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6- Life to be a dream

ALICE

"Come meet me!" My legs moved instinctively, delving deeper into the forest. Every step created small swirls of color around me as if the ground reacted to my presence.

"Alice!" he called again. I ran towards the dancing trees, feeling my hair flutter against my face. "This isn't funny. Come on, Alice, show yourself."

The fresh scent of trees mixed with the smell of blossoming flowers surrounded me.

"Alice..." the voice echoed again, this time softer, like a caressing whisper in my ears. As I kept running, I collided head-on with what felt like a stone wall before stumbling a few steps back. I raised my gaze as I tried to soothe my injured forehead and arm.

A metallic scent invaded my nostrils. Blood. A lot of blood. My blood. "I got you!"

— — — — — —

The sound of knocking on the door jolted me awake at the exact moment I was about to die. I opened my eyes, feeling a thin layer of sweat on my forehead. A hot morning in the High River is a rarity. Or was I just sweaty from the horrible dream I had?

I glance at the door as the knocks continue, getting. "I'm coming!" I shout to stop them from pounding so insistently. I look at the clock on my table: 6:00 AM.

"Who the hell comes to someone else's house this early morning?"

Ali is standing in an attack position, looking at the door and growling. "Easy, boy. It's okay." I pet Ali's head, but he remains alert.

I wrap my body in a soft robe before opening the door and coming face to face with Emmet, my ex-boyfriend, about to knock again. "Thank God!" he exhales, entering my house and checking around.

"What are you doing here so early?" I question, frowning at him, still groggy from sleep and suppressing a yawn. Emmet, with his tousled brown hair and piercing blue eyes, seemed more concerned than usual. He wore a leather jacket, probably to shield himself from the morning chill, and was too put together for a friendly visit.

He finally stopped surveying the giant space I called home to turn to me. His gaze indicated this, indeed, was more than just a friendly visit.

"There was an incident nearby, Allie," he explained, maintaining a serious expression. Even though things between us ended relatively well, he doesn't usually care much about me. He points to Ali, who is watching him with suspicion. "There was a body, too. They say it was an animal attack. I thought you should know, especially considering you have this giant wolf now."

A body was found so close to my home, and the suggestion that a wild animal was involved immediately made me think of what happened last night. However, looking at Ali, he remained calm as watched Emmet with distrust. "Do you think it was Ali?" I asked, my whispering voice revealing the fear I was starting to feel.

Emmet hesitated for a moment before responding, "We don't know yet, but it's a possibility. We need to be cautious. It's not normal to have giant wolves around here, and the town is scared. They might take drastic measures if they think these animals pose a threat."

Anger bubbled up in me. "Ali has nothing to do with this. They may try but won't accuse my wolf like that." I walked to the kitchen to get some water and make coffee. This was too much information for my brain to process so early without caffeine. "Everything's fine around here, Emmet. I haven't seen or heard anything strange," I replied, trying to appear indifferent, even though I had heard voices for a while.

Emmet nodded, but his eyes didn't leave Ali. "You better stay vigilant. You never know what can happen in these wild areas."

Despite his words of concern, something in his tone made me question his true intentions. I hated to admit it, but Emmet's presence always made me uncomfortable, especially after our breakup. I squinted, examining Emmet. "Did you come here just to accuse my wolf?" Something wasn't right. His explanation seemed overly convenient. "And why are you here so early to tell me about this? You weren't always so... concerned."

He shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I'm just saying to be careful, Alice. You live in the middle of nowhere and too close to the forest." He sighed, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "I just wanted to make sure you were safe, Ali. Don't you think keeping a giant wolf at home is risky? People are scared, and they'll want to blame someone."

I swallowed hard, aware that Ali could sense my tension. "Ali is harmless, Emmet. He's unlike other wolves, and I won't let anything happen to him."

I knew something was off but couldn't put the pieces together. I stayed silent for a moment before finally nodding. "I'll stay vigilant. Thanks for coming to warn me."

He smiled a little and came over to hug me. I didn't like him touching me. Not after we broke up because he cheated on me with his secretary, the day after he proposed to me. He could be a good person in any other respect, except in his relationships.

"You know I still care about you, right?" he said, keeping his arms around my body. Compared to mine, his size made me feel tiny compared to mine, and my body bristled uncomfortably. " You're so fragrant." He sniffed at my neck, apparently irritating Ali, who growled at him, “I miss you, Allie.”

"Can you let go?" I asked, trying to stay calm, stepping back, but Emmet put a hand on my face, tucking my hair behind my ear.

His proximity bothered me, and Ali's presence made the situation even more tense. Ali growled louder.

*"If he doesn't let go, he'll die," said a voice in my ear. I looked around with my eyes, but there was nothing. Again.

"Seriously, let me go," I insisted, trying to free my arms from his grip. Emmet lifted my face to look at him, holding my chin with one hand. "I'm worried about your safety, love."

He leaned towards my face, about to kiss me. I swallowed hard, and my body shook involuntarily. I didn't want that. I didn't want him, but my body didn't move.

Ali growled again, louder, obviously ready to attack him. He looked at Ali and hesitated for a moment before finally releasing me. "I'm sorry if I scared you, Allie. I just want to make sure you're safe."

"I'm fine, and Ali is here to protect me," I said, pointing to my wolf, who still kept his eyes fixed on Emmet with his jaws clenched and sharp canines on display.

Emmet nodded, but there was something in his gaze that I couldn't decipher. "Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me."

"I know, but I can take care of myself." I stepped away from him, clasping my hands protectively behind my body and forcing a smile. "You've said what you had to say. If you don't mind, I have matters to attend to." I responded firmly, indicating it was time for him to leave.

Emmet nodded, seeming reluctant to leave. "I'll be around."

As soon as the door closed behind him, I sighed before sliding down the locked door. Emmet's presence always brought back painful memories. I couldn't help but let tears roll down my cheeks. What in hell was that? Emmet had always been a creep, but what was he trying to do?

I turned my attention to Ali, who still maintained a protective stance. "It's okay, boy. He's gone." I stroked his fur, trying to reassure him and calm myself. My wolf pressed his face against my body, rubbing his rough fur against my skin more and more forcefully, but that, well.

It didn't bother me. On the contrary, it calmed my racing heart, slowing its beat every second we were together. Shortly after, my desire to cry was gone. "Thank you, Ali."

I had some coffee and got ready to go out to check the whole story straight from the source. I put on jeans and a comfortable blouse. "Be back soon, Ali. Stay inside."

My wolf remained seated on my bed, but I didn't expect a response.

The town was bustling; news of the attack had spread quickly, fueling fear and paranoia among the residents.

As I walked the streets of High River, I greeted some acquaintances who crossed my path. Everywhere I went, people seemed to whisper about wolves and wild creatures. What intrigued me the most was the lack of details about the attack. No one seemed to have seen what happened; they only heard the screams and found the body.

I reached the incident scene, where the atmosphere was heavy and permeated by the smell of blood. The police isolated the area, but I had my way of getting where I needed to be. The officers seemed as lost as the residents, with no logical explanation for what had occurred.

I crouched near the spot where the body was found. Deep claw marks in the soil and bloodstains indicated a brutal attack. However, I knew these marks didn't align with Ali's paws. My giant wolf wasn't responsible for this horror. Somehow, this lightened my heart, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

While examining the surroundings, a shadow moved into the periphery of my vision. I turned quickly but saw nothing. However, the feeling of being watched persisted, making me nervous.

"Alice..." A raspy and mysterious voice echoed in my mind. It was different from the one I heard when I was with Ali.

I know it's my imagination.

The scent of pine and wet soil filled the air. I walked a bit further into the forest. The terrain became more uneven, and the shadows of the trees cast eerie shapes on the ground. "Alice..."

"Who's there?" I called, but only silence answered me, followed by a tiny explosion.

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