"I will find you".
Veera’s POV
Running through the dim lit dark alley, I looked back cautiously. The brown beast of fury was chasing me. Growling away in the darkness, it was out to get me. I whimpered and turned away concentrating on my escape.
I didn't want to die tonight.
"Run Veera!" Leo shouted, but then I saw him get stolen in shadows by a pair of black gloves.
"LEO!!" I screamed and the werewolf behind me leapt over me.
Like any skillful predators, he turned me around, showing me his angry glowing eyes. My breath hitched in my throat as it started stalking towards me again. I tried to step back but he tightened his grab. His low howl sending wild chills down my spine. His eyes were sending clear warning.
DO NOT MOVE.
I looked around my surroundings and found absolutely nothing I could defend myself with. I was completely defenseless. The werewolf seemed to enjoy this moment, like I was his naughty pet.
"What do you want from me?" I whimpered and stared him in horror.
Time stood still. He looked at me deeply then spoke. "I want you."
His voice sounded like dark thunder that wanted to swallow me up. My body shivered at his one word.
Knowing it was crazy to hear him suddenly saying that, I refused to acknowledge it. I struggled severely, trying to run. But then a terrifying growl came and I was brought down by a huge weight from the back clawing at my back hard.
Screaming out of pain, I woke up with a cold sweat.
"V!" A red headed girl came in with her baseball bat and I ceased my yelling, but I couldn't stop the tears that were running down my face. Emerald relaxed and put the baseball bat down seeing as no intruder was in the room.
She switched on the lights to my room and came over to me giving me a hug.
"It's ok, it was just a bad dream Veera." She reassured and put the blankets on me.
I wiped my tears and nodded.
It had been five long years, since I had seen those glowing eyes. I hadn’t had this nightmare for a while. I dreamt about him after that night. I was chased, caught and kidnapped in the dreams but tonight, it felt so different.
It was so real.
I knew I was different from the girl I used to be five years ago. I was brave and independently now. I should never fear about werewolves now. Leo had become a cop so he could protect me now. I was working as a wedding photographer with a team and sharing apartment with a sweet friend now.
I was never alone.
Sipping on my hot chocolate at the local café, I finally felt relaxed. Then I got a phone call from my Aunt.
"Hey Aunt Rita."
"Happy Birthday! Sweetheart."
“Thank you! How are you Aunt Rita?”
"*I’m good. You should still make time to come over. I miss having you around."
"Me too, Aunt Rita."
Honestly, I missed Aunt Rita very much. She’s the only one I got to really rely on after the death of my parents. I lived with her ever since I moved here but as much as I missed her, I still hated going to her place because she had a very perverted boyfriend. He was the main reason why I decided to move out my Aunt’s house.
"*So are you busy with an upcoming wedding?"
"Not really. My client's wedding is in two months’ time."
"*Great! So I got a birth present for you! How do you feel about photographing models in Hawaii?"
"Models?" This was new.
"*Yeah! And the pay for this offer is really good. "
"Umm..."
"*C'mon, don't you want to escape from the city and enjoy a holiday on the beach?"
Maybe this is was what I needed. An escape, from the nightmare.
"Sure, sounds fun."
"*Awesome! I'll message you the rest of the details. Can't wait to see you soon!" She chimed and laughed.
Ending the call, I saw two people walk in the cafe in their cop uniforms.
"Hey Veera!"
"Leo!" I got up happy to see him and gave him a hug. He smiled down at me I and looked at his friend who used to be a drug dealer in our high-school. I was disappointed that Leo was still hanging out with this jerk he called best friend.
"Where's my hug?"
"You don't get one Jack." I sat down and so did they.
"Why not?" He sounded offended.
I glared at him. "I have my reasons Jack." I ended it there.
"Anyway, moving on. Veera, happy birthday!" Leo said pulling out a small box.
"Thanks! What is it?"
"Open it."
I did and found a really cute silver bangle with a little blue turtle hanging from it.
"Aww..it's so cute!! Thanks, Leo." I hugged him again, making Jack roll his eyes at us.
Leo was a really good friend, he stuck with me through thick and thin and even beat up the boys who made fun of me. During one of rough fights one of the boys had smashed an empty beer bottle on his head and even stabbed his eye as he tried to protect me. The boy who injured him ran away, but I was there.
It was the first time I used my ability in this new town. I knew I wasn’t supposed to.
Leo was puzzled when he found my touch healed his injury. He wanted to know but I kept quiet.
I couldn’t tell him.
I told Leo about my nightmare, and then I couldn’t help but started crying again remembering the terrifying eyes. Leo hugged me and wiped my tears away.
"If you don't stop crying Veera, you'll leave me no choice but to kiss you." I knew he’s teasing me.
As hot as he was, I promised myself that I would never fall for him, since he was my best friend for life. I stopped at once and pulled away from him. Love could ruin friendships right? And Leo had a cute loving girlfriend now. I shouldn’t be a trouble for them.
"I'm good but thanks for the offer."
"Anytime." He pulled my cheeks and I did the same to him and we both started laughing. We were often mistaken as a couple, but in reality, Leo already had a girlfriend whom he met at the academy. Plus I was good friends with her. Leo said that she helped picked out the charm bracelet too.
"So now that I'm a cop I did some research on the werewolf you met five years ago.
"You said that the hooded man called him…Cascata?"
I nodded. I could never forget that name, ever since that night.
"Well, you met one hell of a werewolf that night Veera."
"Why? Is he bad news?" I was confused.
Leo nodded, “He could have killed you and me that night, but surprisingly he didn't. Now why didn't he?"
"I don't know."
"You did something to him that night, didn't you?" Leo looked right through me.
I gulped. How did he know?!
"Emmm…how do you know it's a male wolf? It could have been a nice female?" I changed the subject swiftly.
"Wrong. The Cascata family consists of three brothers. All of them are powerful. They are billionaires that own a chain of hotels and restaurants. Plus, they are known to be killers and trust me when I say they have killed A LOT of people in the past, Veera." He sighed.
That’s it. The typical bad wolves my Aunt Rita hated the most. Since werewolves were quite a dominant specie, they controlled the world’s rules. They’re tops in the entertainment world, business world, the sports world, the security world and even the underworld. Human beings just hated the fact that their former bosses were now replaced by werewolves.
"Are they in town?" I nervously asked.
"One was, but he got away with a murder."
"Murder?!" I was shocked.
Was it him?
"Don't worry about it, you’ll be fine. If he steps in this town again, he'll be caught."
"Next time you're dreaming about me, I hope you're screaming my name in pleasure V." Leo winked and escaped with Jack before I could punch him on his big arm.
That night I closed my eyes, and I didn't dream of the werewolf chasing me. Instead, I thought about what Leo said.
The werewolf I saved was one of the Cascata brothers. It didn't matter to me if they were rich or not. It bothered me that they were killers. That means, the night I had saved one of them, I had ended up saving a killer.
I tossed and turned in bed thinking about this fact. I felt shame to use my healing ability to save someone like this. And I was more afraid of my secret might be revealed by the evil creature. The secret of my family and my ancestors.
Please calm down. I comforted myself. That was five years ago and nothing happened during the period. Everything would just be fine.
Stop thinking about him, Veera. Stop.
But I can't. His last voice just echoed in my head once again like a thunder. I felt a sudden chill down my spine.
"I will find you."