Trigger warning — this novel contains violent content, Non-con, dark themes, explicit sexual content, and violence.
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The clouds hid the sun, and the forest became dark. Below, the big trees looked like a deep green carpet that went on forever. The wind blew through the branches, making a sound like someone crying in the dark.
"Almost there!" Ava whispered. She was climbing a high, steep cliff. Her fingers searched for small cracks in the rock to hold onto. The stone was so cold it made her fingers feel numb, but she felt alive.
She loved this challenge. It was better than the loud noises and the busy life in the city that made her feel like she couldn't breathe. Here, every breath was freedom.
Her hands, in their leather gloves, moved slowly up. Her muscles were tight and strong. But then—
CRACK!
The rock she was holding broke. Pieces of stone fell down into the deep valley.
"No!" Her eyes went wide. Her heart beat fast like a drum. She tried to grab anything, but there was only air. Her body fell.
The rope around her waist was the only thing saving her from death, but it couldn't stop everything. Her body hit the hard rock wall again and again. Pain shot through her whole body.
"Ahhh!" She screamed, but the wind took her voice away. The world spun. She saw the gray sky and then the deep cliff below, before everything went black.
Ava woke up because she felt very cold. Rain hit her face, waking her up slowly.
She tried to open her eyes. Everything was blurry because of the water on her eyelashes. She tried to move, but her right leg hurt so much. It felt like someone was hitting it with a hammer.
"Ouch!"
Ava bit her lip. She tried to sit up, but she had no strength. She was lying on her face, shivering from the cold. Her clothes were soaked.
"Is anyone there?"
She called out, but her voice was weak and dry. Her eyes were heavy, but she forced them open to look around the dark forest. She was alone. No phone signal. No way out.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
Heavy footsteps came closer. She listened carefully. It sounded like something very big was walking slowly toward her. A little bit of hope grew in her heart. Someone is coming. I might survive.
The footsteps stopped right in front of her. Ava looked up. What she saw made her heart beat so fast she could feel it in her chest.
It wasn't a person. It wasn't a normal animal.
It was a giant—nearly three meters tall. It had the head of a bull with dark, smart eyes. There was a big metal ring in its nose. Its arms and legs were full of muscles, hard as stone.
It wore strange, light-colored clothes.
Ava couldn't move. She forgot the pain and the cold for a moment. What was this? A demon? A monster? She was so scared she almost stopped breathing.
The giant knelt down. His dark eyes looked straight at her.
"Little human..." His voice was deep and heavy, like thunder. "...You are hurt."
Ava wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Her body felt numb.
The giant moved closer. His big hand reached out and touched her forehead. She thought it would be cold like stone, but it was warm—very warm, like a fire.
She felt that warmth spread from his hand, through her body, down to her toes. The pain started to go away. Her wounds began to heal. Suddenly, she felt very sleepy, like she had taken a strong medicine.
Then, everything went black again.
When she woke up again, she was floating. Strong arms held her as if she weighed nothing. The half-man, half-bull creature was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his massive chest against her cheek.
His jet-black eyes were fixed on her.
This time, they didn't look menacing—they looked almost concerned.
"You're awake," he rumbled in a raspy voice. "Just a little longer."
She didn't know what he was, only that he had saved her life. The pain in her leg had dulled to a faint throb. She couldn't understand it; by all rights, she should have been dead or at least broken beyond repair.
They moved through the thick forest. The trees were so tall they seemed to prop up the sky, their branches silver in the moonlight.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The giant didn't answer.
He just stared at a colossal tree ahead of them. It was gargantuan—larger than anything she had ever seen. Its thick bark was strangled by massive vines, and its roots anchored it like a natural fortress.
As they drew closer, the vines slowly uncoiled. The bark split open, revealing a dark passage. It wasn't a crack; it was a doorway. She watched in total shock. It was like seeing real magic.
They stepped inside, and the tree sealed shut behind them. For a second, the darkness felt like it was swallowing her whole. She tried to take deep breaths to stop the panic.
But it wasn't pitch black. A soft orange glow lit the way, revealing smooth wooden walls decorated with beautiful carvings. They began climbing a spiral staircase that wound its way up into the heart of the tree.
"Is this where you live?" she asked again.
He remained silent, his steady pace never faltering.
At the top, they entered a massive chamber. The ceiling was so high she couldn't even see it. Glowing green moss hung from the roots like lanterns, making the room look like an ancient cathedral.
In the center was a large bed made of hardwood and covered in soft furs. A small fire crackled nearby, keeping the room warm. The giant laid her down gently. He leaned over her, his dark eyes searching hers.
"Thank you... for saving me," she whispered. She wanted to ask so many things, but he cut her off.
"I have waited for you for so long," he said, his massive hand stroking her cheek. "Finally, I have found you."
She frowned, a chill running down her spine. "What... what do you mean?"
He leaned in closer. She could feel his warm breath—it smelled of earth and pine.
"You are strong. Brave. The perfect mate to bear my sons."