“I’m Arlie, your better half,” The softness of her voice drilling into my ear knocked out the rising fear.

“He’s with a strong sense, he can’t see you, but he feels your presence. You need not be scared, they won’t bite,"she murmured with a fun filled voice.

“So, you’re saying, I’m in a world filled with wolves that can neither see me, nor hurt me, are you joking? How does that even sound to you?” I snapped seeing how well she’s enjoying this.

The grasping trees and the sweet smell of grass were the only reasons for my sanity here.

The stares didn’t stay for long, the shifted wolf furrowed again and sniffed before turning away and running deeper into the woods.

“You’re a forbidden pleasure to them, just be careful. Your role here is very enigmatic, it looks easy to tackle especially with your kind of gift, but very complex on the inside, just one mistake can ruin this whole realm including you,” Arlie whispered with a serious tone.

“I don’t understand a single word that is coming out of your mouth, I thought we were still talking about my so-called soul floating here and shifting wolves appearing from thin air, when did we get to me having a role here..?”I cried out punching the air.

“In three years, a werewolf named Thorne will spark a bloody massacre. The entire pack will burn, tons of innocent will be burned alive,a war that even the moon goddess doesn't see an end to would arise. Your mission is to find him and stop this massacre.” Arlie poured out the words next to my ear but they sounded so far away.

“Me? Stop a war?” I choked out a laugh, but it was hollow and shaky. “You can’t be serious.”

The silence that followed only made my head whirl.

“Why isn’t she saying anything?” My head banged.

“Elysian, you were born for this, this is what you must do to survive..”Arlie forced out in my head.

“Ma’am, I’m still trying to fight for my sanity after seeing shape-shifting wolves and now you’re telling some crazy hollow story?” I yelled out the last part in frustration.

“Elysian, the questions bubbling up in your heart can only be answered by you, I’m here to guide and help you, find Thorne and save Moonveil pack,” She sounded resolute, her voice final, undeniable, and still echoing after the words were gone.

It wasn’t sudden but the silence hit hard on my face as my skin crawled in fear. I stood stunned, trying to grasp the dream that had been going on for too long.

“Why is it taking so long for me to wake up from this?” I mumbled as my heartbeat doubled.

A long loud howl in the woods pushed my sanity back in as my legs carried me in the other direction.

I ran through the heaven height trees till I was out of breath. Exhaustion is a strangely a condition where I can think properly. I can’t remember how long I have been running or how far I ran, but I knew I was lost and thirsty.

One surprising fact about my situation is that I’m thrilled. The tripled heartbeat and fear cuddling me gently, the constant flow of adrenaline through my body felt good, it made me feel human, I want more. This dream is crazy, but at least, I get to choose which direction to run in.

As I wandered deeper into the woods, I felt a sense of determination creeping in slowly, something I thought I had lost. I would definitely have a lot to smile about when I wake up from this.

The sound of splashing waters some distance away forced me to look ahead in the dark, and there it was, hope.

I ran as fast as I could till I got to the river in front of me, its surface glinting like glass.

I bent down quickly and buried my head in the water. The calmness of the water and stillness of the night brought me much more joy than I imagined.

I lifted my head and my wet long hair landed on my back.

“This is it,” I mumbled with a bright smile as I breathed in relaxation.

I took some minutes to calm my fast racing heart before bending to drink more but movement across the bank caught my eyes.

A sharp chill ran down my spine as my whole body froze.

It was a gang of four wolves, and it looked like they were out on a hunt.

I pulled myself gently and attempted to rush back into the woods but a voice trapped me.

“You can’t hide that fast,” His voice was like a silken snarl; deep and dangerous, yet impossible to pull away from.

“Shit, thought she said I was invisible,” I cursed under my breath as I turned slowly biting my lower lip.

I turned around and the image in front of me took my breath. A man, tall, broad-shouldered, with hair as black as midnight sitter on a well-structured face and eyes like storm clouds was walking in my direction through the little bridge-like path on

the river. His presence was magnetic, dangerous but impossible to ignore, a dark aura eluding from him.

My breath thickened as his narrow gaze settled on my face.

He stood still in front of me for some second and smirked faintly. “You’re not from around here.”He mumbled the words with underlying danger making my heart pound louder.

“Don’t reveal your purpose,” I heard a voice echo in my head. It wasn’t my thought, it was Arlie’s voice.

“What is she doing inside me?” I mumbled in silence.

He stepped close and inhaled sharply, “You’re neither human nor our kind, you smell poisonous but strangely alluring, too tempting I would say,” He sounded like an intoxicated mafia boss.

“You can't..” His fingers on my chin blocked the rest of my sentence.

“What are you.?” He mumbled the question, but they sounded like explosives tearing my inside.

How can a creature be this sinfully irritable?

“Courage,” Arlie’s voice interrupted the naughty thought going on in my head.

“I’m Elysian, I lost my way and wandered around till I found this river,” I pushed out the word with all the boldness I could get.

“What are you exactly?” A curt voice from behind him banged.

“I’m….” I stuttered, lost for words.

“What am I? I’m sure I’m not human.

I swallowed the stuck air in my throat and exhaled slowly trying to come up with anything but the devil in front of me didn’t give me a chance.

“You’re very addictive, what should I do with you?” The devil’s seductive voice pierced my soul as his hand traveled my neckline line trapping my feet to the ground.

“No… not yet,” I yelled in my head.