Chapter 208
“Just Damon, he’ll stay nearby in case I need help but I won’t.”
I gulp, holding my breath, too scared to pick up on any more scents after the rabbit, its scent alone has my blood rushing in my ears, the last thing I need is to start hunting Soren’s brother or his guard.
As Soren guides me into the forest the castle falls away hidden by the trees, my senses latch onto every nuance. The soft crooning of crickets floats through the air while overhead I can see shadows flicker as silent owls prowl for their nightly meals. The scent of pine needles makes my nose twitch with delight and somewhere close by I hear water trickling – a stream or perhaps even the waterfall.
Soren’s voice cuts through my wandering thoughts softly but firmly; “Trust yourself and your abilities. I won’t let you hurt anyone, even if you don’t trust yourself, trust me.” His words. seem to echo through the night when something else catches my attention, a thumping sound.
Instinctively, I sniff the air, catching the scent of something, something that smells like… I don’t remember shifting but like with Max, that urge to hunt takes over and forces the shift, leaving my clothes ruined at my feet. My sole focus moves to the sound of something running and the heart beat that grows faster as I give chase.
“Soren…” I stutter knowing that soon, I will have no control.
“You’re safe there is no one out here you can hurt.”
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Chapter 208
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Yet there is, whatever is making that sound that calls to some deep part of me. Some poor creature that is merely trying to exist out here but the urge is too strong when the breeze shifts again, and I catch a whiff of its scent.
The scent overpowers my senses, a heady mixture of fear and wet earth along with that delicious mouth water scent from earlier, my nose remembers the scent but my mind can’t seem to put a name to it. Listening carefully, I can hear the scurrying of claws on the forest floor, the shallow breaths of the creature. Panic seizes me, but not mine–the animal’s. It knows it’s being hunted and its racing heartbeat has mine syncing to it.
“Soren!” My voice is a desperate plea now, a desire to not harm this innocent creature. I blink, my gaze adjusting to the ethereal glow of the moonlight filtered through emerald leaves, everything glows brightly. My lungs fill with an intoxicating blend of fragrances- moss, wildflowers, damp earth, and the tantalizing scent of the creature that had set my senses aflame.
The scent draws me forward, pulling me like a string directly towards its source. Somewhere in the distance I hear Soren calling my name, making me wonder how far I’ve run from him but I’m honed in, so close to… to… it’s a rabbit. Maybe
more than one.
My furry feet quietly crush fallen leaves beneath them as I move swiftly through dense foliage seeing it dart between trees trying to escape me. Despite the darkness, I see the world with newfound clarity and greater detail than ever before.
As I creep closer to the source of the tantalizing scent, a small
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huddled shape crouches next to a fallen log, trying to hide. Its eyes wide and gleaming in the starlight, its heartbeat frantic. The thrill of the chase gives way to a strange calm. I draw closer, the sound of its pounding heart echoing in my ears, growing louder with each second.
Just when I’m close enough to pounce, a sudden rustling halts my advance. I turn and see Soren’s form emerging from the shadows. His eyes meet mine and the sound of scampering feet makes me jump to see my rabbit darting through the
trees.
In a flurry of movement, I’m off. I bolt through the underbrush, my body moving with an effortless grace I could never replicate in my wolf form. The wind whips past, chilling my fur and further heightening my senses.
The thrill of the hunt is almost overwhelming, the primal urge to catch and kill nearly drowning out all else.
Suddenly I come to an abrupt halt, every muscle in my body screaming at the tantalizing savoury scent hanging heavily in the air.
