Fate

by Tia Wylder

  I unlocked the door and fell out as my body began to shift. I was convinced I would never find out where this power came from, but it had come in handy more than a few times in my life. The shift happened fast, fueled by pure adrenaline as I hit the asphalt. In my gorilla form, their words sounded distant and garbled. I charged toward one of them and felt something hit me in my side.

  It wasn’t a bullet, more like a dart. My vision started swimming almost immediately after it hit. The gunfire stopped and my legs fell out from under me. The men started approaching from all sides. I swung out with my fists and knocked a few off their feet. The other retaliated by hitting me with another dart. My vision was fading and there was nothing I could do to stop it. All I could think about was what Dee would think if I disappeared on her.

  When I woke up, I was in a cage. Somehow I had remained in my gorilla form. I charged toward the rusted bars and hit them with full force. The sound echoed through the darkness surrounding me. I heard a door slam from my right. The darkness was illuminated by fluorescent lights that temporarily blinded me.

  I fell back into the cage as I took in the scene around me. There were other cages lined up around me, going in either direction. All of them were filled with gorillas like myself. They thrashed and roared as the light woke them from their slumbers. A scrawny man dressed in a lab coat strolled down the path between the cages. He didn’t even flinch as they lashed out at him and roared through the bars.

  He stopped at my cage and adjusted the thin rimmed glasses on his face.

  “How long has it been, Devin? Twenty years? You probably don’t remember me, but I made you. You managed to get away once, but it won’t happened again.”

  I turned around as the wall behind my cage slid open, revealing a vent large enough for me to climb through.

  “Go on, we have a lot of work to do,” the scientist said.

  I had no choice but to listen to him. I tried to shift back into my human form, but I couldn’t. It was as if I had been somehow altered to stay in this form. My human mind was panicking, but my gorilla mind was working on pure instinct. I emerged from the vent into a large enclosure that looked like an indoor zoo exhibit. It had a large tree in the center and several tires tied to ropes that swung from the branches.

  An intercom above me crackled to life.

  “Today’s round of testing is about to begin. You’ve been in your human form for far too long, so I’ve given you a dose of the shifter serum so you will stay in your animal form. You may not know this, but the longer you stay in your animal form, the more of your humanity you lose. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you shift back before that happens. Now, start by climbing to the top of the tree.”

  I turned and looked at the tree in the center of the room. The gorilla in me wanted to obey, if only to avoid pain, but I wasn’t about to become this madman’s puppet.

  “Resistance isn’t advised,” the intercom said.

  The metal floor beneath my feet surged with electricity. It shot through me like molten lava in my veins. The gorilla mind took over and I scaled the tree with ease.

  “There we are, now was that so hard? It looks like your physical dexterity hasn’t suffered too much. That’s good. Now, let’s see how you deal with your fellow shifters.”

  All around me I saw vents open on the ground. Other gorillas poured out onto the ground below. They were thumping their chests and roaring up at me in the tree.

  “They don’t seem to like you. Normally I would advise communicating, but that’s going to be hard to do when you’re not a gorilla like they are.”

  I heard the soft blast of a silenced rifle and saw a dart hit my arm. I suddenly lost control of my form and started shifting back. I fell down through the tree mid-transformation and hit the ground hard as the gorillas gathered around me.

  I couldn’t speak as the wind was knocked out of me. The gorillas eyed me with an intense curiosity. I couldn’t tell if they wanted to help me or hurt me.

  “You’ll find that these other shifters are incredibly good at listening to orders. For example: kill him!”

  The gorillas leapt forward and I climbed to my feet. I was thrashed about by massive bodies and black fur. I furiously tried to push my way through, but I felt their hands wrapping around me. Before they could deal with the finishing blow, a loud piercing siren cut through the noise. They instantly dropped me and retreated back into the vents they had come out of.

  I heard the scientist laughing on the intercom.

  “Ah yes, that was fun!” Now, back to your cage!” he shouted.

  The days went by like this until they turned into months. I didn’t know how long I had been there. One day, after an eternity of torture that they called “tests,” I finally saw someone besides the scientist who had been the bane of my existence. He told me I was coming with him to see the boss.

  They blindfolded me and drove to some fancy penthouse suite before they took the blindfold off. When they led me into the room, the lights were off. They came on almost unceremoniously and my jaw dropped.

  Sitting in the center of the room, dressed in black lingerie, was Dee. Standing beside her, dressed in nothing but a velvet robe, was the Russian mob boss Dmitri Mikhailov.

  “Devin,” he said, “You’re right on time.

  Chapter Six

  Deandra

  After I had the baby, Dmitri was always there for me. I could tell he was falling for me, and despite the age difference, I was falling for him a well. I knew what it looked like, but I wasn’t just falling for him because he was a billionaire. It went beyond an older man, young woman romance. He had a soft side to him that I liked. Truth be told, without his help I wouldn’t have been able to afford the hospital bills, let alone the other costs of a baby.

  One night he sent me a package while I was at work and when I opened it, I found a note:

  This is just a preview. I have a surprise for you tonight.

  Inside the box was lingerie with black lace. It was certainly sexy, but I didn’t know what he meant by a surprise. That night, when he sat me down in a chair facing the front door, I didn’t expect Devin to walk through that door.

  I didn’t know what to say, and clearly he didn’t either.

  “I realize this is a bit of a shock for both of you, so allow me to explain,” Dmitri said.

  Dmitri waved to the bodyguards at the front door and they left.

  “Come on in, Devin,” I’m sure you're anxious to see Deandra.”

  “Dmitri, what’s going on here?” I asked.

  Dmitri rolled his head back and forth as if creating an explanation in his mind.

  “A long time ago, your father borrowed a lot of money from me. He wanted to send your brother, Michael, to college. Unfortunately, he has become late in making his payments.”

  My heart was racing. “Are you serious? What kind of businessman are you?”

  Dmitri smiled. “The illegitimate kind. I report directly to the highest levels of the Russian mafia. I suppose you could say I am their ambassador here in the United States.”

  “I can’t believe this! I’m leaving,” I said.

  I tried to stand up but Dmitri pushed me back into the chair.

  “Before you leave, Deandra I believe you should hear my proposition. You see, I have been unable to get you out of my mind for many years now. I have this fantasy, where I ravage you, but I alone am not enough to fully satisfy your needs. A woman of your exquisite form cannot be satisfied by any single man. So, I have brought Devin, your first love, to join us in these revels. If you agree to help fulfill this fantasy of a menage romance, and do as I say, I will let you and Devin leave here alive.”

  “And if I refuse?” I asked.

  “Well, you’ll never see Devin again, that much I can promise you. Come now, Deandra, it’s one glorious night of primal lust, and then you can be together.”

  I looked over to Devin who was still in shock.

  “He never left me then?” I asked.

/>   Dimitri shook his head. “No, he was otherwise indisposed until tonight's events.”

  I looked back to him. I was furious and I felt betrayed, but there was something deep inside me that wanted this, if only just to satisfy my carnal urges. Besides, if it meant a way out and a way to be with Devin, I had to take it.

  “Alright, I’ll do it,” I said.

  Dmitri clapped his hands together and looked over to Devin.

  “I assume you’re in as well?”

  Devin nodded slowly, but I saw rage in his eyes.

  “Excellent, let us begin!”

  Dmitri took my hand and pulled me to my feet. He spun me in a slow circle and looked at me from head-to-toe. He led me over to the bed and laid me across the silk sheets. His leaned forward and dragged his tongue across my thigh and traced a path to the crotchless panties I was wearing.

  Before he reached the center of my legs he paused.

  “Devin, get over here and please her while I taste of this forbidden fruit,” Dmitri said.

  His lips parted and his tongue slid into me. He moved with quick and sudden jabs of his tongue that sent spikes of pleasure through my body. I turned my head as Devin approached. He undressed and approached the side of the bed. I reached out and wrapped my hand around him.

  He stepped forward and I slid him into my mouth. My body convulsed as Dmitri’s voracious approach to love making sent chills down my spine. Devin was finally starting to enjoy the moment. He hips rocked back and forth as he slid himself deeper into my mouth. I explored every inch of him with my tongue.

  I reached up and grabbed him as I came. My screams of ecstasy were muffled as my body shook uncontrollably. I laid my head back onto the sheets and let the pleasure course through me. Dmitri appeared above me and cupped his hands around my breast. With a single movement, he ripped open the lingerie and let my breasts flow out. He grabbed one and took the nipple into his mouth.

  He moaned with excitement as his tongue eagerly flicked the nipple back and forth. He pulled it out and lifted me onto my feet.

  “This way,” he said.

  He turned me around and pushed me forward. I braced myself on the edge of the bed.

  “Get in front of her,” he said to Devin.

  Devin climbed onto the bed and sat on his knees in front of me. I felt Dmitri’s hands dig into my waist as he slid into me with ease. He pushed me forward and I opened my mouth to receive all of Devin. Dimitri’s powerful thrusts from behind push me into Devin and created a rhythm that I was forced to obey.

  I closed my eyes as the sensations overwhelmed me. My breasts dangled freely beneath me and swung heavily with each thrust. Dimitri pulled out of me and flipped me over. He stroked himself furiously until he came all across my chest as I laid on the bed.

  “Devin, I’m finished, but she isn’t. Have your way with her, I’ll let you know when it’s time to finish. Why don’t we make it interesting? If you come before I give you the signal, I’ll kill you!”

  Devin appeared above me. I could see anger and sorrow in his eyes. He leaned down and whispered into my ear.

  “Just hang in there, I’ll make sure he pays for this.”

  “Don’t think about him, just pretend we’re alone again, like before,” I replied.

  He slid into me and I closed my eyes. Dmitri’s jests faded and gave way to the melody I first heard when Devin and I originally made love. I could feel that he was going to come, but Dimitri was yelling at him not to. I tried to slow him down, but I felt another climax coming. I couldn’t hold back, I threw my head back and let the orgasm flow through me.

  I heard Dmitri shout in anger.

  “I told you not to come! That’s it!”

  I was still in a daze when I heard a loud animalistic roar tear through the room. Adrenaline kicked in and I sat up. Where Devin had been standing was a massive gorilla. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The gorilla leapt forward and grabbed Dmitri before he could finish loading his gun.

  “I made you! You can’t do this!” he shouted.

  The gorilla had him by the neck. I turned away as a loud crack filled the room. The two bodyguards came rushing into the room and I heard another roar from the gorilla. It made short work of Dmitri’s henchmen.

  When I looked back, it was transforming. Its body collapsed inward and morphed until the gorilla was gone and Devin was standing before me. Dmitri was dead, and both his henchmen were out cold.

  Devin was pulling on his clothes as I sat in a quiet daze.

  “Dee, I know none of this makes any sense, but we’ve got to get out of here,” Devin said.

  “Did you just turn into a gorilla?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I did. I’ll explain everything when we’re out of town.”

  I stood up as Devin brought me my clothes and a towel. I cleaned off and got dressed, but none of it was really settling in.

  Devin took my hand. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

  “I can’t leave,” I said.

  “Anything you need I’ll buy for you. As soon as they find out Dmitri is dead, they’ll be searching everywhere.”

  “We can leave town, but we have to pick up Tyrel,” I said.

  Devin’s eyes narrowed at me. “Who is Tyrel?”

  I smiled. “He’s your son.”

  Devin ran a hand across his head. “You’re serious?”

  I nodded. “I found out I was pregnant after you disappeared.”

  Devin laughed. “I’m a dad?”

  I had to fight back the tears of happiness. “You’re a dad.”

  Devin was grinning from ear-to-ear despite the circumstances.

  “Alright, let’s pickup Tyrel and get the hell out of here. We’ve got a new life to start, together. You ready?”

  I leaned forward and kissed him. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

  The Billionaire Wolf Shifter

  By Bella Angel

  Chapter One

  I’ve often asked myself if what I am is a gift or a curse. The blood of the dire wolf flows through me; it is an extinct blood that has long been forgotten by the Earth and its people. I have the strength of humans and dire wolves without the weakness of either. Time has forgotten me, and all those I have ever loved have succumbed to death, yet I live on. I was truly alone in a world that no longer had need of me.

  For countless decades I have roamed the halls of a castle that I built hundreds of years ago with my blood, sweat, and tears. Even with the help of my allies, friends, and fellow warriors, it took almost a lifetime to build. While their bodies wasted away, mine stood aside the flow of time. They didn’t know my secret, no one did. When the moon hung high in the sky, casting its white glow down upon the world, the blood of the dire wolf took hold.

  My skin fell away as my bones shattered and reformed. My body was covered in a thick layer of matted grey fur as thick teeth erupted from my newly formed snout. I couldn’t control the transformation. It would come as it pleased and leave me a slave to the ancient instincts of a long dead race.

  On those nights I would leave the castle, despite my many attempts to keep myself captive on those cold nights. I would chain myself to the wall in the deepest corner of my empty dungeon and wait for the wolf to take over. The chains did nothing to hold a creature without arms, and though metal bars sealed the exit to the chamber, the dire wolf would always find a way to escape. I would often wake up the following morning in my own bedroom with a vicious headache and a vague memory of the night before.

  The dire wolf dug a tunnel beneath the door. The dire wolf found a loose stone and pried it free, thus compromising the outer wall. The dire wolf did what it must to be free and hunt as it had always known. Thought my memories of the hunt were always fuzzy, I relived parts of them in my dreams. My prey was anything that dared to roam the endless frozen forests outside my isolated home.

  I tracked my prey with a precision unknown to today’s predators. The sensations were incredible; I could smell their fear just before the dire wolf att
acked. There was a time, hundreds of years ago, when humans used to roam these forests. During those years, a legend was spread of a giant wolf that would devour explorers who ventured too deep into the woods on a night when the moon was full.

  It was I they spoke of, I saw it in my dreams. They created stories, stories that came close to the truth, but still left many of the details unspoken. They called me a werewolf, that was the name I had been assigned. I was not a werewolf; I was a shifter, one of many. Still, humans had their stories to help their feeble minds comprehend something they couldn’t possibly understand.

  For the longest time, I embraced the dire wolf and its need to hunt, but soon the humans realized that their murdered sons and husbands always seemed to be found near my castle. They came with fire and blades to kill me. They waited until the moon was gone from the sky, and they struck without warning.

  Moon or no moon, the dire wolf would not be threatened by its prey. I lost control that night, hundreds of years ago. I still have nightmares of the slaughter. The dire wolf was a perfect predator perhaps that is why nature sought to balance the scales and kill off the entire species. I slaughtered countless people before the villagers were freed of their bloodlust by fear and fled back into the forest.

  When I awoke the next morning, I was covered in their blood. It was then that I knew this gift of mine was a curse. I had spent so long secluded from the rest of the world, but it was clear that I could not hide forever. The dire wolf would not be subdued, and it would not permit me to take my life.

  No, I had to seek control. I ventured forth from my castle and traveled across the lands looking for others like myself. There were those with the blood of a bear, a lion, a tiger, and many other powerful beasts flowing through them. Other shifters like me who also struggled to control their shifts. Most had simply succumbed to their animal spirit and became feral as both human and beast.