruff voice, “We will travel in the buggy home. My men will travel with us but not in the buggy with us. You may not see them- but they are there. Do not worry, we will protect you. You will be safe on our travels home.”
My eyes widened and I scoffed. I wanted to scream the thoughts rushing in my mind. “Will I be safe? With the insane men who bought me like I was a calf for sale?! The only people who would harm me are you!” I kept my mouth shut, though. The last thing I needed was to make him angry.
Jonah helped me up into the buggy and came in after me. The lantern was brought inside with us and the door was shut behind him. He then turned and faced me while we sat side by side on the narrow bench.
My eyes widened and I blurted out before I could stop myself,“We are going to ride alone? What about everyone else? I didn’t see any other...buggy’s out there.”
Jonah watched me in a way that made me think of a cheetah before it catches its prey. Then a smile slowly began to spread across his face- which should have disturbed me but instead made my breath catch in my throat and my heart stutter.
His voice almost held a hint of amusement, but also was gentle, when he said, “Clearly there is no room for any others in here. Other than the two men up front driving the buggy, my men all are fine with walking. Besides, you are mine and I want to protect you and make you feel comfortable.”
He set the lantern on a rack between us and looked at me again. I was not sure if it was the light from the lantern but he looked even more handsome now than earlier- and he had this look in his eyes that I would have mistaken for love if it made any sense.
He took both of my hands in his and a slight frown came upon his face, “You are freezing. Here, let me help.”
He pulled me into his arms before a protest could come out of my open mouth, but I did not stop him. I was freezing and he was very warm. Besides, he also felt nice. I grew slightly irritated with myself at thinking that way about someone who had basically kidnapped me, but I couldn’t help it.
I began to drift off to sleep, feeling warm and comfortable in his embrace, when he spoke once more- his voice quickly clearing away my drowsiness.
“I want to know everything about you, mine. I know you are beautiful and smart and strong just by what I have seen. But I cannot wait to make you mine and help you understand that you will never need to be worried about anything ever again because I will always protect you.”
My eyes widened and I almost gasped. It was clear he thought I was asleep, otherwise, I doubt he would have said what he had just said. His words made me nervous and angry, though I also felt giddy for some reason.
I pushed aside the stupid and senseless happiness I felt at his words and focused on anger. My mouth opened to confront him and tell him what an insane freak he was but was interrupted by a sudden loud commotion outside that consisted of screams and bone-chilling howls.
Jumping in fright, my head shot up at the sound. Jonah growled and faced me. He grabbed my head and said urgently, “Stay here, mine. They have come for you. My men are already fighting them off- but we will protect you. I am leaving now to help, but will be back.” He then turned and jumped out of the buggy and shut the door behind him.
I quickly grabbed the lantern and jumped out, not thinking about the threat upon us. The way I saw it, they were either here to rescue me or a part of the sick cult and were going to take me. So I just needed to run.
Right then my eyes found Jonah who had turned to face an attacker. I could see him clear as day and was grateful he had not spotted me yet. I turned to run, but before I could I saw something made out of nightmares that tore a scream from me. Jonah had turned into a giant wolf right before my eyes.
At my scream, the wolf’s huge head turned to me. It made sure I was okay- or not a threat more likely- and then faced its attacker.
I was going to run for sure then but somebody grabbed me from behind, lifting me completely off of the ground. I screamed again and started to struggle to get out of the person’s arms. In my struggle, I saw many more wolves fighting men I had not seen before, so I assumed Jonah’s men were also wolves.
The person holding me yanked me behind a tree and a rancid breath, that smelt like it had eaten trash for years straight without being brushed, invaded my face. I fought off gagging. But it was the words that left his mouth that froze me in terror.
The dirty brute held me against the tree and said, “Listen, sweetheart, I will save you from the mutts but I will need my payment to be awful good. I’ve never had a woman before but I’ve heard the amazing things you can do. The best part? My employer will be so happy to have you, he won’t care about me having a taste.”
I could not help it, I started to cry. Cry was an underrated term; I started to sob. I banged my hands against his chest and tried to push him away but he was like a boulder, a disgusting boulder.
Then his weight was gone and I was faced with a wolf standing in between us, protecting me. His pitch-black fur was barely noticeable in the darkness of the night, but the darkness just seemed to amplify the bone-rattling snarl that tore from him as he faced the man. I didn’t even flinch when the wolf- no, I knew it was Jonah- ended the brute’s life.
He turned back to me, saliva dripping from his jowls and blood pooling on the ground before me. The wolf’s sides were heaving as he panted and his eyes slowly lifted to meet mine, glowing in the dark.
My breath caught because, at this moment, I couldn’t care less that he had bought and kidnapped me or that he could turn into a wolf that just tore someone apart. Looking into the glowing golden eyes of the beast in front of me, the beast who protected me, I could not help but feel something inside me shift.
I was terrified still and consciously knew I probably could not trust him still. But a part of me knew my life was not going to be the same, and subconsciously I knew- though I was not aware of it at the time- this was where I was meant to be.
Then Jonah, the human, was standing in front of me, pulling me into his chest, whispering words of comfort as I sobbed. After a while, Jonah pulled back and brushed my hair back from my face. I could see him clearly thanks to the moonlight and he looked angry, terrified, and loving all at the same time.
Looking into my eyes, Jonah started to talk, “Are you okay, Mine? I was so scared when I saw you being taken. I cannot believe I didn’t get to you sooner. You should’ve stayed in the buggy like I told you- but I’m just glad you are okay.”
He pulled me against him and I couldn’t help but bury my face in his neck as I began to understand that maybe he was not really the worst person to be with.
Before I even realized it, a piece of the wall I built to not trust him fell and I whispered into his neck as I held onto him, “My name is Emilia. Emilia Boschi.”