Nature of the B*E*A*S*T*

by Rebecca Goings

  Wade didn't make any offensive moves, but rather circled the old man, his ears back, his teeth bared. His tail flicked back and forth and he growled once again, as if telling Covington to back off.

  "You think shifting will save you?” Keira's father spat. “You've just signed your own death warrant, Wade McAllister. You will never be more than a lowly shifter."

  Glancing around for some kind of weapon, Keira found a small plant on Mr. Barton's desk. It held purple flowers and was probably a gift from his wife or kids. She ignored her pang of guilt as she snatched it off the desk and approached her father with the pot raised above her head. She wasn't about to let Wade fight him on his own.

  But before she could bring the pot down on Covington's head, he swung around with a mean right hook, catching her square in the cheek. “Stay out of this, bitch!” he snarled, his eyes flashing.

  Keira fell back as pain exploded in her head. Her eyesight blurred for a moment and she couldn't regain her bearings before she tripped over the chairs behind her. She didn't immediately get up, as her world spun around her. Her father had just punched her. That goddamned bastard!

  Spitting blood, Keira turned her head just in time to see Wade snarl and launch his huge body at Covington, knocking him in the chest with such force they both hit the floor with a loud crack.

  People were running as fast as they could toward the front door and a loud, annoying noise assaulted Keira's ears. Good Lord, was that an alarm?

  Keira held her head as she sat up, just in time to make out a security guard who'd pulled his gun not too far away. It was trained on Wade, she'd bet her life on it. It wasn't every day a cougar was let loose in a major bank. She had to stop the man from killing him!

  Her cheek was on fire and she could barely see straight, but she made a beeline for the guard and threw herself at him. He fired his gun into the marble floor a moment before he went down, losing his grip on the weapon. Instantly, Keira was on her hands and knees following its trajectory. Within moments, she had the gun in her hand, but squealed when the security guard grabbed her ankle.

  "Give me that!” he yelled.

  Keira shook her head and cocked the gun, pointing it at his head. “Let me go. Now!"

  The guard's eyes grew wide, but he let her go and Keira scrambled to her feet. Wade and her father were still rolling on the floor where streaks of blood could clearly be seen. Wade still wasn't trying to kill her father, but it was apparent her father was doing everything he could to avoid those sharp claws and still do damage. From the waistband of his slacks, Covington pulled a wicked-looking serrated knife. It gleamed in the light and Keira gasped. Wade hadn't seen it yet.

  "He's got a knife!” she exclaimed right before her father pounced on Wade once again. The cougar roared in pain.

  "No!"

  Closing her eyes, Keira held the gun in front of her and squeezed the trigger.

  Twenty Six

  The scene that greeted Brett in the foyer of the bank shocked the ever-loving shit out of him. Covington and Wade were brawling on the floor, with Covington masquerading as Wade, and Wade shifted into the cougar. Keira crouched not too far away, pointing a still-smoking gun into the fray. The pungent tang of blood rent the air and Brett's belly growled so hard, he almost doubled over in pain. Holding back the cheetah was getting harder and harder to do. Seeing Clive in front of him and knowing what the asshole had done made Brett mad with hunger, mad with the need to rip him limb from limb.

  He hadn't expected to see Wade and Keira, but it was no matter. Brett's heart leapt inside of him at the sight of Keira's hair, and he remembered a fleeting moment of that same red-gold hair draped across his pillow.

  Brett closed his eyes and groaned, mourning what could have been. But he couldn't afford to waste time on his own selfish pride. Covington's scent was more than enough to bring forth Brett's anger, bubbling just beneath the surface of his stoic features. He'd arrived at the bank a few moments before and raced inside, only to see a fight of another kind unfolding before his eyes.

  Brett made his way to Keira, who yelped when he crouched next to her. She scooted away in shock, but not before he clutched the barrel of the gun she held, wrenching it out of her grasp. If he wasn't mistaken, he could have sworn her one shot had lodged itself into Covington's shoulder. The old man was at a horrible disadvantage, but Wade wasn't trying to win their fight. If anything, he looked as if he were trying to get Covington off him.

  Brett would take care of this.

  Glancing at Keira, he said, “Take that cougar of yours and get the hell out of here."

  Her eyes went wide, green pools he recalled gazing into once, with longing.

  "Shit,” he growled beneath his breath. Leaning toward her, Brett took her mouth with savage abandon, uncaring for her cries of protest. Yes, it had been Keira who'd once loved him God only knew how long ago. She heaved away from him and raised her hand to slap his face, but her blow never struck. In her eyes, he saw her confusion and knew she had to remember something. He hoped she did, anyway.

  "Go,” he said again, this time with sincerity. “I'll take care of your father, Keira. Get out of here. You deserve to be happy. If not with me, then with Wade.” When she hesitated, he finally yelled at her. “Go, damn it!"

  Keira scrambled from the floor a moment before Brett concentrated on shifting. His anger intensified until his fur began to grow. Ever-so-slowly, his bones popped and elongated, and his skin rippled with the growth of fur. The serum was a barrier, but not one that couldn't be pressed through. And Brett was just determined enough to do it.

  His clothing ripped away and he yowled loud and clear moments before leaping himself into the skirmish before him. Clive yelped in pain when Brett hit his injured shoulder as he dove for him, finally getting the old man off of Wade. The cougar was bleeding from an apparent stab wound, but he'd live. Out of the corner of his eye, Brett saw Keira pulling on Wade's golden coat, bringing him to his feet. They would be safe.

  With one final cry that echoed all around them, Brett sank his teeth into the soft flesh of Covington's neck. The man screamed for a moment before shifting back into his true form in an effort to kick Brett off once and for all. But unlike Wade, Brett was in it for blood. There would be no letting up.

  Covington's warm blood spurted in his mouth and Brett couldn't help his groans of ecstasy. Lying fully on top of Covington, he took fat chunks of flesh from the old man's throat and swallowed them whole. A better meal he'd never had.

  * * * *

  Wade ran from the bank as fast as he could, still in his cougar form. Keira was behind him, having the wherewithal to grab his ruined clothing before sprinting out the doors of the bank herself. His side was on fire and he knew by scent alone that he was bleeding, and badly. Covington had stabbed him with something, probably a knife he'd hidden somewhere. Dear God, it hurt like a son of a bitch. But he couldn't stop running, not when the people of downtown Dallas screamed and took off running at the sight of a cougar on the loose. Shit! Well, there went trying to be discreet...

  After a few blocks, he came to Noah's Lexus they'd parked a good distance from the bank. Keira was only a few strides behind him, as he limped while he ran. The wails of sirens sounded in the distance, but that was nothing compared to the shouts of the people on the sidewalk clamoring to get the hell out of his way. Wade yowled as loud as he could, trying to clear the area. The less people who saw him shift, the better.

  Once Keira caught up to him, Wade transformed, crying out at the pain in his left side as his shredded skin pulled taut and changed shape. She had the car keys, and within moments, the passenger door was unlocked. He ripped open the door and collapsed in the seat. Keira tossed his clothes at him before slamming the door and dashing to the other side of the vehicle. Within moments, the car roared to life. She put it in drive and tore off down the road.

  "Jesus!” she yelled, glancing at him. Wincing, Wade held his bloody hand to his wound while crumpling his ruined shirt in his
other hand. Once it was balled up, he pressed it into his side in an effort to stop the bleeding. “Wade, are you okay?"

  "Just ... drive, lady,” he panted. His head spun and stars swirled in front of his eyes. “I'll be just fine."

  "You don't look fine!” She was on the verge of panic.

  "Keira,” he grunted, turning his head to look at her. “I'll be all ... right..."

  He was so damned tired. Christ. Closing his eyes, he sighed. Adrenaline no longer sustained him—he was coming down off his high. The dizziness in his head became overwhelming moments before Wade succumbed to the darkness.

  * * * *

  Fighting the tears behind her eyes, Keira drove like a mad woman while digging through Wade's pants at the same time. His cell phone had to be in there somewhere. He'd lost consciousness, but thank God he was still breathing. She wouldn't lose her cool if it killed her. She owed it to this man to keep her head on her shoulders.

  Slamming on the brakes for a red light, Keira finally found the phone and pulled it out. She flipped it open and hoped to all that was holy Rogan's number was programmed into the phone. Scrolling through the menu, she found it. Relief poured through her like summer rain. Keira pressed the button and listened as the phone rang once, then twice.

  "Hello?” That was Rogan's voice.

  "Rogan!” she exclaimed, pressing hard on the accelerator the moment the light turned green. “Where are you guys? Wade's been hurt."

  "What? Are you guys all right?"

  "We ran into my father at the bank. I think he's dead. But ... I need to find you. Wade's bleeding all over the car. I don't know what to do!"

  "Okay, Keira, calm down,” Rogan said, his usual jovial tone now serious. “We're on the edge of town, just off the highway near exit thirty-two."

  She sniffled as Rogan gave her directions. Keira hadn't realized how badly she was shaking until she said goodbye and hung up the phone. She placed it in the center console and glanced at Wade. His skin was pale and his breathing shallow. She wasn't a praying woman, but at that moment, she'd sell her soul to the devil to save the man she loved.

  "God,” she said under her breath, “please don't take him from me."

  Reaching across the car, she took his bloody hand in hers, as if her strength alone could heal him. “I love you, Wade McAllister.” Her tears finally broke through her firm countenance. “Stay with me, baby."

  Twenty Seven

  Mac stared across the Hummer at Robyn, who was looking out the window at the passing scenery. It was Trevor's turn to drive and Jet had called shotgun. Mac sat in the back with Robyn, counting the minutes until he could get the hell out of the car. Driving halfway across-country at a breakneck speed with a woman he lusted after wasn't his idea of fun. He'd called Rogan a few minutes ago to tell him they were just outside of Dallas. It wouldn't be long now until they were all together again.

  But Rogan told him Wade had been injured. Mac heaved a sigh and hoped it wasn't bad. Jet had offered to stitch him up if Wade needed it. According to Rogan, Keira sounded close to hysterics when she'd called him. Mac hoped she wouldn't fall apart. He didn't think he could handle a frantic, crying woman.

  Robyn turned her head, her eyes meeting his. She returned his stare boldly, finally looking him up and down, as if sizing him up. Mac shifted uncomfortably on the carpet of the truck bed. Damn, she was beautiful. Just one look and she had his erection practically saluting her from across the Hummer.

  The corner of Robyn's mouth lifted and he had to wonder if she could read his thoughts. Christ, why couldn't he control his urges around her? Spending hour after hour with her in the truck hadn't helped much, but thankfully Jet and Trevor hadn't teased him too badly.

  "See something you like?” she whispered, arching a brow.

  Mac closed his eyes and shoved his hands through his hair. It was painful, but anything to take his mind off his raging lust was welcomed. The urge to shift almost overwhelmed him, but it was nothing against the need to tear off Robyn's clothes and mate with her right there in front of his friends.

  "Can't you smell it?” he scoffed, narrowing his eyes.

  "Perhaps,” she said coyly, glancing back out the window. Damn. Her aloof demeanor only served to make him want her even more. He was a hairsbreadth away from crawling across the truck and attacking her when Trevor finally slowed the vehicle down.

  "There they are,” he said with a grin. He pointed to the side of the road. “We made good time."

  Once he'd pulled onto the shoulder, Trevor turned off the engine and both he and Jet hopped out. Noah and Rogan greeted them with hugs and smiles, but Mac stayed right where he was. Robyn made no move to open the back door and get out herself. She was eyeing him warily, as if wondering what he meant to do next.

  In one smooth motion, Mac pounced and pulled Robyn underneath him. He straddled her thighs and held her arms into the carpet above her head. “Don't toy with me, woman,” he growled, his voice barely audible. “I'm hanging on by a thread. You're damned lucky I didn't touch you the entire time we drove here."

  "Let me go,” she said breathlessly.

  "No."

  "Your friends are looking through the window."

  Mac glanced over his shoulder only to see Rogan giving him a thumbs-up through the glass. Wolfe turned away, seeming to understand Mac wanted privacy right now.

  "Think I care?” he asked flippantly.

  Robyn's mouth tugged into a sly grin as she moved underneath him. Her body fit his like a glove and he pressed against her fully. Her next words shocked him. “Then kiss me, jaguar."

  Mac didn't wait for another invitation. His mouth descended on hers in one fell swoop. Her mewl of submission fired his blood and before he knew it, his hands were beneath her sweater, palming her bare breasts. Robyn's fingers flew to his hair, holding his head down to her mouth as her silken tongue swirled in his mouth. Ecstasy, that's what it was. Mac groaned and surged forward, savoring the feeling of his hips grinding on hers.

  Someone pounded on the back doors of the Hummer, the sharp, unexpected sound of it stopping his urgent caresses. “Get outside, Mac!” It was Noah. “Wade's here and we need to use the supplies in the Hummer. Make love to Robyn on your own time!"

  Instantly, Mac lifted himself off of her body, his cheeks on fire. He cleared his throat. Good God, he would have gone all the way. He'd intended only to kiss her, but he hadn't counted on his lust flaming out of control. Smelling that she wanted him as well had probably been his undoing.

  Robyn pulled her sweater down and scowled at him. “Coward,” she said under her breath. “We would have moved Heaven and Earth."

  Mac closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He didn't need to hear that, not now. Damned woman. He suspected she knew exactly the pain he was going through just keeping his hands off her.

  Turning from him, she opened the back doors and jumped out, tossing her glossy black hair over her shoulder as if she hadn't just kissed him into oblivion. Mac shook his head but didn't say a word to her as he jumped out as well.

  Robyn walked away, toward Lanie and Marlie who stood near a large Buick. Mac couldn't help but watch the sway of her ass.

  * * * *

  As soon as the men pulled Wade out of the Lexus, Keira finally broke down in tears. Lanie, Marlie, and a third woman, Robyn, tried to calm her down, but she couldn't hold back her sobs. They ripped through her like a freight train. Her father was most likely dead and Wade was wounded. Judging by all that blood, it looked serious.

  "He'll be all right,” Lanie cooed to her, rubbing her shoulders. “I've seen worse than this."

  "Oh God,” Keira cried, covering her eyes.

  "That probably wasn't the best thing to say,” Lanie mumbled. “I'm sorry. I just meant that he's been through worse. There's a lot of blood, sure, but that cougar of yours took a hit from a cop car and he's still with us. He bears the scar of a grizzly attack and he lived to tell the tale. That man is resilient. He'll pull through."

 
"Don't you worry about a thing.” Marlie took her hand. “Jet can sew like Betsy Ross. You'd be surprised.” Rogan's wife smiled at her own joke. “He even sewed Wade up after Sean swiped his belly.

  Keira swallowed hard and attempted to wipe her cheeks free of tears, but more fell from her eyes. “He ... b—blacked out."

  Marlie nodded. “True, but that doesn't mean anything."

  The men had hauled him to the rear of the Hummer to perform their surgery, with Wade's head lolling back and forth. They didn't allow Keira near the truck, and it was probably a good thing. She was already freaking out. She didn't need to flip anymore at the sight of Jet stitching Wade's skin closed.

  "God, I just want him to wake up."

  "Probably best he stay asleep for this part,” Robyn piped up.

  Keira shuddered at her words. “I love him."

  "We know you do, honey,” Lanie said. “He loves you, too. Very much."

  "He's never told me that."

  "He doesn't have to,” Marlie said. “His body language says it all. My husband was just as dense, not declaring his love for me until I was already up to my eyeballs in this whole B*E*A*S*T* thing. I was scared as shit to think he might never love me, that he might kick me to the curb. But I realized he did love me. The way he held me, or kissed me. The way he talked to me, as if I were the only person on Earth. Does Wade make you feel special?"

  "All the time,” Keira breathed.

  "Has he asked you to be his mate?"

  Keira scrunched her face. “His mate?"

  "Uh oh,” Lanie said, tossing a glance at Marlie. “He hasn't asked her."

  "Well shit.” Marlie tossed up her hands. “What are we going to do with that boy?"

  "I ... I don't understand.” Keira looked back and forth between them.