The Lone Wolf's Lycan Princess

Frozen

Erin POV

I needed this job desperately, unable to afford losing it. But how could I possibly fulfill the demands they were asking of me? It felt like another cruel scheme to make me fail, perhaps they even took pleasure in watching me suffer. The man named River, why was he being kind to me? I couldn't comprehend it. What bothered me even more was that his voice resembled the one I often heard in my mind. And when he shook my hand, his touch felt unexpectedly comforting.

As I walked towards my apartment, a sense of unease filled me. My phone suddenly buzzed, which rarely happened unless it was related to my job. What more torment were they asking of me now? I pulled it out from my pocket and glanced at the screen. To my surprise, the message was from River himself. "I will see you at 10am, Erin. I look forward to working with you," it read. He was different from the others, genuinely kind. Although I had no way of knowing if it was all an act.

"Likewise, I will see you at 10am," I replied to the text. A part of me wanted to express my gratitude for his help earlier, but I couldn't muster the courage. Just as I was about to close the message, a sudden touch on my back startled me, causing me to drop my phone. It was Samantha, the woman who was supposed to be off hours ago. Did she really wait just to follow me?

My heart raced as she pushed me against a building wall. "Little mouse, I won't let a mute like you ruin my chances of moving up. I was supposed to be the assistant," Samantha hissed. I swallowed hard, feeling frozen in place. I despised how I always found myself in these situations. I yearned to fight back, to not be so helpless. But it was as if my body had a mind of its own.

"Look me in the eye, mouse," Samantha demanded, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. "You're nothing, you know that? No one will ever miss you. No one cares about you. This author, he only wants you because he pities you. I looked you up, mouse. I know all about you, and even the person who murdered your family didn't find you worthy. Now, little mouse, I'll be the one going tomorrow at 10am. Unfortunately, you had a minor accident on your way home, got mugged, ended up in the hospital, and can no longer attend," Samantha said with a sinister smirk.

Two unfamiliar men suddenly appeared beside Samantha, causing my heart to race and my chest to tighten with panic. The sound of my pounding heartbeat filled my ears as she spoke, instructing them to take care of me. Determined to overcome my fear and not appear weak, I struggled to push myself away from her, desperate to escape. Surprisingly, my body responded to my command, and I sprinted away as fast as I could. "Get her!" Samantha's voice echoed behind me, urging the men to give chase. Despite my best efforts, they continued to pursue me relentlessly.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a third person emerged, charging towards the men and engaging them in a physical altercation. Taking advantage of the distraction, I continued my mad dash, pushing myself beyond my limits. My own speed surprised me. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, I finally felt a sense of safety wash over me. Gasping for breath, I leaned against an unfamiliar building, my body trembling with exhaustion.

As I tried to catch my breath, the sound of footsteps reached my ears, causing panic to surge within me once again. Instinctively, I attempted to flee, but my haste led to a clumsy misstep, and I found myself on the verge of falling. Just as I was about to hit the ground, a pair of hands caught me, halting my descent. Frozen in fear, I realized I had been captured. A deep, velvety voice broke through the fear, assuring me that I was safe. It was River. Confusion washed over me as I wondered how he knew I was here. Could he be involved in this ordeal?

I trembled, feeling a shiver run down my spine. As he reached into his pocket, my heart thumped in my chest, causing me to stagger back. But then, he paused for a moment. "I found your phone, Erin. You accidentally called me; that's how I knew you were in trouble," he explained, his voice steady. Relief flooded over me as he held my phone out to me. I took it with trembling hands.

"My car is nearby. Let me drive you to the police station so you can report this," he offered, concern etched on his face. I shook my head, declining his offer. "Okay, then let me take you home. I won't accept 'no' as an answer, especially after what just happened," he said firmly.

I clutched my phone tightly, grateful that it still worked. I tapped on the screen and quickly texted him, "I don't want to trouble you. Thank you for helping me."

He immediately pulled out his phone and read my message. "If you're not comfortable getting in my car, I'll walk you home. But I refuse to leave you alone right now," he asserted, his voice filled with a sense of protectiveness.

Reluctantly, I gave in, texting him, "Okay." He followed closely behind me as I walked.

"Do you always walk home alone late at night like this?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. I nodded silently, my fear still lingering. "Have they ever hurt you before?" he questioned, his tone filled with anger. I shook my head no.

As we approached my building, I noticed his hesitation. "Erin, is it okay if I come in with you for a minute? I just want to make sure you're safe inside after what happened," he requested. My hand trembled as I considered his offer. Knowing that he would insist regardless of my response, I nodded my head in agreement. He followed closely behind as we entered my small apartment.

Once inside, he paused, his eyes scanning the room. I could sense his concern as he looked at the faulty locks on my windows, shaking his head in disapproval. "None of your locks work," he muttered, his voice filled with frustration. "Are you packed for tomorrow?" he asked suddenly. I shook my head no.

"Okay then, pack now. I'll be bringing you to my hotel," he insisted. I froze, uncertainty flooding my mind.

"It's a suite. I'll take the couch. I'm only doing this to keep you safe. You're going to work with me tomorrow, anyway," he explained, his words laced with reassurance.

Nodding silently, I walked over to my drawers and hastily grabbed my duffle bag, stuffing it with my few belongings. "Is that all?" he asked, his eyes searching mine. I nodded as he took my bag from me, his hand brushing against mine, causing a brief moment of tension.

He then led me outside, the cool night air hitting my face. We walked a few blocks before reaching a car.

I felt uneasy, but I fought against showing it as he drove. Once we arrived at the hotel, he led me into a spacious suite and showed me to the room. "I promise not to enter this room unless you message me or in case of a real emergency, Erin. Get some sleep," he said before closing the door.

My fingers trembled as I messaged him a thank you and climbed into the bed. The softness of the mattress contrasted with my own, causing me to feel weightless. I closed my eyes, curling into a ball, and my chest tightened. I struggled to control my breathing as another panic attack loomed.

"Take deep breaths. You're safe, you'll be okay," a familiar voice echoed in my mind, sounding just like River. It couldn't be him, but my mind played tricks on me. "Deep breaths, my love," the voice reassured me once more, calming my racing thoughts. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep.

______

I jolted up as my alarm blared, the sound echoing through the room. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I realized I had somehow managed to doze off in this unfamiliar place. I glanced at my phone and turned off the alarm, only to find a message from River waiting for me.

"Morning Erin, what do you like for breakfast? They have a large assortment here. I will place an order for you," he messaged.

My heart sank. I couldn't afford the food here. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm okay without it," I replied. Almost instantly, my phone buzzed again.

"I insist," he messaged back.

"Coffee then, black. That's all," I responded, relieved that he didn't push further. Opening the bag he had brought into the room, I noticed another message on my phone.

"Shower while we wait for the food. Bathroom is yours," it read. I quickly got cleaned up and dressed, standing by the bedroom door, trying to gather enough courage to step out. I had to do this. I mean, I had to stay with him for three months as his assistant anyways.

I twisted the doorknob and stepped out, and immediately, the aroma of coffee and hot breakfast food enveloped me. River was sitting at a small table and stood up as I entered. I couldn't bring myself to make direct eye contact.

"I'll let you in on a secret, Erin. I'm not a people person. I live alone in a cabin, away from everyone. I don't like dealing with others because I've never felt comfortable with many. I'm not saying this to sound creepy or scare you from coming with me. I'm simply saying this because, just like you, I'm not comfortable around others, especially in a crowd. And not just that, it takes me time to trust others, as I can tell is the same for you. This is why I wanted you to come as my assistant. I have a feeling we can earn each other's trust over time while working together, and I won't force you into any uncomfortable situations. Think of it this way: the three months you work with me, you get a chance to relax," he said, his voice filled with genuine sincerity.

I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "I got your coffee, as well as an assortment of food. I won't force you to eat, but please do if you're hungry," he said, gesturing towards the table. I sat down, trying to hide my trembling, but as I took a few sips of the coffee, a sense of calm washed over me.

I glanced up at the display of mouthwatering food and couldn't resist the temptation. I reached out and grabbed a small, warm muffin. Taking a bite, I was instantly transported to a world of flavors I hadn't experienced in years. The taste was simply exquisite.

"I'll pack the rest of the muffins for our journey," he suggested. "I have everything we need, so I'll just contact the publishing firm to let them know we're leaving from the hotel," he added. I nodded in agreement, understanding the plan.

After we finished our meal, we set off on our journey. Despite my initial apprehension, there was something about River that put me at ease. Maybe this job wouldn't be as daunting as I had feared.