SYDNEY

After she dropped off her stuff in her jeep, Sydney hurried over to the forest and found the beginning of the route she had taken when fleeing the night before. She was hesitant to even be in the area. Rumors started to flood the school's hallways about word of an investigation into last night.

Sydney knew it would look bad if someone caught her revisiting the scene of the crime, but after checking in at the lost and found, she knew her phone way laying out in the forest, likely destroyed from exposure of the elements. Unfortunately, she had to find it in order to summon some pity from Rachael to turn it in and hopefully get a discount on a new one.

Sydney squatted close to the ground and began to search the mossy green forest floor for the phone.

After about ten minutes, she got off the ground and let out an agitated groan.

With the back of her hand, she wiped the thin sheet of sweat off her forehead. Glancing above her, she saw the beautiful orange sky was going to give way to a haunting dark gray mass that held rain clouds in it. The massive pine and spruce trees stood at least two stories tall. The patches of thick grass occasionally swayed if the wind picked up long enough and the gust was strong enough to break through the upper vegetation of the trees with their strong protective branches. The late day's breeze tangled through and trashed the trees pine needles and leaves around in a flowy motion. Her hair was whipped up from the wind as well, effectively cooling the sweat on the pack of her neck and down her shirt and Sydney started to relax.

It was peaceful out here listening to the wind and the nature move together. Sydney knew it was cliche to say, but she had always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. She didn't know if it was growing up with such an adventurous dad, or what, but all of her life she had always had good experiences and memories outdoors.

After taking in a few deep breaths to further calm herself from the frustration and anxiety of finding her phone, she crouched back down onto the forest floor and continued along the trail.

Finally, about to give up, a sound from behind her caught her attention. Snapping up and spinning around she was greeted with nothing. It was then that she noticed the lack of chirping from birds and that she hadn't seen any squirrels or bunnies since she entered the wooded area.

"Damn Syd. You're just trying to rile yourself up," she whispered. She tried reminding herself that she was still near the school, and the likelihood of a larger predator was unfound with how much activity was usually bustling around. She could almost see the lacrosse field from where she was at, and she knew the parking lot was only a bit further in the opposite direction. After taking another glance around, she found nothing was there and came to the conclusion that what she probably heard was a twig or pine cone falling from a tree.

She knew she was starting to be in a time crunch with the clouds approaching. With that, she turned back to progress on the trail she was investigating, and instead slammed into a hard form.

The first thought she had was that she was a klutz, and ran into a tree, but upon opening her eyes, Sydney started to scream.

The tall stranger cupped her mouth with their massive hand.

"Hush Sweetheart, I just wanna talk." The stranger's voice was smooth, but Sydney had chills crawling across her entire body.

"If I let go will you keep your mouth shut?"

She slowly nodded, not looking the man in his eyes but staring into his broad chest. She had no intention of truly keeping that promise.

He seemed satisfied with her actions however, "Alright..." He pulled his hand away.

She looked up and found his startling bright blue eyes staring down at her. She opened her mouth to let loose a scream when his hand slapped down across her mouth again and his eyes flashed with furry. "Come on Sydney, you gave me your word."

Fear coursed through her body, and Sydney went to back away from the man when, instead, he seemed to read her mind, and his free arm wrapped around to press against her back. Contrary to her wishes, a tear came out of her eye.

All too often, she had listened to too many podcasts about predators and stalkers escalating and taking the lives of innocent girls.

The stranger smiled and watched the lone tear run down her cheek as it puddled when it hit his hand. It was his wide smile that allowed Sydney to notice his massive canines poking at his bottom lip.

Sydeny tried to yank back again, and in response he chuckled eerily. "Oh I see what has you startled. Do you like them, Sweetheart?"

Sydney felt her lip and chin begin to quiver under his hand.

"Goodness I didn't have you pegged for a crier. Would've thought Jaycen's mate would have thicker skin."

Jaycen?

Deciding not to linger on the name drop of a random boy she barely talked to, she knew she needed to act. She had to get his hand off her mouth, and away. She could see the lacrosse field over his shoulder.

Since the blue eyed stranger had one hand on her mouth and his other was on her lower back pressing her flush against him, her right hand was free.

Bunching up her fist she swung with all her might her right hand into his face. He seemed shocked when she connected, and that had given her hope, but before she could fully pull her hand back to run free, the hand that covered her mouth shot over and grabbed her wrist.

"Hel-" she was cut off by the quickness of his actions.

He used that hand and yanked it, spinning her around so now her back was flushed against his chest, his arm wrapped around her from arm to arm, pinning them to her sides and he quickly replaced his other hand back on her mouth.

His lips brushed her left ear, "Now now that's more like it Sydney now-"

Sydney wasn't listening, she was shaking her whole body, kicking her legs and then trying to smash her heel into his shins. She wasn't going to let this happen to her.

"Damn it, stop fucking squirming around or else I'm really going to hurt you!"

Tears were hot down her face, but she refused to stop fighting. Not without Rachael and Aaron, never knowing what happened to her.

Then to her surprise he released her.

She didn't dare look back and just started running. Her stomach dropped when Sydney made it all of two steps when a force hit her from behind and pinned her to the forest ground. Everything was happening too fast, and her adrenaline and tears made it too hard to think or see clearly.

She felt the roots of trees digging into her abdomen, and the roughness of the wild grass and dirt against her cheek.

"And here you thought you were gonna get away. That wasn't a smart idea Sweetheart. I do admit though, that was cruel of me to give you false hope. So, how do you know Jaycen?" He asked. Sydney could feel one strong arm pressing against her neck. Sydney was afraid if she tried to move, he would break her neck with one wrong move.

"Wh-who?" she asked quivering in fear of this psychopath.

"Jaycen Ward? Captain of the lacrosse team. He has these ocean eyes..."

"I-I don't know-know him. Like I'm not friends with him."

"You really think I'm that stupid?" He growled, putting more of his weight on the arm on the back of her neck.

She started crying more violently. "I don't even know who you are!"

"The names Elliot, Sweetheart." He supplied. He then ghosted his lips over the shell of her ear.

Another cord of fear shook her.

Is he going to rape me?

"Please, don't hurt me. I don't know him!"

"I know you're Jaycen's mate."

"What?" She cried.

"Don't act like you don't know. You're his mate. His second half. The only thing I don't get is how you're human."

"What!? Of course I'm human, are you trying to say Jaycen's not?!" she yelled.

Sydney could practically hear Elliot's frown in the way he talked. "He's a werewolf Sweetheart and not just any werewolf; he's going to be alpha of the Red Mountain pack."

This time she frowned despite her trembling lips. "There is no such thing as werewolves, and least of all Jaycen. Wai-wait did he set you up to think because of the prank? I swear it was just a joke! Please I'll-"

Elliot growled and before she knew what was happening, a sharp pain shot through her arm and into her shoulder as he yanked her off the ground and he pinned her roughly to the tree.

He held her shaking hands above her head with one of his own very large hands, his other shot out to grip her neck. His originally blue eyes darkened to black as he gazed upon Sydney.

Oh god he's going to rape me and then kill me. Rachael and Aaron will never know what happened, they'll be all alone.

That thought alone was almost more painful then the aches and cuts radiating all around her body.

"I'm so sorry Sweetheart."

Her sobs became more violent, cheeks stinging from the salt in her tears and the tumble to the forest ground. "W-Why are you doing this?"

Elliot's eyes softened and a frown formed on his lips. "You really don't know anything do you?"

Sniffling she shook her head lightly to say no.

Elliot swallowed. "I'm sorry Sydney. I have to do this."

"Please don't, please! NO NO!" She started screaming at the top of her lungs and thrashing against him with everything she had in her.

But it didn't help.

He didn't listen to her pleas and scream for him not to hurt her. Elliot's mouth stretched open and she faintly saw those lengthy white fangs of his glistening. Then his mouth moved to her neck so fast, it took her a moment to register the terrible pain flooding into where the two pointy pricks of his teeth pierced into her throat.

Sydney's screaming grew louder if that was even possible.

From there the pain only intensified as it felt like a part of her neck was collapsing and being crushed. She realized there was another set of needle pricks prodded the front of her throat as his mouth was now around the side of her neck like he was devouring Sydney.

Her lungs were finally empty and she lost the ability to scream any more. Her eyesight went blurry and her body went heavy then started to become numb.

Elliot pulled away and wrapped her in his large arms as her legs wouldn't hold her up. He had a look of regret in his eyes, but with the blood-her blood smeared across his face, she didn't understand. She tried to talk to him—beg him to help her—but nothing came out other than gasps and raspy movement of air.

"Shush, Sweetheart, shush," Elliot whispered gingerly.

He knelt down and gingerly placed her in the grass and twigs of the forest. Once on the ground Elliot brushed her blonde hair back and out of her face.

"I'm sorry, the pain will be over soon my little Sweetheart."

Tears continued to leak out of the corners of her eyes as she stared up at him.

"You will soon understand why I had to do this to you soon Sweetheart."

Elliot kissed my forehead softly.

"We will meet again my Sweet," Elliot whispered finally letting her head rest in the grass.

He stood up and faded into the dark forest. Overhead Sydney could no longer see the brilliant orange of the sky. It was just grey and muddled.

When she was no longer able to keep looking upwards into the sky and as her eyesight became worse, she let it lolly around to where she heard the howling of wolves.

The last thing she saw was a massive black wolf running at her with glowing sea-foam eyes.