The Beast In The Castle

by Daniella Wright

  I head towards the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water, eyeing the wine in the fridge with want, but ultimately close the fridge door without touching it. I need to have a clear head when Hudson and I talk, so no alcohol for me. Taking a sip, I almost choke on the water when a knock comes at the door, startling me.

  Walking to the door, I look through the peephole and see a petite brunette girl standing outside, biting her lip in worry. “Who’s this?” I ask, not wanting to open the door without at least knowing whom this person is.... Please don’t let this be an old girlfriend. I’m already vulnerable right now and don’t need that added to my list.

  “Um, sorry to bother you, ma’am, but my car broke down outside your house and I was wondering if I could use your house phone?” The girl looks over to a car that’s smoking and sighs, obviously stressed out. “It’ll only be a moment. I want to call a tow and then my brother so he can drive me to work. If I’m late to work one more time, my boss is going to fire me and I really need this job.”

  I open the door and gesture for the girl to enter Hudson’s home. But when she doesn’t move, I know something is wrong. Especially when the girl holds up a black device and clicks on a button. As soon as the pain registers, I realize that the object she’s holding is a taser and that I’m in big trouble.

  Before I can collide with the ground, the woman catches me in her arms and lowers me down to the floor.

  My body is momentarily paralyzed and my vision is growing fuzzy. The woman quickly puts duct tape over my mouth—as if I can scream—and then drags me out of Hudson’s house, making sure to close the door quietly as she does.

  Then everything goes to black.

  ~*~

  Keith

  The time has come to play with my little human.

  Fay is tied to the chair in the middle of the warehouse—still knocked out from the taser I used on her earlier—but from the rapid fluttering of her eyelids, I can tell she’s about to wake up at any moment.

  Then, things can get started.

  Not a minute later, Fay’s eyes flicker open and her eyes widen once she’s realized the situation she’s now in. She, as all my previous victims, thrashes from side to side, trying to get free, but all she manages to do is make herself dizzy with all her struggling.

  “Don’t even bother, Fay. The chair is bolted to the floor and those ropes are secure.” I smirk at her as I approach her. I reach out and allow my index finger to draw a line down her cheek and I laugh when Fay flinches away from my touch. “What? I’m not good enough for a girl like you?” I laugh when her eyes widen at me. “Don’t worry, I intend to play with you before I kill you.”

  “Kill me?” she shouts and begins struggling again.

  I roll my eyes at her attempt of escape. “Yes, Fay. After we play, I’m going to kill you and chop your head off. It’ll be the perfect gift to give the Prince.” I say, conversantly and her eyes widen further. “You should have stayed away from Royce, Fay. Because you got involved with the Prince and his clan, you have to die now. So don’t be mad at me, be upset with your mate, who couldn’t keep you safe.”

  “Prince?” Fay questions, seeming confused. “What the fuck are you talking about? Hudson isn’t a Prince! He’s a businessman who owns a boutique with his sister!”

  I don’t laugh often, never finding anything that truly amuses me, but this is rich. My laugh goes on and on and I only stop so I can tell the human just whom she fell in love with. It’d be amazing to watch her realize she fell in love with a man she didn’t even know. God, I love my job. “Royce is a bear shifter, Fay. His father is the clan leader, a shitty one, that keeps his clan limited and useless, so that makes Hudson the Prince. Only when he finds his mate can he take the throne away from his father and make his clan strong again. Obviously, I can’t let that happen. I’m the enforcer to another rivaling clan and my boss has instructed me to kill anyone who can possibly be Royce’s mate. Let me tell you, I have been very busy these last few years. Your boyfriend sure knows how to get around.” I smirk when I see her face redden in embarrassment and anger.

  “You’re…you’re lying!” She spits out, but her eyes show her confliction. “Royce isn’t a bear! He would have told me if he was. We love each other and tell each other everything. He wouldn’t keep a secret like this from me. Besides,” she laughs humorlessly. “There’s no such thing as shifters! They only exist in romance novels.”

  I roll my eyes. “I think you are reading too many novels, Fay. Bear shifters aren’t the sweet, romantic creatures you read about in books. We’re strong, powerful supernaturals who are not to be trifled with. If only you knew this fact before you fucked Royce and sealed your fate.” I grab the knife from my back pocket and twirl it around in my hand, enjoying the way the girl squirms in her chair in fear. “Tell me, has Royce been acting odd? Notice any physical changes when you’re together?”

  Fay’s eyes flicker with an unknown emotion and she averts my gaze. “Glowing eyes? Growling?” She asks, not able to meet my eyes as I question her.

  I chuckle. “When we’re pissed off or feel any strong emotion, lust, for example, our eyes tend to glow. Annoying habit, but it is what it is. I can’t believe Royce never told you what he is.” I laugh again. “This is rich. I guess he doesn’t love you if he didn’t trust you with this secret.” I study her and sigh. “It’s a shame I have to butcher your beautiful body and face. If I could, I’d keep you as a pet in my warehouse, but my boss would be pissed at me and won’t let me kill anyone for a month if I don’t eliminate you.”

  “Get the fuck away from her!” A male’s voice growls from behind me and I grin. Turning around, I get a kick out of seeing the shock on Royce’s face. “Keith? Is that you?” he shakes his head and walks towards me, looking like he’s seen a ghost. “But…why? Why would you do this?”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Why? You honestly have to ask me that?” I throw my knife at Royce but he dodges it, as I expected. I knew I couldn’t hit him, but I had to try because I hate him so much. “I’m doing this because I can’t allow you to gain control of that pathetic clan of yours. Javier is about to take over your territory and he can’t allow you to gain enough power to stop him. But you want to know the real reason I’m doing this, right?” Royce nods his head stiffly. “Because I hate you. Because you shouldn’t be standing there while she lays underneath the earth.” I clench my fists together and I feel a stupid tear fall down my face. “Because you killed our mother.”

  ~*~

  Hudson

  I haven’t seen Keith since I was eight years old and she tried to kill me in my sleep. No, I’m not exaggerating; my sister came into my room on my 8th birthday, while I was sleepy peacefully, and tried to slit my throat. Thankfully for me, my father and little sister heard my cries and came just in time to stop her from causing too much damage. Since I’m a shifter, the wound healed before a scar could form, but the damage was done and I’ll never forget what she did to me that day.

  She had been older than me by ten years then and blamed me for my mother’s death, since she died trying to pick me up from school, and for a little while, I believed her. I thought it was my fault my mother died because, if I hadn’t called her that day, if I had just gotten through the school day, my mother wouldn’t have been on that highway that day and would still be alive today.

  But I know now that what happened was an accident—a horrible accident, but an accident, nonetheless, and blaming myself didn’t change the fact that she was gone. My father blamed himself for not driving to get me himself that day and look at what happened to him—he’s a drunk that is leading our clan into the ground.

  But I have a chance to make things right and re-build our clan to what we once were. I have a chance to get my dad clean. I have a chance at a life, with my mate and hopefully, my future child, so I know what I must do.

  I have to kill my sister.

  “Back away from Fay, Keith. She has nothing to do with our issues.” Keith mov
es closer to Fay and I see red. “I said, get the fuck away from her! What? You’re too scared to face me now that I’m not a defenseless child?” I taunt her, knowing she couldn’t turn down a challenge or an insult. I smirk at her, knowing I’m getting to her and appearing smug will draw her attention more to me and away from a terrified Fay. Damn, I have a lot of explaining to do, if she’ll even talk to me after today. “Then again, you couldn’t kill me as a child, so how can you expect to kill me now?”

  That last comment pushes her over the edge and she transforms on the spot into her bear. Her bear, which is a deep brown and is ten times the size of my human form, growls at me and she begins to circle around me. I move backwards, attempting to move her farther away from Fay so she won’t get hurt in the crossfire.

  I turn my gaze to Fay, who’s staring at us in shock, and smile sadly. “I should have told you about my other half from the start, but I was worried you wouldn’t accept me. And I should have kept you safe, but I failed there too.” I shake my head and I feel my eyes begin to glow and my body start to change. “But I will not fail you again. You are mine, Fay, and I protect what’s mine.”

  I then shift into my bear form and all hell breaks loose.

  Keith charges at me as soon as I change and we collide against the side of the warehouse, causing the room to echo with our crash. Keith tries to go for my neck, but I claw at her face before her teeth could sink into me. She screams in pain, her left eye now bleeding, and surprises me when she bends down and bites my left leg.

  Instant pain shoots through me and I roar in agony.

  Still, even with my left leg now injured, I have to lead Keith farther away from Fay. I back away from her, luring her towards the entrance of the warehouse, and when we’re a safe distance away, I attack her again, this time, I aim for her other eye, so I can rob her of one of her senses. If I can do that, it’ll be that much easier to defeat her without causing further injury to me or putting Fay at more risk.

  Keith roars when I successfully remove her other eye and she pauses her movements, her face moving side-to-side in pain. “You took away my sight!” she growls at me.

  “You had this coming, Keith!” I growl back. “You took what was mine and no one, not even my older sister, will get away with that. You will die today and then my mate and I will be safe again. I will take the throne and I will destroy anyone who stands in my way, so your precious Javier will be next to feel my wrath!”

  Keith laughs at my words and I know what she’s going to do before she does it. She turns her back towards me, roaring in excitement, and then races towards my mate. Her razor-sharp teeth are extended, ready to rip apart the one person who completes me in every way possible, and I know I need to stop her at all costs.

  Pushing past the pain, I run at Keith at lightening speed and even with my injury, I’m faster than her. She stands on her hind legs and raises a claw to Fay and I knock her sideways before her claw can make contact.

  Keith lies on the floor in shock for a moment, and I use that one-minute of her daze to bite her throat out, roaring my victory and pain. Keith lies still underneath me, her body becoming lifeless and stiff. I know I won the fight when she changes back into her human form and her body remains still and silent.

  Turning back to my human form, I grab a tarp from across the room and go to my sister’s body, laying it over her naked form. Although I hated what she had done, and what she tried to do to me years ago, she was still my sister, and I don’t want someone finding her in such a state.

  “Hudson…” Fay sobs out and tears begin to fill her eyes. “Oh, Hudson, I’m so sorry. I—” she begins to cry. “Can you please let me go? I need you to hold me right now and I think you need me too.”

  I nod my head, not knowing how to feel right now. But Fay is right; I do need her right now. I need to lose myself in the scent of my mate, knowing that what I did was to keep her safe.

  I untie Fay and she flies into my arms in a sobbing mess.

  But we’re together.

  We’re alive.

  ~*~

  Fay

  After the event with Keith, Hudson and I have gotten back to everyday life, but we haven’t discussed what happened. And today, I’m making it a priority to talk about it with him because Hudson isn’t himself anymore. He’s having nightmares, he won’t touch me, and he’s distancing himself further and further away from me.

  I don’t know what to do, but I know we have to talk. If we don’t, our relationship won’t last long and I refuse to let that happen after everything Hudson has sacrificed to keep me alive and us together.

  He killed his own sister to keep me safe and the guilt he’s facing is slowly destroying the man I love. From their encounter in the warehouse, I know they weren’t close, but still, she was his sister and no matter how fucked up your family is, you’ll love them no matter what.

  Hudson wakes up next to me and tightens his arms around me again. His eyes are troubled and his body is shaking slightly. “You had another nightmare, didn’t you?” I ask hugging him close.

  Hudson averts his gaze and sighs. “Yeah, I did.”

  I shake my head and break out of his hold so I can sit up. “Hudson…we need to talk.” His eyes widen in fear and he jumps awake, now fully alert. “I want to talk about what happened with Keith.”

  “I’m sorry,” he whispers in defeat. “I know I should have told you about my bear, but I was sure that you’ll turn me away and want nothing to do with me when you found out. I was a coward, so I hid an important piece of myself from you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Fay. But…please,” he grabs my hands and his desperate eyes meet mine. “Give me another chance. I know my bear probably terrifies you, but I love you, and I can’t lose you. I promise you’ll never have to see him again.”

  I blink at him in shock. “What are you talking about, Hudson? I wanted to talk about your sister, not your bear.” He stares at me in confusion and I can’t blame him. I saw him turn into a giant ass bear, but oddly enough, it doesn’t bother me. “Hudson, my favorite animal is a bear.” I smile and kiss him. “I’m not scared of your other half, although, it did take me by surprise.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Never hide something as important as that again, Hudson. People who are in love do not keep secrets from each other.”

  Hudson nods his head and smiles for the first time in days. “So…we’re okay? You’re not going to leave me?”

  “What?” I exclaim in puzzlement. “Why would I leave you? You saved my life back there, Hudson. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here with you today.”

  Hudson grinds his jaw in anger. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been in danger at all. I didn’t prepare you better or keep you safe. But I vow to you, Fay, I won’t make that mistake again.”

  I nod my head and grin. “I know you won’t. You’re my big strong teddy bear.”

  Hudson groans, rolling his eyes. “Seriously? You’re going to make bear jokes now?”

  “My jokes rock! You’re just going to have to bear with them.” He groans again and I chuckle. Realizing we haven’t discussed his nightmare, I stop laughing and become serious. “What are your nightmares about, Hudson? They must be awful if they have you screaming in your sleep.”

  Hudson grabs me in his arms, lays us back down, and sighs. “I dream about that night. About the fear I felt when I found you missing from my house. I thought you left me and that I scared you with my eyes glowing, but then I found the necklace you got from your dad when you were ten at the entrance of the door and I knew something bad had happened. I followed your scent and when I found you at that warehouse, tied up and terrified, I remember feeling so much rage at my sister for what she had done.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Things worked out in the end, but in my nightmares, I lose you over, and over again. I didn’t think you could accept my bear, so some of my nightmares were of you leaving me over that. I can’t lose you, Fay, and the thought that I could have drives me crazy with
worry.”

  I lean up and kiss Hudson until his eyebrows aren’t furrowed in worry anymore. “That will never happen, Hudson. I love you too much to leave you.” I place my hand in one of his and squeeze. “We are a team now, Hudson. And I have no intentions on ever letting you go.”

  Hudson presses his forehead to mine and lets out a relieved sigh. “You have no idea how much your words mean to me, Fay. I love you.”

  I smile and rub our noses together, causing him to laugh. “I love you too.”

  We then seal our love with a kiss.

  Our future isn’t set in stone, and there’ll be many obstacles that will stand in our way, but we’ll always get through them because our love is worth it.

  And love does really conquer all.

  ~*~

  THE END

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  Beast Unchained

  ~ Bonus Story ~

  A Dragon Shifter Romance

  Laney Parker is a stray; she has been trundled from foster home to foster home all of her life. She is escaping from an abusive relationship with a violent head of a gang when she meets Kyle Danner—in his dragon form.

  Kyle is trapped in the basement of a property owned by Laney’s ex. After she frees him, he follows her, rescuing her from a violent group of men.

  They hide out together, finding passion and romance in the week following. Kyle earns money by fighting in an underground club…where Laney finds that he is playing right into her dangerous ex’s hands. Kyle’s kind is sought after for their magical properties.

  When Kyle is offered the fight of a lifetime with a large payout, Laney finds herself playing her ex-boyfriend to save her new one.