---- 329.


    MEETING IN THE FOREST NARRATOR Elliot ran like amadman, barefoot, with no direction.


    He didnt feel the sharp stones or the scratches on his bare torso from the jagged branches in his path.


    Sweat dripped from him, his breathing erratic.


    He copsed onto the soft grass in the middle of the dense forest.


    His entire body burned, as if his temperature kept rising endlessly.


    His bones cracked in a strange way.


    He arched his back into a fetal position, enduring the painful tremors in his muscles.


    With wed hands, he clutched his head, which throbbed as if thousands of burning nails were piercing his skull.


    His heart pounded so fast he thought it would explode, that hed die right there.


    He clutched his chest, his nails digging into his strong pectorals.


    Something inside him wed to break free, to take control, tomand his willbut he resisted.


    He always resisted.


    The only time he hadnt was that night.


    He didnt know exactly what had happened, but it had been something very simr; he lost controlpletely.


    When he regained consciousness, a man was screaming beneath him, wounded and covered in blood.


    Rosses father.


    ---- He had watched Elliot shift from beast to man.


    Elliot should have silenced him right then and there.


    Instead, he made one of the worst mistakes of his lifeletting him go, showing him mercy.


    He had even paid him off for his silence.


    That bastard came back, of course he came back, and ckmailed him with proof of his transformation.


    Elliot had no idea where he had gotten it from, but it was clearly some kind of sorcery.


    Apendant with a ck stoneone that contained a memory.


    Amemory where Elliot saw himself for the first time, half-hidden by the nights shadows, vaguely transformed into a massive, dark-colored beast.


    He walked on two powerful legs, bloodstained fangs bared, sharp ws extended, his eyes glowing red with murderous intent, roaring in the middle of that deste swamp, like something straight out of the worst nightmares.


    Elliot didnt even want to imagine what would have happened if he had shifted like that in the city instead of out there, crossing that wretched mansnd.


    Marrying a woman he despised and epting her baby as his own daughter was nothingpared to what would happen if others discovered him.


    Death.


    Only death awaited him.


    He didnt know how to control it.


    He didnt understand the connection to his inner wolf, so he suppressed it just like now.