The B*E*A*S*T* Within

by Rebecca Goings

"Holy shit, that's Sean!” one of the men yelled.

  "Don't worry,” another of the men told Rogan. “Go! We'll take care of him."

  All four men shifted at the exact same moment. A lion, a bald eagle, a crocodile, and a leopard appeared in the passage then rushed forward with a vengeance.

  Rogan didn't waste any time. “Come on!” he yelled to Wade as he turned away, ignoring the roars of carnage behind them.

  * * * *

  Noah's arm was useless as he stared into Tam's enraged eyes. Any moment now, the bastard was going to shift and end his pathetic life. With one last glance of remorse at Lanie, Noah could only hope she wouldn't feel too much pain at Tam's touch. He damned himself for failing her and knew that he deserved this. He'd told her time and again that he'd never let anything bad happen to her, yet here she was strapped to a table in one of B*E*A*S*T*'s labs.

  He wished he'd never met her—never raced out on that icy mountain road and made her car swerve out of control. At least then he wouldn't have ruined the life of the woman he loved.

  That's when he felt it. Right underneath his left hand in the pocket of his ruined jeans was the syringe of serum! Noah's heart stopped as a ray of hope pulsed through his entire body. This was exactly the upper hand he needed.

  "Wait a minute, Tam! Can't we talk about this?” Noah panted, trying to distract the panther while he inched his hand into his pocket.

  Tam shook his head slowly and continued to sneer at him.

  "But ... what about the benefactors?” Noah said. “And the scientists? What will they say if you kill me? You've already killed Justin.” Noah swallowed hard as he continued. “You'll be severely punished if you destroy another of their expensive experiments."

  "I don't care!” Tam snarled. “I'm done being their puppet. If they come after me, I'll kill them, just like I'm going to kill you."

  Noah's fingers curled around the syringe as he pulled it out.

  "Oh, so now you're a traitor like me?"

  Noah knew that would be Tam's last straw, but he was faster than the panther. With lightning speed, he bit the plastic cover off the needle and plunged it into Tam's neck, pushing the plunger to inject the serum into Tam's bloodstream.

  Tam pulled back, yanking the needle from his neck. “What the hell did you just do?” he demanded, his eyes flashing. From the look on his face, Noah could tell he was trying to shift but couldn't.

  "I just turned the tables."

  Using the last of his strength, Noah shifted back into a tiger and launched himself at Tam, his sharp fangs digging deeply into the man's throat. Tam fell back with a look of utter shock on his face, but Noah didn't let up. Tam's hot blood gushed into Noah's mouth, and he resisted the urge to groan. He couldn't be sure if it was a groan of disgust or pleasure, but he released him anyway, standing over his human form with his jaws dripping blood.

  Tam's body twitched on the floor, gurgling a few seconds before he stilled. Noah heard for himself Tam's very last breath, and nothing had ever given him more satisfaction.

  But he didn't allow himself time to gloat over his victory. His shoulder burned, and every move was pure hell. He'd taken three bullets, and now that he was no longer sustained with adrenaline, Noah could feel his loss of blood.

  His head spun as he slowly shifted back, grinding his teeth because the pain was so unbearable. Muscle and sinew changing shape, stretching and pulling on the wounds, making him wince and cry out before he fell over just to the side of Tam's body. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he tried to regain his bearings—tears of pain, tears of relief, tears of joy. Lanie wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of that insane panther after all.

  It took him three tries, but Noah finally succeeded in lifting himself off the floor. He trudged to the observation room hidden behind the large mirror in the rear of the lab. He knew it was there from once being strapped to the table in this very room not too long ago. He pushed on the well-concealed door, and it opened to reveal a small room inside, presumably where the scientists could stand and talk, perhaps even learn a few new torture techniques while the experiments were being conducted. Just the thought had shudders racking his body.

  What he was looking for was in the far corner. Inside a small cabinet Noah found three pristine lab coats. Jackpot.

  Both he and Lanie were naked. This would help until they were able to get a change of clothes, so Noah grabbed all three of them. When he walked back into the lab, Lanie was moaning, and Noah's heart skipped a beat.

  "Baby? Can you hear me?"

  She moaned again, moving her head ever so slightly.

  "Lanie?"

  Noah threw one of the lab coats on himself, sucking his breath through his teeth when he had to move his right arm to get it through the sleeve. He blinked to clear the spots in front of his eyes and wondered if he'd be able to carry Lanie on his own. He didn't know, but he knew he would do it or die trying.

  Noah scrambled to free her arms and legs until she sagged against him. Grunting with exertion, he did his best to get her in one of the lab coats. He had to stop a few times as the spots in his eyes became flashes of light.

  "If there is a God,” he puffed under his breath, “please help me get her out of here."

  He heard footsteps in the hall, and Noah's heart leapt into his throat. If Sean had returned, then he and Lanie were both dead, because he had no more fight in him.

  With the last of his strength, he turned to face whoever had just walked into the room.

  Thirty-Four

  Rogan's eyes widened as he took in the scene. The entire lab was covered in blood, and so was Noah. He and Lanie were both wearing white lab coats, and the still form of Tam lay on the floor. Noah looked as though he were going to fall over at any given moment.

  "Jesus H. Christ, Noah. Are you all right?” Rogan rushed to his friend.

  Noah gave him a small grin. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you here."

  "Be thankful,” Rogan said, smiling himself. “I almost left you here, Tiger, but my damned conscience wouldn't leave me alone. I had to come back and find you."

  "I'm glad you did.” Noah looked past him at the doorway. “Wade, you made it!"

  Wade shuffled into the room rubbing his eyes and said, “Just barely. Looks like you took Tam down."

  Noah nodded and clutched Lanie a little tighter. Her head was tucked into his neck, and it felt like heaven.

  "It's about damn time you got him,” Wade said, rolling his eyes.

  "Yeah,” Noah agreed. “But he gave me a run for my money."

  "I bet."

  "Oh, no.” Rogan's voice rang through the room. “He killed Justin. The bastard killed Justin!"

  "Tam ordered Sean to do it,” Noah said. “Justin didn't have a chance."

  Rogan wiped tears from his eyes. He knew Justin's cocky attitude would get him killed one day, but he'd secretly hoped that day would never come.

  "I don't think he felt much pain,” Noah said gently. “At least it was quick."

  Rogan nodded, closing his eyes and flexing his jaw. He'd kill Sean if it was the last thing he'd ever do. Turning back to Noah, he said, “Here, let me take Lanie. Damn, Tiger. You're covered in blood."

  "Most of it is mine,” Noah said, grunting as he handed Lanie over to Rogan. “I took three bullets meant for her. Tam was going to kill her. I ... had to do something."

  "I would have done the same thing,” Rogan said.

  Noah moved to stand over Justin, now just a broken, bloody hawk unmoving on the tile floor. Taking the last lab coat, he covered Justin's body and wrapped him in the white fabric, then he picked him up and cradled his body in the crook of his elbow.

  "We can't leave him here."

  Rogan's eyes once again filled with fresh tears. “No. No, we can't."

  They walked out of the lab without once looking back over their shoulders.

  * * * *

  Lanie's eyes fluttered open. She could see she was again in the passenger seat of a Hummer. I
t was dark outside, and the headlights were the only thing illuminating the mountain road.

  A blanket was wrapped around her shoulders, and she snuggled into it, feeling a sudden chill as a few flakes of snow hit the windshield. Licking her lips, she glanced at the driver but didn't recognize him. He looked at her and smiled, and his brown eyes seemed kind, but Lanie didn't know what the hell to believe anymore.

  "Good, you're awake,” he said. “How are you feeling?"

  Lanie didn't answer. She was shivering again, and her heart began to race. The last thing she remembered was Tam's face peering down into hers as he strapped her to a table. One of the scientists had injected her with something, and now here she was.

  "My name's Rogan, by the way. This here is Wade.” The driver pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.

  "Hi,” another man said from behind her.

  Lanie tried not to jump out of her skin. “Wh—who are you? Where's Tam?"

  "In hell I'd imagine,” Rogan said and Wade chuckled. “We're Noah's friends."

  "Noah?” she asked, sitting up. “Where is he? Is he all right?"

  "He's here in the back with me,” Wade said. “But he's not doing too good."

  Lanie unbuckled her seatbelt, her blanket forgotten as she crawled past Wade. Noah was stretched out on the floorboard also wrapped in a blanket, and he was covered in blood, sweating and shivering at the same time.

  "Oh my God!” Lanie cried. “What happened to him?” Kneeling next to him, she framed his handsome face with her hands. His skin was pallid and hot to the touch. “Noah? Honey, can you hear me?"

  "He's been out of it for about an hour now,” Wade said.

  "An hour?"

  Rogan glanced at her in the rearview mirror and nodded. “Tam shot him."

  "He's been shot?” Lanie pushed the blanket off him to see for herself. Hot tears stung her eyes at his makeshift bandage.

  "Yeah,” Wade said, “we found some gauze in the first aid kit back there, but we need new supplies. He's already bled through these."

  "Give me that blanket,” Lanie commanded, nodding toward the one she'd left on the passenger seat. “We'll make him a new one."

  Wade leaned over and grabbed it. “You sure? You're still shivering."

  "I'm shivering because I'm terrified that the man I love is going to die! Now tear it!"

  The sound of ripping fabric filled the truck. Lanie hurried to take off the saturated bandages that had stuck to Noah's skin as the blood dried. She winced herself as she pulled at his wounds, making them bleed a little once more.

  "Damn it,” she hissed under her breath. “Do we have any water?"

  "Just what's in this canteen,” Wade offered, grabbing it from one of the compartments.

  "Rogan, pull over!"

  Rogan glanced at her in the mirror once again, but he complied.

  "There's plenty of snow out there,” she said. “We can use that."

  "Stay with him,” Rogan said and he turned to look at her. “Wade and I will get it for you."

  Lanie nodded as both men jumped out of the vehicle and began scooping pristine, white snow into their hands. Wade opened the rear doors and handed it to her, and she didn't waste any time as she rubbed it onto Noah's wounds, wiping off the dried blood with the corner of his blanket.

  "You say Tam shot Noah,” she said as she accepted more snow from Rogan. “What happened to Tam?"

  Rogan smiled. “Noah killed him."

  A surge of satisfaction raced through her body, shocking her with its intensity. “Good,” she spat, making a face as more blood seeped out of Noah's wounds.

  "Noah wasn't about to leave you at B*E*A*S*T* with that bastard,” Rogan said, “so we stormed the compound and rescued you."

  "You stormed the B*E*A*S*T* compound?” Lanie gasped with her mouth wide open.

  Both Rogan and Wade nodded.

  "Good Lord, didn't you think of the risk? You could have gotten yourselves killed—or worse, captured!"

  "We knew the risks,” Rogan said. “But Noah wouldn't leave you. You're his mate. He loves you something fierce."

  Despite all they'd shared, Lanie still blushed as she stroked his hair and whispered, “I love him too."

  "Rogan also freed the other shifters,” Wade said with a grin.

  Lanie looked at him in shock.

  Rogan nodded. “That I did. Now no one will be tortured by B*E*A*S*T* anymore. The others actually made it possible for us to escape by keeping the guards and scientists busy long enough for us to hop in a truck and take off."

  "Wow,” she said under her breath as she wrapped the swatches of blanket around Noah's shoulder. “That's amazing."

  The men climbed back into the Hummer, then Rogan pulled it out onto the road again with Wade in the passenger seat this time. Lanie's thoughts were whirling. They'd actually raided the B*E*A*S*T* compound and freed everyone? She was floored.

  "So, which one of you is the wolf?” she asked, still tying Noah's new bandage.

  Wade and Rogan looked at each other and grinned.

  "That would be me,” Rogan said, raising his hand.

  "And what are you?” she asked Wade.

  He glanced at her then lowered his eyes and murmured, “I'm a cougar."

  Lanie shook her head. “I can't even imagine the hell you guys have gone through, but at least it's over now."

  Rogan sighed. “I wouldn't say it's over. The shifters had a small victory in destroying the compound, but B*E*A*S*T* is much bigger than we ever thought before. From what I've recently discovered, I believe that every one of us was originally from some branch of the military, and I think the government has their hand in this pie as well. If that's the case, they're not going to sit idly by and let us walk away."

  "What are you saying?” Lanie's eyes widened at his words.

  "I'm saying that just because a few scientists are dead doesn't mean the B*E*A*S*T* project is over. If it's being funded by members of our government, or even just overseen by it, then we still have to lay low."

  "For how long?” she asked in a small voice.

  "For as long as it takes."

  Thirty-Five

  Noah's eyes opened, but his vision was too blurry to see anything. Blinking a few times did nothing to improve it. He tried to reach up and rub his eyes, but the pain shooting through his shoulder stopped him. However, it wasn't as bad as it had been before.

  Then confusion set in. Where the hell was he? Was this a bed? He could make out a paned window beside him with quaint, country curtains. He smacked his lips a few times. His mouth was unbelievably dry, and he'd give anything for a glass of ice cold water.

  Inhaling deeply, he could smell the soothing scent of Lanie as well as Rogan and Wade. But there were also other scents he wasn't familiar with—ones that instantly put him on guard. He glanced at his shoulder and noticed the fresh bandage on his arm. He had half a mind to rip it off, but he hesitated when he detected Lanie's scent on his pillow. If she was there, perhaps she could tell him what the hell was going on.

  "Lanie,” he called, but his voice didn't sound like his own. Clearing his throat, he tried again louder. “Lanie!"

  A door on the far side of the room opened, revealing his mate. Noah's heart swelled at the sight of her unharmed and well. Her eyes were wide and he could smell her concern, but all he could think about was getting close to her. Before he could utter the words that would bring her to him, she ran across the room and kissed his cheeks, his eyes, his nose, and finally his mouth.

  "Noah!” She moaned against his lips. “You're awake. Are you all right? Are you in pain?"

  "I'm better now that you're here,” he said, giving her a weak smile.

  "Oh, God, Noah. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

  "Sorry for what?” His left hand found its way through her hair, holding her close as he rubbed his nose on hers.

  "For getting caught. I did something stupid. I went outside after we made love because I remembered you'd left the keys in
the ignition of the truck. If I hadn't gone out there, Tam wouldn't have grabbed me, and you ... you wouldn't have been shot.” With a sob, she hugged him.

  "Baby, if Tam was right outside our door, then we weren't even safe inside that room."

  "But you got hurt trying to rescue me,” she cried, her eyes wet with tears that broke his heart.

  "Do you know why I have three bullets in my shoulder?” he asked.

  "Because Tam is a bastard?"

  "Was a bastard,” he corrected her with a slight grin. “He was going to kill you. I dropped a gun on the floor while we were fighting, and he grabbed it and pointed it at you. He was going to kill you, Lanie, so I did the only thing I could think of to stop him; I jumped in front of his line of fire. Then I killed him."

  "You took bullets meant for me?” she asked, framing his face with her hands.

  Noah nodded, feeling his eyes fill with tears as well.

  "I love you, Noah Carpenter,” she whispered, kissing him again.

  This time he made sure she couldn't pull away until he was finished, exploring her mouth slowly and leisurely with his tongue. She did not fight him. Instead, she whimpered in the back of her throat and moved her body against him, making him think of using the bed for something other than sleep. But that thought made him break the kiss.

  "Where are we?” he asked.

  Lanie bit her lip and lowered her eyes. “We're at my family's winter cabin. This is where we had our Christmas celebration not too long ago. I was driving home from this cabin when ... well, when you darted out in front of me on the road. We were already in the mountains, and it was the safest place I could think to bring you. Noah, you lost so much blood."

  "Please tell me Rogan didn't patch me up."

  Lanie shook her head. “No, he didn't. But I don't think you're going to like hearing who did."

  Noah raised his brow. “What are you talking about? Who did it?"

  "My father,” she replied. “He's a surgeon, and I called him once we got here. He raced right out from Denver."

  Noah took a deep breath and sighed, but Lanie held up her hand.

  "Before you tell me how stupid it was for me to call him, you need to understand how badly you were hurt. You managed for a little while after you fought Tam, but shortly after you guys got away from the B*E*A*S*T* compound, you were unconscious from the insane amount of blood you'd lost. My father said you were on death's door. If we hadn't called him, you'd be dead now. I knew we couldn't risk a hospital, and I was desperate. I cannot lose you, Noah."