My Wild Beast

Novascrambledbackwards,pantinghard,hershortlocksclingingtoherdampforeheadasshewatchedthispredatorstalktowardsher.Thevibrantandlivelyforesthushed,almostholdingitsbreathtowatchthesceneunfold.Great,shehadanaudienceforwhatwouldsurelybeagruesomedeath.Deathlooked...alittle...ruggedandinnothingbutaloincloth,definedbyslabsofmuscle,atrailofhairleadingdowntosuchasmallpieceofclothtohidealarge-Aspine-chillinggrowlsnappedhergazebackuptomeethisgolden-redeyes,fiery,andintense,glaringatNovaasheslammedhishandseithersideofherhead.Piecesofbarkcrumbleddownfromtheimpact.“Itoldyounottorun...”Hethreatened,hiseyespiercinghers,hisvoicemoregutturalthanshe'dheardfromanymale.Hiseyesclenchedshutashisbodytrembled.“Myinstinctistoalwaysstalk,alwayschase...untilIgetwhatIwant..”Theirfaceswereinchesapart.Shecouldfeelhishotbreathfanningherface.Theforestwashumidandhot,andhisbodywassoclosetohersthatitwasalmostunbearable.Thegruffvoice,thosewordsandtheintensityofthoseeyesthatremindedherofsunsetscausedgoosebumpstoflourishacrossherarms.“Whatdoyouwant?”Novaswallowed,notrecognisinghervoice.Shewassooutofherdepth.Hischestrumbled,andmorebarkcrumbleddownfrombehindherhead.“You...”Herbreathhitched.“To.Do.As.You're.Told.”ParadisewaswhatNovaWinslowwaspromisedwhenherboyfriendwhiskedherawaytoIslaDeTayun,theperfectgetawayfortheirbusylives.Itwasuntouched,pristine,ahiddengem.Butithadremainedthatwayforareason.Theislanddoesn’twantvisitors.Andneitherdothenatives.Whatshouldhavebeenaromanticretreat,drinkingfromcoconutsandloungingonwhite-sandybeachestogether,turnsintoaholidayfromhell.Mid-argumentwithhersoon-to-beex,Novastumblesintoalake.Whensheresurfaces,herboyfriend,thepathshecamefrom,andtheresorthavevanished.Alone,stranded,andwithlittlesurvivalskills,Novahasonlyawetphonewithnosignal,apairofheels,andanirrationalfearofbats—whichareeverywhere.Sheisoutofherdepthwhenshefallsintoamysticalworldofbeasts.Huntedbytribesmen,stalkedbybeaststhatshouldn'texist,andhearinganimalsspeak,shehasnochoicebuttotrustthewildbeasttheforestitselffears—Yoa,awantedman.Together,theyfleethetribespursuingthemallwhilebattlinghergrowingattractiontoYoa.Canshesurvivethewildandmakeitbacktohercivilisedlife?Orwillsheloseherselftotheuntamedworld—andtothemanwhobelongstoit?