by Joyner, GP
“It’s not a problem. I know most would perceive me as a threat, given...” Betty trailed off.
A heavyset woman came bounding out of the house with a look of consternation. Hands on her rounded hips, she said, “Javier, what do you think you are doing? You are supposed to be in the bed, resting. You are not completely healed.”
Javier rolled his eyes and, at the same time, stumbled a little. Betty reached out to grab him, steading him on his feet. “Shouldn’t you have healed by now?” she asked, more as a fact than a question.
“Normally the answer would be yes, but your father’s cocktail has my whole system screwed up.”
Betty looked ashamed and down at the ground as they reached the main house. Stopping shortly before the steps and looked down at her, he said, “Don’t do that. You have every right for self-preservation. After meeting your father, I understand why you opted to run away.”
Taking the steps to where his mother stood, Javier gave introductions. “Mama, this is Betty. Betty, this is my mother, Esmeralda Romero.”
Betty stuck out her hand to shake the elderly woman’s hand. Esmeralda pulled her into a warm hug, something she knew that she missed. After a few minutes, Betty stepped back to find a few other people standing in the door way.
“The little one back behind my mother is my sister, Lola. Be careful—she can talk you ear off if you let her. Then that strapping young man, standing to the left of Lola, is my younger brother, Jesus. The gentleman on the other side of Lola is my father, Armando.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Betty offered.
Lola’s high-pitched voice spoke over everyone. “You smell weird. You smell like a cat, a wet dog, and a horse. What kind of shifter are you?”
“Lola,” Mrs. Romero began to lecture, “that is not polite to do with a guest. How many times do I have to tell you about that?”
Betty interrupted. “No, it’s all right. I am a special breed.”
“What kind of breed is that?”
“Well, my DNA has been mixed with several others.”
Carlito snarled behind her, and Jesus and Lola stepped back when they saw her wolf emerge to the forefront again, turning to face Carlito. The booming voice halted their action. Mr. Romero shifted and confronted his son.
“She is a guest, and you will treat her with respect.”
“She is an outsider, and her father is the one who made us we are.”
Coming to the brownish wolf, she caressed his fur, periodically scratching behind his ears, putting him at ease and transforming seamlessly into the grey arctic wolf to communicate with Carl’s wolf.
“I mean you no harm. My father is not the only one he did harm to others despite his Hippocratic Oath. I have several animals’ DNA within this structure. My father wants to harvest my blood because I am the only one of my kind.”
She prowled way from him, not to make Carl feel shitty, but he needed to know that she was no threat. Again, she transformed into a large anaconda, slithering further away into a bush, towards the car. On the way, she transformed into the Bengal Tiger. Reaching the end of Javier’s vehicle again, she moved into the mustang and finally back to herself.
“There is also an unknown type of DNA mixed in. Again, I did not show you all that to freak you all out but to let you know you are not the only ones that endured hardship. For five years, my father repeatedly drew blood to attempt to create another like me, until one of the men took pity on me and cut me loose. He gave me all the money he had in his wallet, $600, and smuggled me out. He gave me instructions to leave town and to always keep a low profile. I did that, until…”
“When you started school here,” Javier finished.
“Like I said, I don’t want any harm to come to you and your family.”
Mr. and Mrs. Romero approached her cautiously. She looked like her flight-or-fight response was about to kick in. Mrs. Romero gathered Betty into her arms and held her close while Mr. Romero stroked her head.
“There is no need for you to leave. We are family regardless of what we are. We have friends that are different shifters, and they will gladly protect you as well. Carlito is leery about everyone who comes near. Once he gets to know you, things will change.”
Betty sniffed. She felt so loved. Then she heard Lola call for her mother. She looked over to see that Javier had hit the ground and was lying there, unconscious.
“I know I really hate to do this, but I need to know if you have any shifters that are doctors.”
“Yes, Lola, call Dr. Sweets.”
“Aw, man, do I have to?” Lola begged.
“Jesus.”
“On it, Dad.”
Jesus took off inside as his father carried Javier inside to the bed.
“What are you thinking?”
“Please don’t think I am crazy, but my mother said the only way to save Javier would be my blood.”
“I thought you said your mother was dead.”
“She is. It’s a long story.”
Carlito was at her side, not sure what to make of her.
“Why does he stay in wolf form?”
“We just assumed he would rather stay that way.”
“Haven’t you ever asked him?”
“He’s doesn’t respond. There was time when he would shift to human form, but for the last couple of years, he’s stayed in this form.”
Betty looked at Carlito, tilted her head, and then nodded as if understanding. A big, huge, burly man came into the room. His broad shoulder made her feel tiny. He had deep chocolate eyes. Opening her sense, she realized he was a bear shifter. She shivered.
“What’s going on, Armando? Jesus said you needed my help.” He wrinkled his nose.
“Who is she, and why does she stink?”
Betty rolled her eyes when Lola piped up.
“See, I’m not the only one who thinks she stinks.”
“Lola!” Jesus and Mr. Romero scolded her.
“Why is she here?”
“Sweets, give her a break. I know everyone is leery of her, but it wasn’t for her, Javier wouldn’t be alive. She needs your assistance. I’ll let her explain.”
“I need you draw my blood and inject it into Javier.”
Sweets looked at her like she lost her mind.
“Have you lost your mind, Armando?” Dr. Sweets asked.
“Look, there’s not much time.”
“I trust her.”
Bracing for the needle, she closed her eyes. Dr. Sweets was none too gentle, but she understood the reason why. She applied pressure to the site and watched as Dr. Sweets injected Javier, crossing her fingers, hoping it worked and hoping he wouldn’t have to go through the changes she had to experience. An hour went by with no changes. She refused to leave Javier’s side as Carlito sat at her foot. Two more hours went by, and she began to get antsy. Her mother’s voice hovered just at the edge of her mind, worrying her.
“The cells are being repair. Calm down. You are making everyone tense.”
“If this doesn’t work and he dies, I am going to feel responsible for the crazy that these people will unleash, and I am going to deserve it.”
“You are not crazy.”
“Really, I’m talking to a ghost for goodness sake.”
A giggle came from her mother. “Yeah, I know, but still, you aren’t. You need to eat, Betty. You are pushing yourself beyond your limits.”
“I’m not hungry.” Her stomach growled just as she finished the words. “Okay, so I’m hungry. I’ll eat after he wakes up.”
The ghost of her mother stared at the wolf as if trying to implore him to get Betty to get something to eat when Ms. Romero appeared in the doorway with a plate of food.
“You need to eat something, Betty.”
“Thanks, Ms. Romero, but I’ll eat once Javier wakes.”
“That might be a while.”
“I know.”
Another three hours passed. She was started to feel the hunger. She had shifted more a
nd used all of her energy; then she had to give up blood, albeit for a good cause, but she was feeling the effects. She stood and fell to her knees. Her stomach roiling, she crawled over to the garbage can, and she began to puke. At the sound of the retching, Ms. Romero entered the room at the same time Javier’s eyes popped open. He felt refreshed and knew something had changed within but wasn’t sure what it was. Carlito bounded to the bed and licked Javier’s face to express his joy of seeing his brother up.
Javier, feeling much stronger than before, asked his mother what was going on. She told him she wasn’t sure but that Betty just started getting sick. She hadn’t eaten anything. Javier took the wet cloth from his mother while she twisted Betty’s hair up and clipped it to avoid getting vomit in her hair. Javier reached down and felt her burning up. He was worried.
She had a reprieve. “Mom, I need to get her in the shower. She is burning up. Can you fix some soup for her and bring a can of ginger ale?”
Javier headed to the bathroom. He sat on the toilet with her in his lap. She mumbled something, and he kissed her sweaty forehead, giving her some type of assurance that everything would be all right. His mother reached into the shower and turned on the shower. Lukewarm water streamed down. His mother helped her remove her clothing. He noticed the scars on her lower back as if someone continuously cut her. He made a mental note to ask her about them then climbed into the water with her. Helping her stand up, she moaned that the water was too cold. She began to shiver even though the temperature was through the roof. He wondered how her shifter animals were faring. Ironically, he could sense them, and they all seemed restless. They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms, her half naked and him fully clothed for about an hour.
Mrs. Romero came back into the bathroom with one of her plush bath sheets. Javier reached over and turned the water off. His mother sat on the toilet and waited for him to hand Betty over. Rubbing the towel lightly over her skin, caring for her as if she were her daughter, Betty began to whimper.
“Shush, nina. It’s okay. You’ll get something to eat and sleep for a while; Carlito will watch over you, and then everything will be all right.”
Javier stripped out of his clothing and dried off. Going into his room, he grabbed a pair of shorts and two t-shirts, hauling one over her head and taking the other one to his mother. Sitting Betty up, they got the t-shirt situated.
“Do you think you can walk?” Javier asked Betty.
A weak, “Yes” came from her mouth.
They helped her stand, and Javier wrapped an arm around her waist. He got her to the bed and helped her in. His mother headed to the kitchen and brought back the soup. Betty tried to fight the food; she just wanted to sleep at this point.
“I know, honey, but you need to eat something first. Then, you can go to sleep,” Javier assured her.
Too weak to fight, she slurped the spoon full of broth that was lifted to her lips each time until she had consumed it all. He placed the bowl on the dresser and asked Carlito to keep watch outside the door. Closing the door behind himself, he climbed into the bed next to her, drawing her body flush to his, and he snaked an arm around her waist.
That familiar feeling of the burning sensation on her back started up again. She tried to ignore it. Javier could feel her body getting restless. She pressed her thighs together, creating friction her body craved. Her breathing became labored and long. She felt her sexual cravings creeping upon her once more. She was able to suppress it before, but now she was having a hard time getting it under control.
She could feel his erection pressed into her backside, the stirring causing her to gyrate her hips in a circular motion. Betty could hear him groaning, and this made her wet. The moisture called to his senses, forcing him to act, and in her state, she whispered, “I can’t take this anymore."
“I know, sweetie. Just relax, and I’ll take care of it for you.” Javier told her in a low, husky voice.
“I’m burning up, and if I don’t get some relief soon, I won’t guarantee anything.”
“I’ll handle everything.”
Sliding his palm up over her hips and across her stomach, he cupped her breast, kneading the nipple to a pleasurable point. Guiding her into a position where she was on her back, his left leg draped over and pinned her left leg. His fingers found the damp and fully erect clit. He swirled his index finger around in circles before slipping it between her moistened lips. Gathering the wetness, he returning to her clit. He applied slight pressure. Her muscles clenched at the emptiness of her pussy. Her hips slightly bucked upward.
“That’s it, honey. Let it come to you.”
“Javier, oh…”
The bundle of nerves coiled tighter, and she was about to go off like a bottle rocket, covering her mouth with his as she whimpered her defeat and gave in to her orgasm. She let it wash over and through her. Breathing hard, she opened her eyes.
“We shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want you to think that this is payback for saving your life.”
“I told you once before that I wanted you. I didn’t want you just for sex. You captivated me in so many ways. Hell, you even made Carlito change his mind about you, and that’s saying something.”
“I don’t know how to do this,” she said, gesturing between the two of them.
“We’ll take it slow after this, but right now, I believe your body is craving some attention.”
He hovered over her, nibbling on the corners of her lips, simple kisses that, in turn, heated them up and drew them into one another. Briefly breaking away for her before they were both consumed, he slipped out of his shorts, pushed the blankets back, and positioned himself into a prone position between her thighs. He saw the scarring there as well. He kissed each of scars. He swiped his tongue up higher. She moaned, and he stopped. He placed a finger to his lips. She nodded in agreement. He licked at her hip, and she nearly came undone. Bowing her back, she clenched the sheets in her hands and drew in her lips to keep from making a sound. Javier drew slow circles at the apex of Betty’s thighs.
“Javier,” she begged.
He lifted his head and placed a finger to his mouth.
She blew out a hard breath and sucked it in just as quickly when Javier placed his mouth directly on her clit and began flicking his tongue. Reaching down, Betty smashed his face deeper into her pussy. She didn’t believe it was possible, but fuck if she didn’t erupt into his mouth, smothering her screams of satisfaction with the pillow. Her senses hadn’t been completely opened up, but his had, and she was going to work him over. Grappling with him, he ending up on his back with her between his thighs. He had such a beautiful cock; she was enamored with it. Taking it within her grasp, she licked from the stem to the tip, running her tongue just to the tip before engulfing him to the base of his cock. Javier began to moan, and she stopped. Looking at him, she waited, and once she had his attention, she put a finger to her mouth to tell him to be quiet like he did with. She stated again with the ministrations, working him up to a frenzy. Then, she stopped and started again.
Finally, he had enough, laying her flat on her back, he plunged into her. She clenched around him. Covering her mouth with his, he plundered her body. Her nails raked down his back and drew him in closer. She opened wider and drew him in deeper with her heels. Meeting each of his thrusts with one of her own, just as she was about to come, he realized that his DNA had been altered with several other which had converged together.
“I need more,” she whispered, close to the edge but not quite reaching the pinnacle.
“I know what you need.” In agreement he bit down on the side of her neck, marking her has his, claiming him as her victor. The moment it was done, she clamped her muscles around him, also marking him with her claws.
After an hour of lounging in the bed, Javier got up and pulled on his shorts. Betty pulled on his t-shirt. He admired her. Hopping back on the bed, he pulled her into his arms.
“
You know we need to talk.”
She sighed. “Yeah.”
“You want to start?”
“I guess.”
“What’s with the scars?”
“Unlike you, any scarring that may have happened occurred before the DNA actually rooted itself, when my father decided to test his theory. They cut me several times to see if the healing process was any faster. After the fourth day, when they came in to do the testing, they realized that my coagulant factor had started working.”
“What did you do to me?” Javier felt her tense. He began to stroke up her arm in a soothing manner to keep her from freaking completely out.
“Please don’t get mad. I had to have Dr. Sweets take my blood inject it into you blood stream.” She waited for his negative reaction.
“What made you think of that… to use your own blood?”
“Okay, so, here’s the other odd thing. Although my mother is legally brain dead, she can still talk to me. She is the one who told me to come back to you and that my blood would save you.”