He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 36

Andrei lays down the rules for the hunt: no shifting before spotting the elk, no attacking fellow hunters, and no bloodshed among wolves, as the area is sacred. Hunters take their positions, and Damon leads the narrator toward the eastern section, while Andrei moves in the opposite direction, watching them closely. The hunt begins with a loud horn, and Damon and the narrator enter the forest cautiously, aware of the careless hunters around them who risk scaring away all the animals.

They follow a deer trail deeper into the basin, moving away from the noisy group and into the peaceful forest. Damon spots fresh tracks and they pursue them for some time, eventually losing the sounds of other hunters. Suddenly, a crash and howls signal that someone has found the elk. Damon urges the narrator to follow, and they rush toward the sounds, spotting wolves circling a large bull elk in a clearing.

Damon pulls the narrator back to wait as the wolves try to tire the elk out, but more wolves join in, turning the hunt chaotic and dangerous. The elk defends itself fiercely, swinging its antlers at the wolves. Suddenly, a wolf bursts from the bushes near them, knocking the narrator backward, and Damon disappears in the chaos. The narrator calls for him but is swallowed by the noise and confusion.

Feeling vulnerable, the narrator moves cautiously around the clearing, searching for Damon’s wolf form among the fray. Then, a twig snaps behind her, and she turns around, expecting Damon, but instead finds Andrei in his wolf form standing there, adding a new layer of tension to the unfolding conflict.

“The rules are simple,” Andrei went on. “No shifting until you’ve spotted the elk. No attacking other hunters. And absolutely no bloodshed between wolves–this is sacred ground. Hunters, take your positions!”

The crowd began spreading out along the tree line. Damon guided us toward the eastern section. I noticed Andrei moving in the opposite direction, although his gaze kept finding us through the crowd.

“Ready?” Damon asked, finally releasing his hold on my waist.

I rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the tension. I couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t wait.”

A horn sounded, the sound so loud it echoed off the mountains. The hunt had begun.

Damon and I moved quickly into the forest together, fallen leaves and pine needles crunching beneath our feet. The morning sun barely penetrated the thick canopy, casting everything in a greenish twilight.

Other hunters crashed through the underbrush around us, their eagerness making them careless. I heard a howl as one person lost control and shifted, and then a shout: “Disqualified! Return to the main grounds!”

“Fools,” Damon muttered. “They’ll scare off every animal in a mile radius with all that ruckus.”

We picked our way more carefully, following a deer trail that wound deeper into the basin. I kept my senses alert, listening for any sign of the elk or of Andrei or Lilith. The calm sounds of the forest gradually returned as we moved away from the noisy main group. Birds chirped overhead, small creatures rustled in the undergrowth, and somewhere in the distance a brook babbled over rocks.

“This way,” Damon said, pointing to fresh tracks in the soft earth. “These are recent.”

We followed the trail for what felt like hours, although it was probably less than one. The terrain grew rougher, forcing us to navigate around fallen logs and dense thickets. At some point, I realized I could no longer hear the

other hunters.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from somewhere to our left, followed by excited howls. Someone had found the elk.

“Come on,” Damon urged, changing direction toward the sound.

g at my t

We rushed through the trees, branches

leathers. The howls grew louder, joined by the bellowing of the elk. Through the trees, I caught a glimpse of gray fur–wolves circling their prey.

Damon grabbed my arm, pulling me behind a large oak. “Wait. Let them tire it out first,”

But as we watched, more wolves appeared from different directions. What had started as one pack’s hunt was quickly becoming a free–for–all. The elk, a massive bull with an impressive rack of antlers, stood its ground in a small clearing, swinging its head at any wolf that came too close.

“This is about to get messy,” I said.

Damon nodded grimly. “We should-”

A wolf burst from the bushes right beside us, nearly bowling me over. I stumbled backward, catching myself against a tree. When I looked up, Damon was gone.

+25 Bonus

“Damon?” I called out, but my voice was lost in the chaos.

More wolves poured into the clearing. I pressed myself against the tree, trying to spot Damon amongst the mess of fur and fangs. The elk bellowed again, the sound almost drowning out the growling wolves.

I needed to move. Standing here made me an easy target if things went wrong. I began circling the clearing, keeping to the trees, searching for any sign of Damon’s dark wolf.

Just then, a twig snapped behind me.

I spun around, relieved. “Damon, I thought-”

But it wasn’t Damon stepping out from behind the trees.

It was Andrei in his wolf form.

The chapter closes on a tense and uncertain note, capturing the raw intensity of the hunt and the precarious balance between survival and loyalty. The protagonist’s mix of anticipation, fear, and hope mirrors the chaotic dance of the wolves and the elk, highlighting the fragile line they all walk. Damon’s sudden disappearance and the unexpected appearance of Andrei in wolf form deepen the emotional complexity, reminding us of the intertwined fates and unspoken bonds that define their world.

Amidst the wild, unpredictable forces at play, the chapter gently explores themes of trust, vulnerability, and the struggle for control. The natural setting becomes a powerful backdrop for the characters’ inner turmoil, emphasizing how closely their hearts are tied to the hunt and each other. This moment of uncertainty leaves the reader suspended between fear and hope, eager to see how the characters will navigate the challenges ahead while holding onto the connections that give them strength.

The next chapter promises to plunge us deeper into the heart of the hunt, where alliances blur and the sacred rules are tested. With Damon suddenly missing and Andrei appearing in his wolf form, the tension escalates, leaving the protagonist—and us—wondering about his true intentions. Will Andrei be an unexpected ally or a looming threat? The delicate balance of the hunt teeters on the edge of chaos, and the protagonist must navigate this dangerous new reality with caution.

Emotions are set to run high as trust is questioned and survival instincts kick in. The protagonist’s connection to Damon will be pushed to its limits, and the mysterious dynamics between the hunters could unravel in surprising ways. Expect a mix of adrenaline-fueled action and intimate moments of vulnerability as the story delves into the complexities of loyalty, power, and the primal instincts that bind them all.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.