Chapter 3

Two days have passed, and Gina had planned a hiking trip into the woods for us. She said we could not leave Fortbridge without going on a hike, that they had some of the most beautiful sceneries. So, there I was in black baggy jeans, a rain jacket, because the weather there was very bi-polar and for the three days we have been staying there I was starting to believe it, and boots that I was lending from Gina.

"You girls ready? Everyone have their backpacks and water bottles?" Gina asked and looked at both I and Frigg over to see if we had everything. Once she was ready, she went out of the door and to the woods as we followed in pursuit.

Gina looked like she was ready for anything, she wore a strange pack of clothing that looked like she was about to go on a hunt. She had a large backpack, and in the backpack, those strange purple flowers called Wolfsbane.

"Gina?" I asked as we walked across her backyard to a faint gravel road that I presumed was the hiking trail. It was narrow with ferns and large towering oak trees around it, forming a tunnel-like fortress.

"Yes?"

"Why do you always have those flowers on you?" I asked and pointed to the purple flowers. Gina stopped suddenly making me bump into Frigg and tilted her our way.

"Oh, it is believed to keep bad spirits and demons away." She said with a sly smile and started to walk on further.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, my eyes growing as big as saucers. Frigg didn't look phased and just rolled her eyes and twirled her finger in circles at her ear, making us both laugh.

"Are both of you coming?" Gina asked suddenly, a few steps ahead. "We still have much ground to cover to the waterfall and at the pace, you two are going, we're going to get there at nightfall. So, come on!" she exclaimed and walked on further, while I and Frigg ran after her not wanting to get lost in the forest.

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We have been walking for over three hours now, stopping from time to time for a water break.

"We're almost there, just a few miles left" Gina motivated us to go on. It was a difficult trail to walk, sometimes it was hard to see where the trail was but still breath-taking.

The views where just out of this world, the trees where high and the sun's light would pool through the cracks of the canopy of leaves. The deeper we walked into the woods, the higher we went up the hill and the darker and colder it got. Mist starting to cover our feet like a blanket. On our journey, we saw many peaceful animals like deer, rabbits and different types of bird. Gina listed everyone's names and origin to us. My favourite the red-bellied Woodpecker.

"Here we are, Hill Pond," Gina exclaimed and moved a few bush-leaves out of the way. There was a perfect little heaven that creamed serenity with a waterfall being the main focal point. I couldn't explain the beauty my eyes were seeing. I was rendered speechless. It wasn't a very big waterfall, but it had clear blue water that reflected the sunlight gracefully. Plants were growing everywhere, ferns almost in the waterfall. The waterfall made a little pond underneath it that was filled with life. Fishes were jumping out of the water, ducks swam in the water dunking their heads in and out rhythmically in a supple way and frogs crooked their melodies.

"It's beautiful, Grandma," Frigg spoke, while I just nodded my head looking at the scenery in front of me. I bet my jaw was hanging on the ground.

"I am glad you girls like it. So, who's hungry?" Gina asked happily and started to unpack her backpack filled with.

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After we all ate and played with our feet in the pond, we started our journey back before it got too dark. I wanted to stay at the waterfall forever, it was so peaceful, and you could, at last, hear your thoughts and heartbeats. I wished that time would just stop, and we could have stayed there for all eternity, but unfortunately time wasn't on my side and it was time to go. Oh, if only I had magic or was some superbeing...

It was getting dark and soon we started to feel the soft drizzle of raindrops falling.

"Sorry girls for we have to walk in the rain. Luckily we all have our rain jackets." Gina said with sympathy. I didn't care, the rain was quite refreshing, but Frigg was having a fit about her hair. She had overly frizzy hair and the rain was not helping the frizz either. "Just keep close girls, okay?"

The rain stopped after half an hour and you could smell the sharp scent of the oak trees. The scent was almost taking over the air, but in between, you could still smell the wet grass, ground and moss.

We walked carefully due to the wet ground was and we could have easily slipped, both I and Frigg did already, making all three of us laugh and the walk back home a little bit faster.

"We're almost back home, Girls," Gina said laughing as I almost fell again.

"Ah! Thank you..." Frigg exclaimed when a howl cut her off. Scared we all looked up into the sky as if pleading for a God to help us. We quickly scanned our surroundings for any threats.

"No worries, wolves don't come this part of the woods." Gina laughed nervously and motioned for us to walk further, but we didn't get very far before we all stopped in our tracks. Right in front of us stood a reddish wolf, growling in our direction. The wolf was gigantic, bigger than any wolf I have ever seen, hell to it if the thing was a wolf. It bared its yellowish teeth towards us and snarled, huffing out spit making it look rabid. Gina took out a black bottle and threw its contents around us in a circle and the last bit at it. Sneezing, it shook its head and gave us one last growl before sprinting off into another direction.

"Wolfsbane. It always works." She said and packed away the bottle again, "Come on let's go before the wolf returns." She said and pushed us to walk further.

"But, but..." Frigg muttered to Gina.

"The wolf," I whispered scared.

"Don't worry; it must have been a lone wolf. The wolves never come here, I too don't understand why it was here, but don't fret it's gone now." Gina explained and walked further. We all walked faster, hastily to get home and safe.

"I'll be back soon. I am just going to the station to report the wolf and then I'll be back, okay girls?" Gina asked as soon as we entered the house, both I and Frigg just nodded our heads. Gina slammed the front door closed and drove away, telling us on her way out to lock the doors and not to go out.

"That was weird, did you see the size of that wolf?" Frigg asked as we walked up the stairs.

"Yes. I am going to take a bath, I need to just relax after what happened." I explained.

"That sounds like a good idea. I'll bath in my grandmother's bathroom and you can take the main bathroom?" she agreed and walked towards her room while I walked to mine.

I soaked in the hot water, forgetting about the accident with the wolf and playing with my necklace. I was almost relaxed when a howl cut through the air, started me and made me grab my necklace harder for protection. As I held the stone in my hand it started to heat up and glow even brighter, strangely calming me and even my breath.

Gina's POV:

Walking into the station, I walk straight to the main office, no one stopping me. I didn't even bother to knock and walked straight into the office, not caring if I disturbed one of their important 'meetings' or Michael and Olive in an intimate moment like last time.

"Michael!!" I shout out in frustration. He promised me that no wolf would come on my land, none of his nor a rouge. That was our deal! That my lands would be safe and protected.

"Michael you promised protection," I stated again, crossing my arms in front of me. Michael was sitting in his serif chair very alert, but once he saw me, he relaxed and went on with his paperwork. Rude much...

"What do you want Gina?" he said in a deep voice, he was a very uptight guy with baby blue eyes and blonde hair just like his father.

"Well guess what I found on my property today, Michael?" I sarcastically remarked with a sneer. The cheek of this boy, I fuck' en raised him and this was how he wished to speak to me. No one spoke to me with such a tone, especially not a bratty little 'I am Alpha' boy.

"What? Humpty Dumpty, please Gina this isn't the time for one of your runts. I have a very important guest at home that will be here any minute. I am busy. Can we do this another day, please Gina." He begged as he placed down his pen and rubbed his face in frustration.

"Ha-ha very funny, but no you would not be the one I would tell if I found Humpty dumpty." I explained to irritate him further, he just rolled his eyes annoyed with my comment, "Wait till I tell your wife."

"Please leave Olive out of this. She has enough stress with our new visitor, the pack and our first baby... all this stress isn't good for her." He begged, and I knew I had him; he was quite scared of her and loved her dearly. Little Olive was now six months pregnant and let me tell you she is glowing. She was so excited and I knew that even though he doesn't show it, he too was excited. He may be uptight, but he was a loving person and I would know since I watched him grow up into the man he was today.

"Fine, just because I love your wife and unborn baby, I won't tell her. But we have a problem." I said, and his eyes finally met mine for the first time.

"What do you mean, Gina if this is on..." he ranted and frown at me.

"No! Today me and my granddaughter and her friend where hiking when we came across a wolf. You promised protection Michael and now more than ever it is important. My family is here and more tourists will come to the festival... It is not good if rouges are running around here freely." I stated angrily and slammed my hand on his desk.

"What?! Ugh, I'll see to it, I am sorry Gina," Michael growled and stood up from his chair. His hands clenched closed and open over and over. He was trying to control that temper of his.

"No worries, just fix it," I reassured him and walked up to him, placing my hand on his shoulder and tapping it in comfort.

"Of course. Thanks for telling me, I'll speak with the guards on it." He said truthfully. "Now Gina if you'd excuse me, my guests have arrived." He said and walked to the door, opening it up for me. He may be a brute, but I raised him with manners!

"Goodbye and tell Olive I sent love to her and the baby," I said and walked out of the office, satisfied with myself.

Walking out of the station, I got this strange feeling as the air had suddenly changed around me, feeling like power and dominance, making me shutter. As I walked out, I pasted a boy, no... a man that screamed danger and power. He was tall, and I mean tall. I thought Michael was tall but this man, made Michael seem small. He wasn't the bodybuilder type, but you could still see that with one move he'd snap your neck like nothing. He had this cold emotional expression on his face and his eyes were empty of anything remotely to feelings.

I walked to my car and climbed in. I couldn't help but wonder who he was and why he was here. I needed to keep the girls away from him.

Words: 2100

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