I ran back to the sink and cracked the window, breathing in the fresh air. The shot of cool air pushed the nausea from me. The sound of hissing steam came from the stove, and I twirled around to find the pasta boiling over.
Turning, I glared at Beast. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” He licked his face and hummed with contentment, laying his head back on his massive paws and closing his eyes. “You’re infuriating!” I threw my hands in the air. “Well, enjoy it while you can, because you aren’t sleeping tonight.”
An ear twitch was the only indication that he heard me. I ground my teeth and stirred the pasta as if trying to drill a hole through the pan. He could at least look contrite about this whole mess!
Finally, the pasta was al dente, and I poured the steaming liquid into the strainer. My head swirled with questions like the steam rising off my dinner, but I feared the sunset, even with the promise of answers. Beast would be a man then, and I wouldn’t have the ease of the relationship I shared with the wolf. Why would his human form be more threatening to me? I should be more scared of fangs and claws than arms and legs.
After dinner, I washed the few dishes while watching the sun sink closer and closer to the horizon. A stack of homework called me from the entryway where I’d dropped my overloaded backpack.
Grabbing it, I headed to the couch to answer pages of questions on how the brain functions, giving an illustration when appropriate. If only it could shed some light on the werewolf brain. The wolf is the man, the man is the wolf. No matter how many times I chanted the phrase in my mind, I couldn’t untangle the mess of emotions and thoughts I’d found with each of his forms. And I couldn’t align them in a way that would bring understanding to my mind. I felt the wolf’s eyes on me as I passed him. His concern for me flowed through our connection. Could he feel everything I felt?
“I’m fine,” I snapped, then breathed deeply. “Sorry, I just need to be left alone.”
Thankfully, the wolf understood and retreated back to the kitchen, leaving me in the living room. Surrounding myself with textbooks, I prepared for a different kind of headache.
CHAPTER 18—First Aid or a Shirt
The forest sang with spring: the trills of the meadowlark’s mating song, the gurgle of a playful stream jumping over rocks, the gentle breeze rustling the newly fledged aspen leaves. I shivered as the cool afternoon air licked through my loose hair. My white cotton dress tickled my bare calves as I walked around the pine trees.
My bare feet curled in the moist earth as I walked farther into the forest that shifted from deciduous to evergreen trees. The smell of crushed pine saturated the air as a last gift of joy before the sharp pain of needles pricked my skin. Shocked, I looked down. My feet were covered in blood and a dark cloud stole the sun. Everything felt wrong, empty. A sob caught in my throat, startled by a growl of a wolf that echoed through the heavily laden branches of the pine trees surrounding me. Fear pumped through my veins, and I pushed my shredded feet to run.
The pounding paws beat the ground behind me, and I spurred my legs to move faster. I jumped over a fallen log, and my foot caught in the tangle of branches.
Snap!
Jabbing pain ripped through my body as my leg twisted unnaturally. I fell into an eternal black void of the anguishing sounds of broken bones and torn flesh.
I jolted awake, wiping at the trail of drool pooled at the corner of my mouth, the other half soaking the pages of my anatomy text book. A shiver shimmied down my spine. The dream had felt so real, and the pain—I winced, remembering the daggers of heat that lacerated through my leg when it broke. Sliding my hand down my right leg, my fingertips caressed the unbroken skin which throbbed slightly with the phantom sensation.
I blew out a shaky breath. Never again would I fall asleep studying anatomy! Who would’ve guessed the cerebral cortex could be fraught with such horrifying nightmares?
The lamp on the end table cast angular shadows across the darkened walls. Night? How long had I slept? Panicked, I pushed off the cushy suede couch I was curled up against and jumped at the sound of a zipper. My eyes quickly located Beast buttoning his blue jeans.
His caramel eyes flicked up to mine, and they shone with pain.
“Are you okay?” I ask in a strangled voice, scanning his face and shirtless torso for wounds. The dream was still fresh in my mind, and I half expected to find him ripped to shreds.
I couldn’t see any blood. His pale skin was red and raw under the hair on his chest. A sheen of sweat coated his whole torso. Then it hit me. It had to be the change. But his wolf change only itched like crazy. Was it only this bad when he changed into human form? I couldn’t keep the pity from my eyes, werewolf or not.
“It hurts you,” my voice was small. I noticed the crimson sores that looked as if they would ooze blood at the lightest touch, and it pulled my heartstrings. “I think my grandma has a first aid kit.” I stepped away to find it when he spoke.
“No,” Beast’s gruff voice was labored. I froze, my eyes holding his. I still felt the pain throbbing inside, but there was a gentle edge to it now. “The after effects will pass soon.”
I arched my brow in disbelief. He tried for a reassuring smile, but it looked more like a grimace.
“I believe you have questions?” His voice was already becoming lighter, not weighed down with so much pain, and my mind snapped back.
“Do you enjoy scaring me?” My eyes narrowed, accusing him. “Next time, warn me before you pull crap like that!” The words tumbled from my lips before I could sensor the tone.
“I thought it was best to change while you were sleeping. Naked men seem to bother you.”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to blush, but from his look of smug satisfaction, I guess I hadn’t managed it. Humor flashed in his eyes and curved his lips seductively as he played off my annoyance. What he said about changing while I slept felt familiar in an almost déjà vu kind of way.
I wrung my hands. This bond thing was creeping me out. I hadn’t fully realized last night what had happened, but after experiencing it again, I knew our connection was uncomfortably deep. “I felt you…change…again.”
His lips sagged into a frown, eyes boring into mine, as if to solve a complicated riddle.
The attention made me squirm and doubt my conclusions. “I mean, I think I did. I wasn’t so sure last night, but tonight, I dreamt I was running from a growling wolf, and then I broke my leg. The pain felt so real, much more intense this time. It has to be you, right?”
He just continued to stare. I couldn’t hold his eyes anymore and let my gaze fall to the floor. The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity. It was probably closer to a minute, but I couldn’t stand it a moment longer.
“Say something. What is this freaky bond between us?” Braving his eyes once again, I raised an eyebrow at his frowning face, my heart hammering my lungs like a punching bag. “Why do I feel your hunger? Your pain?”
Beast turned from me, his gaze on the backyard. “I don’t want to scare you, Tayla.”
“Too late for that.”
He let out a sigh. “This has never happened to me before.”
My body tingled—he must’ve thought he was a great liar, but I wasn’t buying it. “I’m not the only girl you’ve stolen.”
I let the implication hang there. Saying the words made me shiver. Did he really collect girls like puppies? He turned around, his proud shoulders slouched. “It’s true, my wolf has chosen four girls before you, but you, Tayla, are the first to feel any of my emotions or…pain.”
“So it’s my fault? I’m the freak?” My laugh was harsh. How could he turn this around on me?
He chuckled bitterly. “I’m a werewolf. If there’s a freak in this room it’s me.”
“Why then?” I balled my fists on my hips.
His demeanor turned serious, and he looked at me with seeking eyes. “I haven’t figured out the details yet.”
I quickly picked up on the word “details.”
>
“So you have figured out some?” My question solidified into a demand.
He held my gaze for a moment before taking a long, steady breath. “It has something to do with my wolf. Something extra.”
I scoffed. “This whole mess has to do with your wolf.”
He leaned against the wall. “He sees you differently than the others.”
“Well, that clears it all up. Gee thanks.” Sarcasm dripped from my words.
“I told you, I haven’t figured it out yet. It has to be something about you.” He ran a hand through the hairy mass on his head. “This will be a problem.”
“It’s your wolf. You figure it out!” I turned to claim my spot on the couch again. I was definitely not the problem here.
The couch sagged under Beast’s weight as he sat next to me. “I don’t command my wolf.”
My eyebrows rose in disbelief, and I snorted.
“It’s an uneasy alliance,” he continued, carefully choosing his words. “One I haven’t figured out all the pieces to.”
His stony mask was gone, and there sat a man stripped to the core. My hurt feelings mollified under his confession and honesty. There wasn’t much left to say, but I didn’t want him to stop talking. He’d let a wall down, and I’d be stupid not to seize the moment. The more I knew the better I could understand what was happening to me.
“Why at night?” I questioned, gesturing to his body.
He looked away from me and traced a groove on the coffee table with his finger. “It’s the only time of day I have enough strength to free myself from the wolf and turn human.”
“Is it the moon that gives you strength?” I was curious despite my annoyance.
“The moon grows fuller and will be complete in a few days.” He paused to look at me with serious eyes.
As the silence grew, dread seeped into my bones. Somehow, I knew what he would say and didn’t want to listen anymore. “Tayla, I have to return to my pack.”
“I won’t leave my family.” I set my jaw, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“You don’t understand how dangerous werewolves are, especially when they’re hungry.” His voice tightened on the last word, as if something ate at his insides. “It was a good thing our bond was stretched to the limit today at your school. A clumsy, lanky boy they called Todd tripped right in front of my hiding place.”
I was glued to the spot. He swallowed like it was hard to speak.
“He cut his hand, Tayla. Just a small cut, but the smell of blood burned my senses like a shot of narcotics, and I was so hungry already. I wanted nothing more than to rip his throat out and feed on his warm flesh.”
My stomach retched. Todd could have died! Will I ever stop endangering him? Eyes wide, I looked at Beast with a new horror. His remorseful eyes held mine, pleading for me to understand.
“Tayla, I didn’t tell you this to make you afraid. When I’m with you, I’m unnaturally good natured. I told you about my wolf’s bloodlust so you would believe that I am dangerous. What if I’m too close to one of your friends or family members and lose control?”
A knot formed in my gut. He was warning me. Why couldn’t I accept it and leave with him? I knew the answer. I simply wasn’t ready to give up my life to follow a werewolf.
“It was because you were hungry, right?”
His eyes fell away from mine, studying the wood grain on the coffee table.
“This time it was hunger.” He sighed heavily. “You play a dangerous game, keeping me around humans,” he said, as if reading my thoughts.
“I’ll pack steaks to school, and I’ll sneak out to feed you between classes. It’ll work.”
It had, too.
He sighed and rubbed his temple. “It’s not just that. There aren’t enough places to hide around school. Soon, I’ll draw unwanted attention. I’m…sorry. I can’t allow this anymore.”
I took a moment to organize my thoughts. If I didn’t choose my words wisely, he would drag me to his house by force. “Beast, I can’t leave. My aunt’s chronically sick and my cousins depend on me every day.”
“You’re not listening.” Beast leaned against the back of the couch folding his flexed arms. “Could you live with yourself if I killed them and you were still stuck with me?”
Scared, I desperately grasped at the last string of my reasoning. “But my schooling?”
“Homeschool,” he said as if the answer was obvious. “I’ve been around a while. I can teach you what you need to know, and online learning will make up for the rest.”
I gave him a dubious look. “You? You aren’t much older than me! How can you teach me anything?”
His face grew grave. “I know more than you realize.”
I found myself losing this argument, but I dug my heels in. I had to find a way to stay.
“No,” I said with force. “I’m not leaving.”
“Regret is a lonely burden.” His deep voice resonated inside me, forming a lump of doubt in my chest.
The furnace kicked on and broke the silence like a snort of exasperation. I was done with the conversation anyway. I pushed off the couch and stalked down the hallway.
“Your room is this way,” I called over my shoulder.
He followed me silently down the hall to the guest bedroom I usually occupied. There was no way he was staying in Grandma’s room. I wouldn’t allow the privacy breach. He’d already shattered my life, and I chafed at any further violations.
CHAPTER 19—Shredded Styrofoam and Bloody Plastic
Wednesday, April 4
It was a surprisingly warm day for early April. The bare branches of the trees agreed as little stubs of green inched their way out of hibernation. Navigating through City Park, I kept close to the low-lying foliage and the bushy, green pine trees that concealed Beast.
My shoulders ached from the added weight of the raw beef steaks I’d bought this morning. That was an experience I didn’t want to repeat. I’d tossed the packages of steaks into the shopping cart, my conscience heavy with guilt at breaching my pact with Chel. But, what other choice did I have? What was better—animal or human blood?
Half way across the park, the weight of my backpack grew heavier. Fire burned through my legs and my breath became heavy as if a bungee cord was taut, ready to yank me back. Had I gotten too far from the wolf? My hand instinctively cradled my stomach, but there wasn’t any soreness under my fingers. Was I really that out of shape? Maybe it was my conscience weighing down on me.
Then, my backpack jerked to the side, and I staggered back. My legs bumped against something hairy and warm. Untangling one of my arms from the shoulder strap, I swiveled out of the backpack so I could maneuver better. Whipping my head around, I glared at Beast whose teeth had a solid hold on the bottom of my backpack.
“You’re ripping it,” I yelled. His silver eyes shone with defiance and his jaw flexed with a low growl. “Knock it off!”
I smacked the soft flesh of his nose and his jaw slackened enough for me to jerk my backpack from his greedy teeth. I quickly scanned the damage. Thankfully, it was repairable, except for the teeth marks in my textbooks.
“You snitched three packages already. I’m not letting you get another one before lunch!” I winced. I sounded too much like how Aunt Lily used to scold me as a child. But, honestly, he deserved it. He’d ripped a hole in my backpack, and I couldn’t forget the shredded Styrofoam and bloody plastic littering my van floor. I was lucky to salvage any steaks. A lot of good it did my backpack. Irritated, I picked up the few pens that fell out and stuffed them into a smaller, less damaged pocket.
He looked up at me with eyes I didn’t think were capable of begging. If someone had told me yesterday that wolves could pull the same heartstrings dogs did when they begged, I would have laughed.
Showing my irritation, I sighed dramatically and unzipped my backpack. I fished out a large steak from the thermal bag I was using to keep them cold, hoping they wouldn’t smell while I was in school. I could only imagine
what the principal would think of the stench after a couple more hours. And what about Chel? She could smell blood a mile away. She’d think I was hoarding meat like some weird freak, and that I’d broken our pact. Which I had…
Foamy saliva dripped from the wolf’s panting tongue, showing off an impressive arrangement of razor sharp teeth. I grabbed one steak and tossed it, not willing to unwrap it and touch the bloody thing. He caught the meat in one mighty snap, pawing it quickly out of its plastic wrapping. Slinging my torn backpack onto my sore shoulders, I trudged the rest of the distance to school.
Once again, Chel paced the sidewalk, waiting for me to show. An ominous feeling tingled across my skin. Breathing deeply, I crossed the street, drawing her attention to me.
“Morning,” I greeted her happily, hoping to delay whatever explosion she had bottled up. It didn’t work.
“Forgot how to use your phone again,” she vented.
I felt the sting of her words. “Sorry, I totally spaced calling you. My grandma’s camping again, and I was busy getting settled into house-sitting.”
“Well, if you had called me last night you would’ve had time to prepare,” she stated haughtily.
“Prepare for what?” Dread settled over me again like a suffocating blanket.
“Kyle’s offering a tempting amount of cash for details about you and that guy.”
Panic jetted through my system only to be replaced by annoyance.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said.
“No. And the jerk even cornered me yesterday. Like I would tell him anything!” she huffed, incredulously. Suddenly, I was very grateful for her loyalty even if I hadn’t been a great friend lately.
“I can’t allow him to keep doing this to me,” I said, fed up with Kyle’s domineering presence in my life. Why should I have to hide just because of Kyle and his childish claim on me? Compared to the curse, Kyle felt more like an irritating fly buzzing in my face.
Curse of the Beast Page 14