The trees of Oaksdale hugged me out of sight as glowing yellow eyes searched.

Distant howls sent shivers through me, reminding me I was trapped.

As the rustling of leaves grew louder and louder, I knew the wolf was getting closer to his prey.

I wondered how I’d taste to the hungry wolf.

Would it think my blood sweet? Would my screams stop it from devouring me?

_Stop_, my head begged. _Think of ways to escape!_

I tried, really tried to think of an escape plan.

The trees around me held slick bark, too slippery to climb.

I couldn’t outrun the wolf.

The only thing I could do was hide and pray the wolf would find something else to catch…but the rest of the forest remained silent, as if it were awaiting the action of the night.

Soon, I could see the gray color of the wolf’s coat.

It was over as its yellow eyes found mine.

It prowled quickly and began to open its jaw when an arrow filled its throat.

I screamed. And screamed. And screamed, until a hand clapped over my mouth.

“Shut your howling mouth or the rest of the pack will find us. Wolves are vengeful beasts,” a low voiced whispered with a harsh tone.

I swallowed my fear and dared to turn.

A man towered over me, clothed in black leather. A bow was in his hand.

“Thank you…” I whispered.

He grabbed my arm at the sound of prowling wolves.

It seemed I screamed too loud.

We rushed through branches and flowers, but suddenly found ourselves surrounded by the pack.

Moonlight shone through the cracks of the trees, illuminating the scene around me.

I looked up to the man, his hair the color of roses. The sight distracted me, I didn’t even notice him looking at me.

“Enough admiring, we have a problem to solve here,” he whispered, as if it even mattered with the wolves howling around us. “What’s your name?” He asked, trying to distract me from the rising fear.

“Alina,” I muttered.

“Now Alina, listen to me—“

Howling interrupted him.

I drew closer to him. “What are we going—“

“We? No no, I’ve got this handled. You just sit back and stay out of danger,” he interrupted.

I watched as he drew back his bow and let go, hitting a wolf straight through its eye.

That caused chaos.

Wolves from all around us began advancing, but in no time, an arrow struck them.

I couldn’t dare watch; I closed my eyes.

As I heard the cry of the last wolf, I knew it was over.

“You can open your eyes now,” the man said.

I did.

“Who are you…” I managed to say through my trembling fear.

“I’m the Oaksdale Protector, Ian Darrow. Today was my first day…and it seems your people greatly needed me.”

My skin flushed red.

“Why were you out here, alone, at the dark of night?” Ian asked, crossing his arms as a small smile bloomed on his face.

I exhaled. “I saw a firefly and followed it. I didn’t notice I was so deep into the Oaksdale forest until I heard a howl.”

Ian was silent.

I looked up. There was no smile on his face, only calculation.

“What is it?” I whispered.

“Alina, it seems Oaksdale is fond of you. I followed a firefly into the forest as well. That’s when I first saw you hiding.”

“May I ask you something, Ian?”

“Yes, Alina?”

“Could you teach me how to use a bow like you did tonight?”

“Of course.”