Hunted by Desire

Chapter One

Staring into the emerald eyes that were at eye level for her, Salem shivered. She wasn't too tall, her 5'7" height usually allowing her to reach what she needed to and see over some people without towering over everyone.

But this male... his wolf was a few inches taller than her own, which translated that he would be about a foot taller than her. His fur was raven black, shades of blue and violet shimmering in the low light of twilight.

His eyes... they were the purest green she had ever seen. No gold, blue, grey, or brown. Just a solid emerald hue. It shocked her as she watched them, seeing a spark of desperation grow inside of them. Why was he desperate? why couldn't he just leave her alone?!

She whimpered and turned, his growl rumbling over her as she ran. Her eyes took in the woods ahead of her, looking for a way to hide. Against a wolf chasing a young woman? no. But long enough to shift into her larger and faster form.

She at least wanted to keep this outfit...

As soon as she got out of sight from the city, she heard them. Multiple growls. Meaning either she had trampled along onto another alpha's territory, or...

Nope. It was the other wolves that had chased her down with this black one four months ago. Could her luck get any better, she thought bitterly, rapidly doing a left turn and bolting.

The ground gave out beneath her feet, and as Salem cried out in fear a large snap could be heard. She whimpered, then began pulling her shirt off and her leggings.

Pulling the right legging off made her grit her teeth, realizing she had broken something in not her ankle, but her leg. She had broken the bone in her lower leg. This was going to hurt, she thought warily.

A keening cry erupted from her muzzle as her skin rippled, fur slowly springing to the surface as her limbs elongated, bones cracking and muscles stretching.

Whimpers fell from her muzzle as she lay there, her tail curled between her legs as she tried to stand. Placing weight on her back leg made her vision haze, and Salem shook her head as she curled it up. Her body swayed, then tensed as she heard growls. Branches cracked behind her, and the silver wolf bolted, her pace slowed considerably due to her injury.

Within moments she ran into a clearing, then stopped dead in her tracks as the black wolf stood before her, his sides heaving and a cautious growl rolling from him. He bared his teeth as she turned, readying to run again. Soon enough the other two wolves were behind her, cutting off her escape route.

She faced the black male once more, growling. If she had to fight, so be it.

His next actions surprised her, making her stare as he warily made his way closer, his head down a bit. His movements were tentative, and when he got within a foot of her he stopped and laid down, slowly crawling forward. She let a growl loose as he did so, backing up.

Small whimpers were heard from the male as he hesitantly nuzzled her shoulder, his tail slowly beginning to sway. She nipped at him, then stopped a the males behind her growled. Fear coursed through her as she realized she ha to let this male do as he wished, otherwise she would be fighting three enemies.

Her fur came up against a tree as she rapidly backed up, a frightened whine coming from her. She looked to the other males to her left, then to the one slowly standing and walking to her. Ears flattened to her skull, Salem shook her head, as if that would ward him off. He stopped momentarily, then growled and closed the distance between them.

She expected snarls and snaps, tensing in defense. Instead, his tongue brushed against her face, soon replaced by the male's cheek. Stilling, Salem closed her eyes, scared as to what this meant he wanted from her.