by J. Kearston
Yet I’m stuck hiding in her room while she’s abused and taking all of the risk. If I thought I could get her out of here in one piece, I would have torn her father’s throat out the first day he hit her. But if he’ll do that while claiming to want what’s best for her? He’ll kill her for defiling his house by hiding someone like me.
So I’m forced to bide my time so I don’t put her in more danger than she already is. I don’t deserve her by any means, and even if it kills me, I will find a way to shift back just so I can tell her as much.
Arranged marriage, I internally scoff, pacing the room in my agitation. And they call us primitive.
Footsteps outside of the door have me darting into her closet, easily leaping onto the high shelf wrapping around the room. I slip behind several boxes before going stock still, waiting.
The scent of her father’s aftershave clogs my nostrils and I fight a sneeze, ears pricked as I try to get a sense of what he’s doing in here. There’s a crunch of plastic and the sound of something being set down, followed shortly after by his retreating footsteps.
Remaining on my perch for several minutes before jumping back to my feet, I stalk carefully into the room and start searching. The only possible thing visible that makes sense is the water bottle she always keeps on her bedside table. I leap onto her bed to get a closer look, but beyond the scent of him being in the room, there’s nothing to indicate anything’s wrong. Still, better safe than sorry.
Gently, so that I don’t puncture the bottle, I wrap my teeth around the side instead of the cap and carry it to the bathroom, tossing it in the bathtub. Fumbling and swiping at the cap until it’s loose, I slam my paw down. Water explodes with a crunch of plastic and I spend the next gods know how long trying to swipe and kick it to the trash can, unwilling to get my mouth anywhere around the potentially drugged liquid.
My poor, sweet, opposable thumbs. I promise, I’ll never take you for granted again.
I scent her before I hear her, my head whipping in the direction of her door. Still, I dart under the bed on the off chance she isn’t alone, but as soon as the door shuts, I pounce. She stumbles back a step, dropping her bags and laughing.
It’s clear the woman’s been deprived of affection for the better part of her life, humans being raised far differently than shifters. Their existence seems so lonely, my mate’s more so than most, I would guess. If the only thing I’m capable of doing right now is making her smile, then damn it, no matter how ridiculous I may look, I’ll try.
“Miss me?” she teases, scratching behind my ear.
I’m not even ashamed to admit it feels fucking amazing. When I smell that asshat Jax on her I stiffen, doing a quick scan to make sure she isn’t hurt. When it’s clear she’s in the same condition she left in, I rub my face against her collar, mindful of my claws on her shoulders.
I cover her in my scent, marking her as mine despite the fact that it will be lost on the humans she surrounds herself with. Back home, it would be enough to offer her protection despite her human status, other shifters warned she’s under pack claim and there will be hell to pay if you cause trouble.
We may not get many humans out our way, but there’s the occasional few that have had it bad enough they’d rather work on our land in exchange for protection. The humans may have driven us to the wilds, but they don’t set foot out there, knowing they don’t stand a chance trying to attack us on our own land. It’s far easier to hide a body out there than the middle of the city, and having that safe haven is the only thing keeping us in this hostile stasis of territory division.
She sets the bag with her dress for tonight on her bed and the rest on the floor. It’s clear the girl’s never had to rough it before, but she certainly tried to get whatever she thinks we might need just by the abundance of options. There’s just no way in hell we’ll be able to run with all of this and even if she rented a car to get us out of the city, we’ll need to abandon it as soon as possible.
I stop her from putting several things in her backpack, nudging others her way until it’s stocked with essentials. The rest would be a bonus for sure, but the bag is going to be heavy enough for her to run with.
She goes to grab a swig from her water bottle, frowning to find it missing. “Hey, did you knock it under the bed again?”
On her hands and knees, I try not to stare at her ass, but fuck.
I’m only human-adjacent.
By the time she finds it in her trash can, I’m hard at work trying to write with my damn mouth, which for the record is way harder than it sounds.
“Duck?” she asks in confusion and I growl, struggling my way through dad with more precision. “Why would he drink my water? I have no idea what you’re trying to say, Ozzy,” she huffs, as frustrated as I am.
I give up, because I’m only guessing in the first place. The rest of the afternoon is spent with her sneaking back out to put things in the car she has stashed and I pray she didn’t use her father’s credit card to rent it. Rin is far more intelligent than people around here give her credit for, but she’s also lived an incredibly sheltered life. Without being able to ask her though, I’m stuck just praying for the best.
When the evening comes and she steps out of the bathroom in her simple soft blue, floor length dress, I commit the sight to memory. She wafts grace and poise, her slim figure accentuated by the way it hugs her torso, loosening at her hips to hang straight. Chestnut hair is swept off of her neck in an elegant up-do and a thin, silver chain hangs around her neck, an ankh shaped pendant resting on her collar.
She shifts on her feet, rubbing one of her arms over the faded bruises there as she fidgets uncomfortably. “I agree, not very conducive to running, but it was already waiting for me when I arrived at the shop.”
Whether it was Jax or her father, I’m not sure I want to know. The fact that they feel they can go so far as deciding what she’s allowed to wear is absurd. She may look stunning, but there’s a difference between a gift and just another form of control.
“So it’s a good thing I didn’t park too far away from the house,” she rambles as she tends to when she’s nervous. She shakes off her apprehension, features hardening alongside her determination. “You remember the plan?”
I nod my head. We’ve been over it over a dozen times already and I’ve committed every street name and turn to memory. Since she’s relying on winging it to find an opportunity to slip away tonight, I have to leave twenty minutes after she does so I’m there no matter when she can escape. There won’t be time to double back here, the minute she steps foot out of that house starting the clock.
But the thought of her even stepping foot into that cesspool of human garbage masquerading as a party leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I desperately wish I could just grab her and run, put all of this behind us, and hide her away from the world as effectively as she’s doing for me.
I dart beneath the bed without giving her any warning, just barely picking up on the sound of the doorknob turning before her father is strides into the room. “You look lovely, Corinna,” he claims, sounding for all intents and purposes like a proud father.
She murmurs her thanks and before long he’s escorting her away like a lamb to the slaughter. I start the countdown in my head until twenty minutes pass by, taking a steadying breath before leaping out the open window to the branch outside.
The sun is just beginning to set, casting shadows everywhere that should help conceal me. I usually resent being the smallest shifter in our pride, but thank fuck I don’t change into something like Ares or Cole; I’d have never made it through her window that night.
With nothing short of a guardian angel over my shoulder, I make it to the car and slip beneath it without incident, ready to get the hell out of this damn city and never look back. But as the minutes turn into an hour, then another, I get an increasing sense of dread. I war with myself for another tense moment before finally cursing and breaking into a sprint, darting between shadows and keeping my eyes
downcast so as not to draw anyone’s eye in the darkness.
By the time I’m nestled in the branches of the tree overhanging the property the party is at, I’ve run through a million worst case scenarios already and am sick to my stomach. The mansion is ostentatious to the point of nauseating. There are countless people that end up starving to death outside of the city gates, those that struggle just to live day to day. And here, people practically use money to blow their nose and light their cigars.
It’s sickening.
I stay low to the branch, trying to peer through the windows on the back of the house for a glimpse of my mate. Time ticks by, and each second that passes has me restless, instinctually just knowing something’s wrong.
Don’t do it. Stick to the plan. You’re going to do more harm than good.
There’s a crash, glass shattering, and my head jerks away from the party on the main level to the story above. A strangled shout has me running across the open expanse of yard, going with my gut. There’s a balcony that wraps around the second floor and I scale up to it easily, landing on silent paws outside of the open French doors.
A hand is wrapped around Rin’s throat and slams her back against the wall. She grunts, clawing at the man’s wrist as he starts screaming in her face. My blood boils, animalistic instinct taking over as I pounce with a snarl, tearing into his arm.
He howls in pain and shock, dropping his hold and jumping back. I land on my feet, wasting no time going for his jugular in an attempt to tear his pathetic throat out. He sidesteps at the last moment, but I manage to rake my claws down his face.
Bloody rivulets drip down to stain his expensive clothes, his expression more furious than terrified. “You mutt-loving slut,” he spits in Rin’s direction, the insult a verbal slap to the face. “This is why you’ve been throwing such a bitch-fit? You’ve been rutting around in the dirt with the beasts?”
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this must be Jax, and I take great pride in the fact that if I go down, at least I’ll take this asshole with me.
“It’s not like that,” she starts, voice trembling a bit with her fear.
“Well it’s too fucking late, isn’t it?” he spits, one hand pressed to his face to staunch the bleeding. “Because you’re mine now. And no wife of mine is going to ruin my name like this.” He stands a bit straighter and I tense, wondering what he’s planning. “Get your pet to stand down, and I might just consider putting this behind us. You have a chance at a fresh start, Corinna. Don’t be stupid; the mutt won’t be walking out of this house alive. Are you really going to go down with it?”
I don’t even have to wait for her to consider her options. “Fuck off, Jax.”
That’s all that I need to hear, launching myself at him with renewed enthusiasm. He screams as I begin to tear him apart, it taking far longer than I’d like to silence him. Because despite the monsters they make us out to be, I’ve never actually killed a human before. I thought it’d be quicker since they’re so feeble in comparison, but he struggles and fights far more than the deer I usually hunt.
The bedroom is little more than a macabre painting by the time I’m done, and as I step back over his still form, blood dripping from my jaw, I have my first real moment of absolute fear since stepping foot in this city. Even as the mages carved into me, I was just full of loathing, but I have never actually been scared to die. The only thing I would have left behind was my pride, but this world has always just been something I’ve survived instead of actually enjoyed.
Now? I’m fuckin’ terrified. My mate had a front row seat as I proved everything they say about us is true, and that we’re nothing more than violent, dangerous beasts. I’ve survived many things in my life, but I’m not sure I can live with Rin being afraid and repulsed by me.
Reluctantly I turn, and though I try and keep my body relaxed and unthreatening, there’s too much adrenaline flooding my system. My muscles stay coiled, ready to either bolt or fight tooth and nail to give her a shot to escape while I stay behind to give her a head start. My ears perked, I strain to pick up the thundering footsteps drawn by his screams to storm in here and shoot me. The music is loud below, helping to mask things, but I still expect someone to investigate. Though after the way everyone turned a blind eye at her bruises, I shouldn’t be surprised if they thought they were her screams they were ignoring.
Her eyes are filled with tears, but her words cause my lungs to seize. “I’m so sorry, they forced me to sign the paper. I didn’t want to, but they-“ Her words cut off with a sob and I’m left stunned.
She couldn’t give two shits I just murdered him, she’s more concerned they forced her to marry the abusive jackass.
Hesitantly, I step closer, wishing I could say any number of things. Mostly, that she never has a damn thing to apologize for, and I’d rather chew off my own leg than hurt her. Instead, I meow like a stupid cat, the sound conveying absolutely fucking nothing to her as I jerk my head towards the open door.
She swipes at her face, swallowing a few times, and when she speaks next, her voice is steady. “We need to get you out of here, now. I doubt anyone will come check on the room until morning, not wanting to interrupt his wedding night celebrations.” She sneers at his corpse, her disgust directed at the man himself instead of the carnage. “But people will likely be leaving the party soon and it will be harder to avoid getting caught.”
I lead the way out to the balcony, internally cursing. While it’s nothing for me to leap down, my mate is far more fragile. If she lands wrong, there’s a chance that she could break a leg, and then we’ll be royally screwed. I desperately wish one of the others were here, but they aren’t and I can’t waste precious time on what-ifs.
“Help me,” she whispers suddenly, gripping the skirt of her dress and holding a section away from her body. “I can barely run in this thing, let alone climb.”
My beautiful mate never ceases to amaze me. I may have only known her for a month, but I doubt that fact will ever change.
Careful not to scratch her legs, I claw through so it hangs in tatters just above her knees. She kicks off her shoes and lifts one of the large sections of silk, tugging on it to make sure it won’t tear.
“Thank gods for kids' movies always giving terrible ideas,” she murmurs and I have a spike of fear, unsure of what the hell she’s planning.
She straddles the stone balustrade and I whine low in my throat, pacing in agitated concern. Carefully, she locks her legs together as she leans down to wrap the silk around one of the smooth columns. Glancing up at me briefly, her features tighten with anxiety.
“This is probably going to be fine, but if I break my neck, I just want you to know something. That can’t have been an easy thing you did for me back there, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough.” I stare at her, mentally screaming and wishing she could hear me.
“You’re right.” She carries on the conversation in my silence as she always does, trying to make things less awkward in our situation. “I can’t die yet, I promised to get you out of the city. Can’t go back on my word or this will be a really one-sided relationship. Don’t want to go out remembered as nothing more than a mooch.”
She takes a fortifying breath before jumping and a strangled cry bursts from my lips that I promptly clamp shut, terrified about drawing attention our way. I put my paws on the railing, looking down to find her legs clutching the side of the pillar and silk wrapped around the back for support, gripping it tightly in her palms. Ever so slowly, she starts inching down towards the ground. I leap over to wait at the bottom, not like I can catch her, but at least I might be able to soften the blow if she slips.
A shot fires, chipping the stone above my head as I flatten myself to the ground and pivot. Standing a few yards away, a man dressed like security adjusts his aim, taking another shot at me.
“Back away from the lady, mutt,” the man snarls in my direction and I take a second to appreciate what this scene looks like from an outside persp
ective. Namely, like I attacked her and she’s attempting to climb out of reach as I pace below, waiting for her to slip.
Fuck.
Though, it does spur a long shot hope of getting out of here. I hiss, trying to get her attention and bare my teeth at her, praying like hell that she’ll understand what I’m trying to do. Leaping up, I swipe a claw beneath her feet and gouge the stone, darting to the side before the guard can hit me.
What sort of men are they raising in the cities? Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if you paid him. No wonder the humans are scared of us.
When she’s close enough to the ground to risk it, she drops, legs buckling beneath her as she falls on her ass. I waste no time taking the side of her neck in my mouth, abundantly careful that my teeth don’t so much as scratch her already abused flesh. The illusion is all I need, just enough to make him hesitate.
“Easy,” the guard growls, reluctantly holstering his weapon and raising the other hand in surrender.
As expected, several more people have started pouring out onto the lawn, and there’s more security among them. Gently, I step back, waiting until she scrambles along the ground to ensure I don’t accidentally pierce her skin.
Her father shows his face, absolute hatred radiating off of him in waves. “Let her go.”
Pulling my lips back to bare my teeth, I gently clamp down to show how serious I am. Not about willing to kill her to prove a point and get out of here alive as they assume, but of getting her away from this abusive, toxic place by any means necessary.
It’s slow going, getting to the back gate, and when no one immediately makes to open it, I snarl. Rin picks up on my cues, sounding on the verge of tears as she begs for them to open it, that she doesn’t want to die.
It hurts to hear, but I know it’s all for show. The gate eventually opens and I hear sirens in the distance getting closer. We won’t have long if we want any hope of running, so I start stepping back quicker and she matches my pace awkwardly.