Present Time. Maine, New England.

Evangeline pushed herself up against the old oak tree; its roughened bark scraped the back of her bare arms, but not in an uncomfortable way, the coolness of the bark felt good against her hot skin. She steadied her breath as she counted her heartbeats; they thumped relentlessly against her ribcage. She gulped to relieve the burning in her throat. So thirsty, note to self, pack water when escaping!

She brushed the hair from her forehead as sweat ran along her hairline. Hairband...

Eva removed the elastic-band from her wrist. She grabbed a fistful of hair and wrapped it messily to form a ponytail. The cool air rushed to greet the hot air from her exposed skin, inducing a shiver that ran the length of her spine.

She swallowed as her eyes searched her surroundings.

I'm still too deep in the woods.

She tipped her eyes skywards. The sun filtered through the trees. It hung low; darkness would follow to leave her trapped in a shadowy darkness. At this time of day, the woods didn't offer their usual friendly invite that she often accepted. No, not today. The trees loomed above her, threatening and unwelcoming like a dark thunderstorm.

Her eyes flitted from branch to branch, each one out of reach. She worried the insides of her cheeks; her options were slimming. Frustrated, she reached for the Escrima staff that leant against her leg, wrapping each finger in turn around it as she rifled through her mind.

Plan... What's my plan? Think Eva... Think! Don't just stand here like a wet lettuce!

Her breath hitched as a crunch and the rustling of leaves caught her attention, speeding up her heartbeat once again. Undeniably, it was close. Frozen, she heard the beast sniff the air, growling warningly. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her staff tighter, she needed to run for it, get to the clearing. Fight in an open space.

Now Eva... Move!

She ran.

The heavy thud of its paws pounded her ears. Not daring to glance behind her, like the wind she ran, knowing speed was of the essence. A branch scratched her face as she jumped over a small crevice, its sting did nothing to slow her speed. Blood rushed through her veins, as her heartbeat thrummed in her ears. Her eyes caught an opening, the clearing was in sight.

I'm almost there, legs don't quit me now!

She pushed herself harder, sweat pooling at the base of her spine. She dodged around another large branch as a searing pain to her head nearly caused her to stop. Her hair had become caught in the branch. As she yanked herself free, she ignored the pain and broke through the undergrowth towards the clearing.

Yes!

Almost out of breath she had one last trick up her sleeve. Using the staff, she slammed it into the dirt beneath her. Then projecting herself, she kept a firm grip as she spun herself around, to face the beast that stalked her.

The huge grey and white wolf, came to an abrupt halt. Its hackles straight and pointy running the length of its imposing body. Its lips curled upwards, it exposed its razor-sharp fangs as it snarled menacingly. Amber predatory eyes declared their intention. Waiting, ready to capture its prey and claim it as its own.

As Eva landed, vibrations shot through her ankles up towards her knees. She ripped the staff from the ground and she swung hard, catching the snarling wolf's jaw. She heard a crack as the wolf screeched out in pain.

Yes! She wanted to fist pump the air as sheer exhilaration burst through her veins but celebrating would have to wait.

Adrenalin pumped through her veins, as a cool breeze brushed against her bare skin, it brought a welcome chill to her burning throat. The cool air washed over her continuing its journey towards the wolf, ruffling the fur across its huge head. Deep growls reverberated as the wolf began to pace, its tongue slowly skated across its upper fangs, tasting its own blood.

With heavy breaths and a devilish grin Eva twirled her staff like a baton waiting for its next move. She wouldn't go down with a fight, her father would be proud.

"C'mon, there's plenty more where that came from. Asshole!" Her eyes flashed with fire as she taunted the beast. Distracted. She heard another fierce growl to her left. It was close... Too damn close. Eva turned inhaling a sharp breath as another wolf glared at her, its eyes as black as night... an enormous black wolf.

Shit! Two! How fucking unfair was this? Two against one? Surely there must be a rule against this? And if not. There damn well needed to be one!

Only a millisecond passed as the huge snarling grey and white wolf pounced. Her small frame didn't have time to react, as it knocked her staff from her grasp and the hardness of the freezing surface sent a shock-wave through her whole body. It rendered her powerless against the beast that now pinned her to the ground.

There was no escape now... Where's my staff? Defeat was not an option she would choose. She reached out her hand, spread her fingers wide as they searched to find her staff.

Shit! From the corner of her eye, she could see it was out of reach.

Curse the bloody angels!

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Out of options. Yielding to her fate, she looked into the burning amber eyes of the wolf that now towered over her. The tip of its nose inches from hers as its breath warmed her face. She sniffed the air.

Mint – Can I smell mint?

Eva narrowed her eyes. "What have you been eating?" She waited for a reply but instead she was rewarded with roughened slobbery tongue molesting her cheek and wetting her ear. "Ewe, get off me!" Eva attempted to push the large wolf back as the softness of its fur warmed her hands.

She couldn't help but break out into fits of laughter, as the wolf's face contorted and a pained growl escaped it lungs before it shifted back into its human form – to reveal her friend, Christian.

Christian wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Yep, it's mint, you guessed right princess. You whined I smelt of tuna last time, so I brushed my teeth." He flashed her his best smile to highlight his white straight teeth. "Even brushed my hair. Just for this moment when I knew I would knock your pretty ass down. Again!"

She could almost taste his smugness. "Humph, I almost had you," she stated, frowning.

"Yes, and I got a fat lip for it. But even so, I could have ripped your throat out. So You. Still. Lose... Loser, Loser, Loser!" He chanted in a somewhat taunting, but jubilant tone.

Eva bit her bottom lip. "Yes, but at least I hit you this time."

He cocked a brow. "Yeah, and what's with the asshole jibe? Name calling is childish ya know?"

"Oh and chanting loser over and over isn't? What can I say, it was an accurate assessment, and it suits you." She stuck out her tongue to mock him "ASSS-HOOOLLLE," intentionally she dragged out the word, jeering him, whilst she stifled her own laughter. "Am I right Sebastian?"

She turned her head for confirmation, looking for the huge black wolf, but Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

"Right, you asked for it now!" Christian lent closer and licked her cheek, dragging his tongue across to her nose, sucking it noisily as he stuck his small finger deep inside her ear.

Eva shrieked. "Ahh, stop it, that's disgusting – Stop it Christian!" She placed her hands on his bare tattooed chest, as she attempted to push him away. I'd have a better chance of shifting a brick wall, she thought.

He lifted his head as a cocky smile graced his lips, followed by a wink. "Let's not pretend you don't like it princess; I imagine you often fantasise about me towering over you - just like this." He winked again.

Eva, huffed but stopped trying to push him away. Instead she stared into his amber eyes as the warmth of his chest pierced through the icy tips of her fingers. "You wish." Her words lacked conviction. Like he isn't right, damn him!

Christian held his position, steadfast. He watched her stare at him as he felt a strange stirring swirling around his gut, something that was becoming a regular occurrence when he was near her. A shiver broke out across his whole body as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. I could just lean in and kiss her; but would it freak her out? he wondered.

Eva noticed the sudden change in him, watching him stare back with a peculiar look in his eyes. She blinked and noted his long eyelashes, perfectly curled at the ends. Why have I never noticed them before? But then something else caught her attention.

"Err Christian." She felt uncomfortable as his imposing, albeit very hot naked body was pressed into hers and something hard was poking into her thigh.

"Y-You don't shift back after our training... you wait until-" Eva's cheeks burned as she realised she had never seen him naked. Well not since they were both children running around the garden with the hose, spraying each other with water. But here he was now... naked and extremely hot with his body's scent, powerful. It overwhelmed her, rendered her speechless. Oh god, embarrassing.

Christian howled with laughter, as he watched her face turn beet red.

"By the look of it, you two should get a room." A deep amused voice interrupted.

Eva opened her eyes and lifted her head to watch Sebastian stood close by, with only a pair of jeans hung low on his waist.

Damn, he's hot too! thought Eva, sighing inwardly. His perfect well defined abs, prominent against his dark skin. Her stomach danced a jig. The image now burned into her mind. Don't go there Eva, she told herself firmly.

Sebastian threw a pair of jeans in Christian's direction. He laughed loudly, the sound echoed scaring a nearby bird, as they landed on Christians head. "Here Casanova, get yourself dressed before Eva teases you about the size of little Christian, you remember how he gets shy when he's out in the cold for too long?"

Christian pulled the jeans from his head as his eyes snapped towards Sebastian, "What the -? Excuse me; there is no such person as little Christian, as well you know. Asshole!"

Eva giggled and blushed simultaneously. "Get dressed and I promise to keep my eyes closed, wouldn't want to upset little Chris."

Christian growled. "What the fuck Seb? Look what you have gone and done? Fuckwit! She thinks I have a tiny dick now." He rolled off Eva, to lie flat on the ground as he pulled the jeans on, lifting his hips to pull up the material and fasten the buttons.

Both Sebastian and Eva burst into fits of laughter, ignoring Christian's mini outburst.

Sebastian's laughter died as his face became serious. "Serves you right for shifting in-front of Eva. If Daevan caught you, naked hovering over his princess, he would have ripped your fucking ball-sacks off and then fed them to you."

"Fuck off Seb!" Christian huffed, pissed at Sebastians warning. "Yeah, right. That's never gonna happen. You don't know shit." Sitting up, he pulled himself to his feet and reached down to take Eva's hand. "C'mon princess, we better get you back inside, you need to hit the shower."

Eva rolled her eyes but reached for his hand as he pulled her from dirt. Brushing grass and leaves from her ass, she couldn't help but let her eyes fall over Christian's naked chest, decorated with intricate tattoos. Symbols she didn't recognise swirled across his pecs and flowed over his abs. She felt an undeniable urge to trace them with her finger but forced her hand to stay at her side instead she clenched her hand into a fist, before relaxing.

Her eyes dipped to Sebastian then back to Christian, he was leaner and not as broad as Sebastian, but just as hot. Her eyes continued to wander, eyebrows raising when she noted the v indentation and tattoos disappeared into his jeans. She licked her lips as her eyes fell upon the bulge in his jeans.

Well, if that can be described as small... then I don't want to see what big looks like! She let out a low groan.

Why do hot guys surround me? Is this a cruel punishment? Was I terrible in another life? Look, but can't touch?

"Eyes up princess." Christian grinned, but then grimaced as his tongue licked over his open wound. "This actually hurts." He pressed his finger to feel puffiness "It's going to swell; I can feel it."

Eva's eyes lit up. "Awe... did I hurt you, little ole me?" she asked, her tone playful as she high-five'd Sebastian.

"Come here, Let me inspect this life-threatening wound." Sebastian stepped towards him grabbing his chin, he lifted and tilted it slightly to allow him a closer study of his injury. "Don't worry princess, it won't ruin your good looks." He leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose.

Christian pushed him away. "Don't mock me, asshole. And don't assume for one second, I'm gonna forget what you said about my dick."

Sebastian smirked, "Awe, do you want me to kiss him better too?"

Christian glared at him. 'Fuck you Seb!"

Sebastian's smirked cracked into a full blown smile as he ran his hand through his relaxed dreads. "You should be so lucky. Now c'mon, we need to get back, it's getting dark and you." He pointed at Christian, "better get some ice on that fat lip."

Eva sighed to herself as she picked up her staff and followed the boys.