Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 12

If only I could manipulate air the way grandma could, she was a mystic when it came to elements, almost as if they spoke to her; she could manipulate them all to do her bidding. I tried to master the elements but was never as good at it as she, plants I can to some extent, even water, but air is not an element I ever picked up in her teachings, same as fire. The most I could do with fire was make a candle go out or make the fire pit blaze, but controlling it was never my thing; I had caught far too many things on fire, and burned way too many rugs before granny all but gave up teaching me that one, plants though, she insisted on mainly because I kept killing her herbs, so I know secretly it was to prevent plant deaths. My hands brush the hedge, searching for its source of energy.

I can’t part it, but maybe I could get it to accept me within it, absorb me into it. I press back further as the wolf eagerly sniffs the air, his fur caked in blood, his ears prick listening intently and I know I only have seconds before it turns its attention to me. Sucking in a breath, I grip the branches, thorns digging into my hands and slicing them to pieces.

Shutting my eyes, I envision the hedge absorbing me, forcing my own aura and frequency out, asking it to accept me. The branches rustle slightly, and my eyes open. When I do, I see the wolf sniff the ground, turning slowly to look for my scent, which I know must be emitting fear as I try to focus on the hedge and its energy.

At the last second, and just before the huge beast turns, the hedge swallows me whole. The branches and thorns scrape my skin and cut me to pieces while I hold my breath through the pain as the branches close around me, covering me from view completely and hiding me from the savage beast. The branches and leaves that encase me rustle as the vines twist around my body in a stranglehold; the plants does not like me within its confines at all, it wants me out but feel my energy and decides it can tolerate me for how long I do not know as its vines snake around my body like a serpent, warning me not to hurt it or it will strangle me. Just as the hedge stops testing me, the wolf pivots and faces my direction, eyes scanning for the intruder before it looks at the hedge.

The huge beast sniffs the air, stepping closer and searching for me; it growls, knowing something is watching it yet unable to see me within the branches and thick leaves. I just have to hope the roses perfume covers me enough because right now, I am a sitting duck, and if it attacks the hedge, I have no doubt the hedge will spit me out to become dog food.

It sniffs the hedge, huffing breaths and grunting as it searches frantically. Seconds before burying its nose in the thorny hedges, a howl rings out, and the wolf lifts its head in its direction. Its tongue hangs out the side, and its tail wags in the air excitedly before it takes off in the direction of the sound.

“Thank you,” I whisper to the hedge, knowing it wants me out of its confines. The hedge forces me out, practically tossing me out onto the thick grass. I muffle my gasp at the stinging of my skin. My arms, face, and legs are cut to pieces, but not as bad as the dress that is now barely clinging to my frame in tatters. The skirt, or what's left of it, is sitting high on my thighs; the long sleeves of the dress are the only thing holding it to me and barely covering me.

Walking over to the wolf's newest victim, I see it is one of the older women. Her throat had been ripped out; her satin blue dress is covered in blood. Her vacant Jade green eyes were wide with shock, and she lay drenched in a pool of her own blood.