chapter six

On the way back to the house, since I was still barefoot, I watched the path under my feet closely to ensure I didn’t step on anything when a noise to my left caught my attention.

I couldn’t see through the foliage, but it seemed to rustle the leaves of a nearby bush clumsily. I didn’t know what lives on this island, but I wouldn’t find out, especially if it’s something that wants to eat me or fight me for territory. But I know better than to run from something that could be a potential predator. So as my eyes were trained in the direction of the noise, I made sure to walk slowly away backward, still on the path back to the house.

What stopped me in my tracks was the eyes.

“Let him look,” echoed through my mind, repeating Hemming’s words.

They were the same eyes as the ones staring at me last night. A shiver ran down my spine as a flush crept up my neck. Wait a second, why the fuck was I walking away? I tried to kill myself the other day. Technically speaking, drowning is a hell of a lot less painful than dying by a crazed animal. However, doesn’t it really matter anymore? I mean, my ex-boyfriend cheated on me with my ex-best friend, and layoffs were happening at work, so I might not have a job when I get back from “vacation”. Maybe I should let something else kill me since I did such a bang-up job the last time.

With newfound enthusiasm, I walked intently toward the eyes still staring at me, but what was interesting was they never moved and didn’t look scared or angry. If anything, they were more curious. So he either knew I wasn’t a threat, or he was too trusting. I walked slower as I approached, but he still didn’t move.

The second I arrived, he stopped hiding. Standing on its hind legs, it reached at least 8 feet tall. He was like one of those werewolves you would see in old horror movies. The ones where the werewolf was furry, standing on their back legs with fangs, claws, and long wolven faces. My eyes trailed down his body, taking in the massive biceps, pecks, and cut stomach. He was definitely not a wolf if he was walking on two legs. On top of that, no canine can be cut like a human. My eyes went further down, noticing a massive cock that was in a furry sheath.

The huff the creature let out made my eyes snap directly back up to it his face; the flush that was creeping up my neck definitely reached my face because I could feel my cheeks burning now. It was bizarre seeing a wolflike face grinning, knowing exactly what I was looking at and why.

“Hi,” he said; his voice was deep and husky.

“H-hello?” I gripped the edge of my shirt tightly so that my knuckles hurt.

“You’re not supposed to be here. Not yet,” he said with a chuckle at the end of his sentence.

“What do you mean? Why aren’t I allowed to be anywhere I want to be?” I asked indignantly. “Wait a second; I should be asking you the questions!” I paused before asking, “Is it rude to ask what you are?”

“From you? No, that isn’t rude. We were going to have this conversation anyways. It’s just happening sooner than I thought.” He looked down in thought before snapping up to look me back in the eye. “Come with me. We shouldn’t be having this conversation in public.”

“Public? We’re on a dirt path in the middle of fucking nowhere,” I complained without a thought. The second I registered what I said, my mouth shut closed. “I’m sorry. Just been a rough few days. Where should we go?”

He chuckled. “There’s a clearing not too far from here. It should be far enough so no wandering individuals will hear our conversation.” He looked down at my feet before shaking his head slightly. “I can’t have you walking with no shoes on. Not here. Come here.” He opened up his claws and extended his arm to bring me into his embrace.

I shouldn’t be surprised by how effortlessly he picked me up, but I am. I squeaked as he lifted me and then cradled me and his arms. He chuckled before resting his head on top of mine, nuzzling slightly.

The clearing he brought me to was overrun by thriving vegetation and wildflowers. I watched a bee fly past us without a care and then land on a bright yellow flower. The beast carried us to the middle of the clearing so we could still be in the direct sunlight and soak up the sun’s rays. He carefully rested me on the warm grass as he took his position before me, sitting as a dog would.

“We weren’t supposed to do the introductions just yet, but since you are already here, I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt,” he started by saying. His eyes never left my face as if he was trying to soak up every expression I could give him. “My name is Ulf, and I am a protector here on this island.”
“A protector?” I blushed when I realized my thoughts interrupted him out loud, but he just smiled.

“Yes, a protector. Every land and body of water on this planet has a protector. We come in all different forms. Mine just so happens to be this,” he said, nodding his head up and down slowly at an angle, referencing his form. “Most of us are born for this position, like I am. ”

“What do you protect?”

“I protect the island here, not the inhabitants. Anything growing from the soil here is mine. No creature or person can harm what is mine without dealing with me. I always get what is owed.” The kind smile he had given me just moments ago turned bloodthirsty.

“What do you mean owed?” My back straightened, and I placed my hands on my lap.

“They are dealt with, and what they harmed is healed with their blood.” An involuntary shiver shook my spine. I know I should be afraid of that, but why did I find that so attractive?
“From that, it sounds like you don’t show yourself to the other people here. So why did you show yourself to me?” I tried to take a subtle deep inhale to right my quickened breath.

“You’re different. And I wanna get to know you.” His head tilted to the side and smile softened again.

“Well, Ulf, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Liliana.”

Dinner tonight consisted of rice and cod with a bed of greens. The cod was delicate, and the rice had a hint of coconut that was so fucking good. But Hemming’s voice kept replaying in my head, making the dinner have a thick tension.

Let him look.

Finally, midway through, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are you a protector?”

Hemming paused mid-bite, then gently put his fork down on the table. He looked at me for a solid minute trying to gather his thoughts before he gave a slight nod.

“Yes. I am,” he supplied. “I’m assuming you met Ulf?”

I nodded. “What’s your form, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m a Kraken. Ulf was born, but I was made,” he started, sitting back in his chair to get a little bit more comfortable, and placed one of his arms over the back of the chair in a very open position.

“I lived here, on this island, with my mother and father. My mother was a medicine woman, and my father was a fisherman. One day my father took me on his boat with him so I could learn the trade.” He paused to look to the side, his eyebrows furrowed and lips turned downward.

“However, on the trip, our ship was sunk by a fucking Turk. As I drowned, my plea for vengeance was answered.”

He turned his attention back to me with an expression that was still hardened. “I never learned the beings that heard my prayers, but they took pity on me and allowed me to come back as this. It is also why I have a human form, and Ulf does not.”

“Thank you for telling me. I am so sorry to hear about your father.”

“Thank you, lily pad. But you don’t need to be worried about me. The ones who did it got what they deserved.”

His expression was malicious, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was how he would look if anybody hurt me.