Gloria stopped to listen. The air was frozen in terrified silence following the wolf howl. Scared to move but scared to stay still, Gloria convinced herself to take a step. Then another.
A sound in the distance startled her. She was so ramped up in fear that she didn’t even realize she was running. Branches brushed by her, scraping against her arms.
Her heavy footsteps pounded along the soft forest floor as she ran for her life. The light patter of paws beat a deceptively gentle song along the leaves.
The growl gave away the wolf’s position before she could see it. When she turned her head to look behind her, the dark form of the wolf was charging her.
Something took her hand, warm firm fingers wrapping around her own, and she startled. At first she thought it was her stepfather or his friend, but when she looked beside her, a tall form was running beside her.
The wolf snarled before leaping.
Chapter 2
Gloria turned to see, and threw up her free arm in front of her in defense. Suddenly, the wolf was gone.
The forest, her house—gone.
A wind blew her hair into her face, the smell of salt flowing into her nostrils. She took a step and her foot sank an inch. Startled, she jumped and looked down. Sand. She was standing in sand.
All her life she’d spent in that house. She knew that forest better than anywhere. There wasn’t any sand.
Turning her head up to the night sky, she’d never seen so many stars. It was as though someone had taken a black sheet and poked millions of holes in it before holding it up against the lamp.
A sound she’d been hearing clicked in her brain. Waves. Those were the crashing waves of the ocean.
Gloria turned around and saw the vastness of the ocean spread out before her. In all her life, she’d never seen the ocean.
“Do you like it?” the mysterious man asked.
She nodded, and then felt him squeeze her hand. They were still holding hands?
“Where are we?”
“The loneliest island on your planet. I’ve chosen this location as my base while I research your planet.”
“My planet?” she asked, looking up at him. Already she’d forgotten all about her stepfather and his terrible plan. Now her mind was awash in the magic of what was taking place.
“I’ve come for you. Your voice called to me from across the galaxy.”
“The galaxy?”
This was a dream, she realized. Aliens didn’t exist. Sure, the scientists and movies all talked about them, but everyone knew that was all just fiction or speculation. The man standing next to her was a man. Gorgeous and strong, but a man all the same.
“Where I come from, the one you’re meant to be with is destined. There is no choice. When I heard your heart cry out, I knew you were my destiny. I’ve come and studied your people to understand you. When you were in danger tonight, I knew it was my time to fetch you. We’re to be together.”
The certainty in his tone was what did it. Her system had had too much excitement for one night, and this last piece of information was the last straw. Black crawled in from the edges of her vision seconds before it all went dark.
Chapter 3
The next thing she knew, her eyes were fluttering open. All around her were metal walls. She was on a surprisingly comfortable bed, the man knelt beside her.
“I fainted?” she asked him, a little confused.
He gave a single nod of his head and offered her some water.
“You cannot fight it.”
“Fight it?” she asked after taking a sip of water. Already the coolness of the liquid helped clear her head and she sat up.
“We’re destined. You have no choice in the matter. Nor do I. I came all this way to be with you. There is no threat that can ever reach you while I draw breath. I will protect you.”
“That’s very sweet, but—“
“In studying your planet, I’ve learned of this emotion you call love. It is a strong feeling of attraction and connection. This is what I feel. I have this love.”
Gloria studied his face, once more drawn in by his intense features.
“You love me?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know me.”
“It does not matter. You are my soulmate.”
Gloria was absolutely taken by how insanely gorgeous he was, and as much as she wanted to be into this, she just couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that he was an alien. Hot, for sure, but still an alien.
Now he was going off about being in love with her. No matter how much she wanted to feel the same, it just wasn’t there.
“I don’t even know your name,” she said.
“Is that important?”
“If two people are destined to be together? Yeah. I’d say it’s kind of important.”
“You may call me Rock.”
“Rock? You want me to call you Rock?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Your stone here is solid, trustworthy. At times beautiful and precious. The grains of sand on the beach make it soft and inviting, while your great mountains and volcanos spew rage into the sky inspiring songs and religions all throughout your history.”
“All fair points,” she said.
“All right, Rock it is. Rock, my name is Gloria. It is nice to meet you.”