Beauty is the Beast: Beasts Among Us - Book 1

by Jennifer Zamboni

  “Yeah. Made and abandoned me. I think he gave up any rights to my person a long time ago.”

  “We need females,” he said, moving so close I could feel his body heat.

  “I don’t need a male.”

  “I need a mate.”

  That stopped me. I swung around to stare at him, taking in his skinny jeans and suit jacket hipster look that screamed ‘prick.’

  “No,” I said, backing away from him.

  “You’re not supposed to say no to me.” He advanced on me, back straight and arms held slightly away from his sides, trying to look more intimidating.

  It didn’t work. “You’re not my alpha.”

  “I’m not your alpha.” He stared me down, trying to force me to submit.

  Bright boy. “Do I look like I’m cowering in your presence?” I pulled my shoulders square and raised my chin in defiance.

  “You need a pack. Lone wolves don’t fare well.”

  “I got off to a rough start, killing off everyone I knew, but I’ve managed just fine. Thanks for that, by the way,” I sneered at him.

  “You wanted to be free from your masters,” he pointed out.

  I wanted to cease being a slave, not trade one master for another. I didn’t want to be a killer.

  I’d at least been able to stop being a monster, especially after Percy found me. I might even qualify as animal now. I wanted to be human, and humans are not owned. “Great, thank you very much. I guess I owe you. But I’m not going to be your mate.”

  “All right, how about this: You get to know us, and you don’t make any rash decisions. We're your family, and we would like for you to join us. Give the pack a chance. Give me a chance,” he offered.

  It was tempting. I wouldn’t have to hide anymore, and I’d have a family I always wanted, a mate, and maybe pups. But I wanted to do it the human way. I wanted to be wooed. I wanted to fall in love and get married. I wanted to make my choice. Was that so wrong?

  I gave in. “Fine. I’ll give the pack thing a try, but I’m not leaving yet. You’re not to hunt anywhere near people while you’re here, and you’re not to harm anyone.”

  “I’ll agree to that, for now. Give it a little time, and you’ll find that this world you are living in," Kaine motioned to Percy’s house, "is not for you. Now let me introduce you to the others.” Kaine yipped loudly, and they came running.

  How handy.

  They arranged themselves in a semicircle around us, eagerly awaiting their introductions.

  The first was a tall, skinny guy who looked to be in his mid thirties. “This is Jacque, my second in command,” Kaine introduced.

  “Pleasure." Jacque spoke in a thick French accent, nodding at me.

  “Dirk.”

  A lean Germanic soldier held out a hand to me. “Hi, nice to finally meet you. Alpha has spoken highly of you.”

  There was a moment of competing grips as we shook hands. Then we both let go. I liked him. I surmised the ‘alpha’ he spoke of was not the man in charge, but the actual changer. Interesting.

  “Quintavious.”

  The nicely dressed man was obviously not a dominant. He did not offer me his hand, avoiding any sort of confrontation. In fact, he gave a little head bob that could have been interpreted as a bow.

  The last was a petite, dark-complexioned woman who was very pregnant.

  “This is Kisa, Dirk’s mate.”

  “Hello,” she said, her accent Russian. She looked me up and down with calculating eyes.

  “These are just my public faces."

  The ones who could be trusted around humans. I nodded.

  “How about we take you hunting. Saturday night?”

  “Saturday’s no good. I’m practicing with my band at a party.” I came up with a lie on the spot.

  “Soon, then.” Again, Kaine stood uncomfortably close.

  “Soon,” I agreed.

  “I’ll send somebody to issue you an invitation.”

  How formal, a second invitation that was really a demand. “I’ll keep an eye out. Was there anything else you wanted? I need to get back to work.”

  I walked away. They could show themselves off the property. If they didn’t, I just might have done it for them.

  When I got back inside, I could tell the girls had questions, but I didn’t have the time to answer them as I really did have work to do.

  Later that afternoon, I set some sheet music on my stand set up in the middle of my room.

  I tuned Clarissa, my violin, by ear, no longer needing the tuning fork that I'd kept as a keepsake. She’d been with me since my beginning.

  After a while, I memorized the sounds of the notes so well, I could pick out any note in a song, which made it much easier to play with others. I’d been playing the violin since I got out of the brothel, and could have made a career of it, had I wanted to. I didn’t. I just wanted to be ordinary, or at least as ordinary as someone like me could be. Yes, I play in a band, but we’d never make it big. Two of the guys had families, and we pretty much stuck to playing bars.

  The piece on my stand was by Paganini, one of the greatest violinists ever to set a bow to strings, in my opinion.

  When I performed, I played an electric violin I called Lola as I don’t play with an orchestra, but a band comprised of a drummer, bassist, and guitarist/lead singer. Our front man happens to have a red mohawk to top it all off, and there was enough ink on all their bodies to print a Sunday paper.

  My music surrounded me, and I let it consume me, allowing my attention to wander away from my sheet music and beginning to improvise as I played for myself. The stuff I write for the band is dumbed down. It’s good, and it compliments them, but it’s not what I feel. I don’t feel butterflies and bunny rabbits (unless I catch one) and I’m not seeing little fantasia cherubs bouncing around on clouds. It doesn't evoke sweet smells.

  I was feeling raw, wild magic. Seeing tumultuous storms ripping through my mind and smelling the terrifying unknown. It was what a wild animal would have played given thumbs and ability. It was what someone who’s caused pain and death needs to let loose. It was an outlet, even better than running away.

  I closed my eyes, playing on. Notes bypassed my brain and flowed out of my fingers and wrist. While the last note drifted away, I was drained, calm. I’d needed to play over the past few days, but was afraid what would come out of me.

  Setting Clarissa on the bed, I stopped the computer I had set up to record my practice and picked up the cords, before moving the microphone and the stand off to the side of the room.

  I’m not a tech person, only using computers for research, recording my practices, and burning the stuff I like onto CDs at the end of every month. Sometimes I go back and listen to them, picking out different things that are acceptable to play with the band. I don’t even own a phone with Internet access, just basic call and text.

  I can’t play most of my stuff in front of people as it’s not human music. I am mortal, sort of. I can be killed, but my immune system is hyper-protective of me, so I heal quickly. I’m sure someday there will be a virus that can kill me, proving once and for all there is a human under all the fur.

  I wiped down my instrument, putting Clarissa back in her case and away with everything else.

  Lacey-Marie cornered me as soon as I emerged from my room.

  “I’m going for a run before I say anything. Feel free to join me,” I said.

  “Yeah, sure. But munch something first. You left your lunch meat on the counter. I’m betting that means you didn't eat.”

  I was hungry, so I grabbed the meat from the kitchen, then headed back to my room to change.

  Lacey met me outside, decked out in pink shorts and a sports bra. She was bent over, tying her laces.

  I didn’t wait for her, just took off at an easy jog to warm up. I made it to the back of the field before she caught up. The woods were where all the real running took place. There were no trails cleared, so there were plenty of things to hurdle over an
d duck under, and I found it therapeutic.

  My feet pounded the ground. I didn’t want to talk, but Lacey did.

  “I can’t believe how busy it’s been. I’ve been making a ton of money. Do you think it’ll stay like this?” she asked, darting up beside me.

  I didn’t answer.

  “I mean, don’t these people know we’re going through a recession?” Says the girl who can’t make it through a week without buying at least one pair of shoes. “So what did the wolves want?”

  Great, now I have to talk. “They want me back in the pack,” I said.

  “Were you ever in the pack?” She raised her eyebrows in question.

  “No, not really. But their alpha changer is the one who changed me. I guess that means I’m supposed to belong to them, since it was in their territory and all that.”

  We ducked under branches, swerved around trees, and leapt over the underbrush.

  “Are you leaving?” she asked.

  “Not yet, but they want me to.” I ran a while longer before I was really ready to talk. Two desires pulled at my mind: to gain the support of a pack and love of the life I was currently leading.

  “So, there’s one little hitch to that plan, I think I’m more dominant than the alpha. Oh, wait, make that two hitches. He wants me to be his mate.”

  It was full dark when I ripped the contacts out of my eyes. They didn't last long, though I tried not to waste them, I saw much better without them in the night.

  “The alpha wants you to be his mate? Oh, wow, that’s huge. Would that make you, like, queen?” Lacey seemed to like the idea.

  “Sort of. Did you miss the part where I’d have to be submissive to him? I can't do that. Especially to someone I could never respect."

  “So what happens if there’s a more dominant wolf than the alpha?"

  “They can kick you out to fend for yourself, or the pack will kill you. They usually prefer the second method.”

  Percy didn't have much to say about her husband's arrival. In fact, she seemed to be avoiding Lacey-Marie and me. Every free moment she had, she spent cloistered away with Hades or busy readying the farm for nicer weather.

  I hadn't much opportunity to talk to Lacey about him either. We were slammed at work, and she spent almost every free moment running. Apparently she had just as much on her brain as I, so when evening rolled around and I found myself alone with my thoughts, I decided a relaxing bubble bath was in order.

  I poured myself a glass of raspberry wine, started the hot water running, dumped in a good quantity of bubble bath, and watched it foam up. I desperately needed to relax.

  I undressed quickly, then sank down low in the bubbles, closing my eyes, thinking it was too bad I didn’t have a book to read.

  I wanted one.

  I got up, wrapped myself in an oversized towel, and hoped everyone else was secluded in their rooms as I padded down the stairs and tiptoed down the hall.

  A thin strip of light escaped under the library door, making me think maybe Percy was up.

  Not Percy. Hades was up reading, seated in my favorite chair. He glanced up as I came through the door.

  “Well, this is awkward,” I said, adjusting my towel.

  “I’m not bothered. Did you need something?” he asked, stretching, his book clutched in one hand.

  I was bothered. I was standing in front of my friend’s very fine looking husband in a ratty old towel. I would have preferred a really big, thick bathrobe to hide under. “I want a book.”

  "Well, there's plenty here to choose from." He waved his free hand at one of the huge bookshelves that dominated the walls.

  I nodded, then padded over to the shelf, careful not to give him my back. Without much perusal, I snatched Sense and Sensibility from the Austen section and stalked back to the door.

  “Enjoy your bath, Gretchen. You need to relax,” he said, turning his attention back to his book and dismissing me without another word.

  Wow, he was kind of not nice.

  I carried the book out and flounced back up to my room, clutching my towel.

  I locked my door just in case and cracked open the window. The cold night air was a delicious contrast to the steaming bath water. I wouldn't sweat to death, thereby not defeating the purpose of the bath.

  Wine, book, bubbles. Okay, relax. I kept an ear out for Lacey but ended up dozing off. I woke up spluttering as I sank in the water. Bubbles smell good but taste nasty.

  I heard the stairs creak, then Lacey’s door a few moments later. I jumped out of my bath, sloshing water all over the floor, and tossed a clean towel over it, vowing to myself I would clean it up later. I threw my bathrobe on around my still dripping body and knotted the belt around my waist before marching out of my room and up to her door. I would have walked in without knocking, but her door was locked, so I pounded on it in lieu of knocking it down. Percy wouldn’t be appreciative, never mind what the house would have done to me in retaliation.

  “God, what!” she pulled the door open and glared up at me.

  “Where have you been?” I pushed past her into the room.

  “I went for a run. Do I need your permission to go for a run now?” she shut the door behind me, turned on the light, and crossed the room to her closet.

  I stayed put just inside the door while I listened to her rummaging around changing out of her running clothes.

  “No. Sorry, I’m just on pins and needles right now and I wanted to vent at you, and you haven't been around.” I walked along the wall until I reached the section she had set up as a living room and flopped down on the puffy couch.

  She poked her head around the door. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t think. I just wanted to get out of the house.” She ducked back in. “It’s weird, isn’t it, having Percy’s husband here?” Her voice was muffled as she pulled a shirt over her head.

  “Very weird. I’m not used to having a man in the house, especially one more terrifying than me. What do you think he’s doing here?” I asked.

  “Dunno. Maybe he thinks she cheats on him while she’s away?”

  “I doubt it. I have a feeling he has her watched. Actually, I think he should have shown up before now. What kind of relationship can they maintain with her gone most of the year?”

  “The kind a lot of military families lead.” Lacey reappeared.

  “Hey, nice sweater. When’d you get that?”

  She picked at the plum-colored cardigan and gave me a sad smile. “Penny gave it to me.”

  “When was that?” I asked. “I don't remember seeing it before."

  “Sorry, I didn’t write down the date and time.” She chose a recliner opposite me, sitting primly on the edge of the seat.

  “Yeah, whatever.” I sat up.

  A gentle knock on the door interrupted our conversation.

  “Come on in!” Lacey hollered louder than necessary.

  “Hey, ladies. Hades is going to take us out for supper.” Percy leaned into the room with a goofy expression I’d only expect to see on a newlywed.

  Oh, great, an awkward dinner. Tell me, when do I change and do tricks?

  “Where?” asked Lacey.

  “I don’t know, so dress nice. Gretchen, do you think you could bear to put on a skirt?” Percy’s gaze lingered on my bathrobe.

  “I don’t know if I even own a skirt.” I danced around the issue.

  “You have a few. I’ve seen them. And no leather or biker wear.” She shook her finger at me.

  “I’ll make sure she’s presentable,” Lacey promised. “What time should we be ready by?’

  “Half hour?” Percy had to know that wouldn’t be long enough.

  “We’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.” Lacey stood from her chair and grabbed my arm.

  “Come on, let’s get something picked out for you.” She tugged me toward the door.

  “Help,” I pleaded at Percy on our way by.

  “Absolutely not. Now go get ready.” Percy turned her back on me and my torturer and he
aded for her own room.

  I let Lacey drag me all the way to my closet.

  “All right, let’s see what we’ve got to work with.” Lacey threw open the door and turned on the light.

  “Ugh, horrible lighting. How can you match up anything in here?” she asked, sneering at my single overhead bare bulb.

  “Um, I don’t buy anything that doesn’t match everything else.”

  She wrinkled her nose at me.

  Guess she didn't like my reasoning.

  “Ah, so there are skirts in here!” she pulled one out, a denim mid-thigh affair. “But not this one.” She put it back. “Or this one.” She shuffled through my hangers for a minute. “Here we go.” She pulled out a knee-length maroon crinkle skirt.

  I’d forgotten I’d bought that. I wasn’t sure I’d ever worn it.

  “What was this doing hanging up? This is the perfect skirt for you. You're supposed to mash it up and throw it in a corner like the rest of your clothes.” She indicated the piled of rejected clothes lying on the floor under the clothes rack.

  I just shrugged my shoulders and took the skirt from her.

  She grabbed down a brown, low cut tank top and a suede dark patchwork vest.

  “That’s leather. Percy said no leather.” I pointed with a circling index finger.

  “Yeah, but it’s trendy leather, not biker leather. Put it on. If Percy objects, tell her I forced you into it. Now where are those boots?” she asked, thrusting her choices into my arms.

  “Which ones?” I was partial to boots. They’re my staple in footwear.

  “Tall, light leather, low heel.” She indicated a space between her index finger and thumb as an example.

  “Oh those, under my bed.”

  “Wear those. Now I’m going to get myself ready, and if you even try to pick anything different, I’ll rip it off and re-dress you myself.” Lacey marched out, slamming my bedroom door behind her.

  My morning was less than restful. Not that my clients were difficult, there were just so many of them. I was causing myself more stress looking over my shoulder, dreading that at any moment the wolves would return.