Wolf Kissed Soul

Xavier didn't move. It was as if her presence still lingered around him like smoke. Her scent, her smile, her sharp attitude, her beauty, and those emerald eyes. It all wrapped around him, suffocatingly sweet and painfully warm.

Xavier moved to the edge of the forest settling under an old, gnarled tree. He pressed both hands against his chest, and looked up at the sky.

Even the sky feels different tonight, he thought. Like it had thrown a blanket of love over him, reminding him what warmth felt like after a lifetime of Frost.

His lips curled into a broken smile. No one could decipher. Was it pain..? Or the first fragile flicker of love...?

"Who are you..?" He whispered to the sky. "And what have you done to me..?"

He laughed bitterly to himself. "I must be insane..or a helpless werewolf, who finally found shelter in something as fragile as love.."

He wiped at his cheeks.. only to realize tears were kissing his skin--- warm and honest.

"Ohh God.....what's happening to me? I'm the werewolf. And she's a..... she's a human. But my heart--- these racing beats--- they don't lie.. that mark..? that mark in her. It's felt like mine.

Could she really be mine?" (He whispered to himself with his broken voice.)

He broke into quiet sobs beneath the moon, the loneliness pressing in around him.

Seen shifts to Prizey....

Aliyah spotted her bestie walking alone in the distance, and rushed to her.

Aliyah: "Prizey! where was you? You know... we were not allowed to wander past the boundary--- it's dangerous.. Come on, what's going on with you..?"

But Prizey didn't hear her. Her mind was still echoing Xavier's voice, his eyes...his question about her mark..

Prizey in her mind: "Who was he..? What was he doing in the forest? And how did he know about the mark?"

Aliyah grabbed her shoulder's gently.

Aliyah: "Prizey!" 'Prizey..?"

Prizey blinked snapping out of him..

"Ohh sorry--- did you say something?"

Aliyah: "Where are you? You vanished."

Prizey hesitated, then smile faintly.

"Nowhere, I couldn't sleep. So--- I just went for a walk."

Aliyah: "A walk? In this place? Oh come on Prizey. If not for yourself, then think about me at least. I worry about you."

Prizey softened, playfully tugging at Aliyah's cheek: "Aww, my bestie was scared?"

Aliyah rolled her eyes, and pulled her hand back. 

"Yes! I was. Don't joke."

"Okay, okay I'm sorry.. let's go. No more drama."

(She whispered, while placing her hand on Aliyah's shoulder.)

They walked back to their tent together.

The next day...

"So guys." Sonia began.

"We'll do, what Prizey says today."

(John interrupted firmly.)

Sonia huffed: "Excuse me? I was talking.."

Max chuckled: "Chill. Darling."

Sonia's jaw dropped: "Wait.. What? What did you just call me?"

Rozy sighed: " Here we go again."

Prizey let out a soft laugh: "At least, things aren't boring."

Aliyah clapped her hands while standing on a chair: " Okay, guys! Today we'll focus our research on old trees, understanding their importance in the ecosystem."

"Old trees?" Prizey whispered to herself. Her voice trailing. Just the mention of it.. made last night flash through her mind, the eyes, the mark, the question, the ache.

She drifted into her thoughts again.

Aliyah turned to her with her questioning eyes: "So Prizey, Would you like to repeat, what I just said?"

Prizey blinked and gave an awkward smile.

"Ohh yes! you said it perfectly. I'm.... I'm so proud of you."

Aliyah narrowed her eyes: " You weren't listening again? Were you? Where did you go, when your mind wanders like that?"

Prizey shook her head: "I'm here now. I promise. And I already know what we have to do. Let's begin!"

Scene shifts to the police department....

Mike glanced at his partner. "Simon, do you think we should tell the commander?"

Simon leaned back in his chair: "Maybe, what if it gives us a clue?" 

Mike with his questioning eyes: "About wolf?"

Simon nodded: "Obviously."

Mike hesitated: "But....I don't think, he's dangerous. He looked lost.... injured. He needs help."

Simon scoffed: "Criminals always look helpless, when they want helpless."

"He wasn't faking it. Simon." Mike said." He was really hurt. Bleeding."

(They both talking about Xavier, when they saw him injured in the forest, for the first time.)

Author's suggestion: "In this prologue chapter... Moonblood and the shimmered gate."

Simon shrugged: "Fine. Do what you want. Just don't blame me, if this backfires."

Seen shifts to the Forest at night....

Prizey sat alone by the dying campfire. Lost in a swirl of memories and questions. Aliyah approached quietly and sat next to her under the tree.

Aliyah: "What are you thinking about? Miss overthinking machine."

Prizey gave a faint smile, looking down: "Nothing.... just tired."

Aliyah gave a deep sigh: " Tired of..... life?"

Prizey turned to her surprised: " What dd you mean?"

Aliyah looked away, her voice gentler now."Do you really think I've forgotten what happened to you? The things you went through?"

Prizey's smile faded. "Aliyah....I..I don't want to talk about the past."

Aliyah took her hand. "You don't have to pretend. You haven't forgotten. And don't ask me to forget either. I know what Robin did to you. And I know that's why you built this cold wall around your soft heart."

Prizey looked away, her heart aching as a flashback began to creep in...

Flashback.......