Beauty is the Beast: Beasts Among Us - Book 1

by Jennifer Zamboni

  “Fine. A bit sore under the arm and hungry. I sent him down to the kitchen to go bug Hades.” Percy picked up her glass.

  “Good. And Mem?”

  “She’s gone home. She felt it was time. Her students showed up and volunteered to help her out at home. I think she’ll go back to school soon. Those kids are doing her wonders. I talked to her for a bit after you were dragged out.” Percy drummed her nails on the porcelain as her glamour dissolved. “Ah, that feels better.”

  Having never worn a glamour, I didn’t know how it felt, but I’d guess it’s stifling. I wondered what it did to her senses. I supposed there would be plenty of time to ask later. Right now there was wine and bubbles.

  “Will the pack be heading south soon?” Percy asked.

  “I’d assume so. Technically this is my territory, and for a pack that I am not associated with to remain on it for a prolonged period of time would be considered a challenge for seizure. I don’t think Kaine has any desire to stay in the area, no matter how much he probably hates me at the moment.”

  Percy nodded at that. “Makes sense to me.”

  “So how was work after I left?” I asked.

  “Rather dull. Word got around that you were dragged out. We had to cancel your appointments, and people started calling to cancel with the rest of us. Apparently, there’s a rumor is going around that it was the cops who took you.” Percy hitched up one leg to sit on the edge of the tub and lean against the wall.

  “I don’t think Mrs. Peterson will be back,” said Lacey-Marie, not helping my current state of mind.

  “Well, that’s just wonderful, isn’t it?” I let the sarcasm in my voice drip before asking, “Have any of the other salons called?”

  “Not yet, but I bet you’ll get a call from Amanda tonight. She’ll spread around whatever you tell her is the truth.” Percy was trying to reassure me, but I didn’t know if my reputation was salvageable. Once a rumor runs rampant through salons, it kind of sticks, whether it’s fact or not.

  “Why don’t you finish up your bath, then come down for supper.” Percy kissed my forehead and stood.

  “Yes, Mommy.” I leaned my head back against the edge of the tub and closed my eyes.

  “Don’t get all wrinkly. You’ll make me lose my appetite.” Lacey-Marie rose as well and followed Percy out the door.

  Maybe I’d get my room to myself for the first night in forever. It was a comforting thought as I was feeling less than magnanimous about my personal space.

  When I made it down the stairs dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, everyone was halfway through their meals.

  “Your plate’s in the microwave. It should still be warm.” Percy waved her empty fork.

  I found a chair next to Doug and dove into my lamb-based shepherd’s pie. Dinner turned out to be a quiet affair. I had freed myself from the pack, but there was that little issue of a free-range serial killer still on the loose weighing heavily on our minds.

  I helped clear the dishes and was getting ready to go back up the stairs when Doug caught my attention.

  “What?” I asked, wanting to sleep, not talk.

  “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?” he asked, staring down at his feet.

  “Nothing that I know of. I think I lost most of my clients today.”

  “I was, um, wondering if you’d like to go do something with me?”

  “Sure.” Was he asking me out on a date? It sure sounded like it. I couldn’t remember the last time I was asked out by someone other than Scott.

  “Great.” He looked up, smiling.

  “Um, how should I dress?” I asked.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Like you always do, I guess.”

  “Okay.” Well, that was awkward.

  I wandered out of the kitchen in a little bit of a daze. I had a date with Doug. There was no way I was getting sleep any time soon, so a run seemed like a good idea.

  Lacey-Marie was back in the kitchen, so I tried to recruit her. “Feel up for a run?”

  “Nah, not tonight. I think I’m just going to take it easy.” She dug around in the fridge, emerging with one of her ‘juice packs,’ emptied about a quarter cup into her mug, and shoved it into the microwave.

  “Still hungry?” I’d never seen Lacey eat as much as she had during that month.

  “Yeah, just a little.”

  I watched as she turned, exposing a little skin under her tiny tank top that was no longer lean and muscular. In fact, she had a little bit of a pooch. If I hadn’t seen her drink so much at home, I’d think she was indulging on the side.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Fine, I’ll go all alone. All by myself.”

  “You’ll be fine.” She gave me a look that said I was being a big baby. Apparently I wasn’t as good at manipulation as she was.

  I trudged back upstairs, grabbed running gear, tossed off clothes, dressed, and used my dash down the stairs as a warm-up.

  Maybe it was a good thing I was going alone. It would give me a chance to think of what I’d done, of what I’d become. On second thought, maybe it wasn’t such a good thing that I had time to think. I didn’t want to regret any of the recent decisions I’d made.

  The wolf inside me wanted to escape, to feel the wind in her fur, but I wanted to stay as human as possible. It was almost new moon, and I had the control. Had it been closer to the full moon, I might not have been able to resist. It’s an alpha thing, and that’s part of why it was important to have a pack. The submissive wolves can resist the furry call at a better rate and can help dim the rage of their alphas, which meant no killing sprees unless it involved cute little cottontails.

  I had no such support network. My month’s work had made sure of it. I didn’t want a pack, just a family, at least for the time being. But it would be nice if I could rely on Doug to keep an eye on me, help me soothe the savage beast, if he hadn’t lost the touch. I wondered what Doug’s wolf would be like.

  I ran deeper into the woods, avoiding branches as I made my way over the uneven ground. It felt good to be free, to not have to worry about the pack or fae politics. My focus shifted to the killer, in spite of how much I wanted to push him from my mind.

  I was winded when I made it back to the house, so I walked a few laps around the perimeter of the property until I felt comfortably tired.

  Now just keep your mind blank, Gretchen, and you’ll get to sleep. I chose to crash on my cot in the barn. I didn’t know where Doug was staying, but I wanted to avoid any uncomfortable pillow talk.

  Why had he asked me out? Probably to get me to help him get in touch with his wolf. He’d need the guidance I never received.

  I pulled off my sweaty clothes, leaving them on the floor to fester until morning when I’d make sure they made it down the laundry shoot in my bathroom. Old pjs folded up in the trunk, just waiting for such an occasion, called my name, so I pulled them on and curled up under the blanket, wishing I had brought my book down and was asleep within moments.

  To say the next day dawned bright and early was nonsense. I woke up around five a.m., so it was definitely early, but I wasn’t seeing the whole bright aspect. I had gone to sleep early the night before, but couldn’t I have at least slept in a little? I squeezed my eyes shut in a useless attempt.

  Nope, not tired. I sat up and stretched, searching around for some clothes. Finding none, I threw on my workout clothes and made the hike back to my room, where Doug was fast asleep on my bed. On top of the covers.

  Weirdo.

  Now, to take a shower without him walking in on the naked girl in the tub—or shower, as the case may be. I did my best to keep quiet, wolf-like and all that, but being that we were closer to being more human than wolf, I stubbed my toe, managing to grunt instead of swearing. The water cooled, then flashed to scalding. I made it a quick shower, lathering up and rinsing as rapidly as I could.

  I decided it was safer to shave my legs outside the shower, so dressed in a fluffy purple towel, I foamed up my legs and proceeded to get
rid of the jungle. Perhaps they would even stay that way for a day or two, instead of just a few minutes. There’s no point in shaving around the full moon. You’re gonna be hairy no matter what.

  My day was nearly empty. After my little knock-down-drag-out episode two days prior, my clients were making themselves scarce. I had one client. You can count that on one hand. With one finger. One client.

  How depressing. She had a slot first thing in the morning. Then I got to deal with tedium until afternoon. I hunted down breakfast first.

  Lacey-Marie, beating me to it, was perched bleary-eyed and bunny slippered, on her favorite counter spot. The scent of cinnamon in her blood wafted my way, which I found oddly appealing.

  “Morning,” I mumbled, cracking an egg into the cast iron frying pan that lived on the stove.

  “Mmhmm.” Lacey sipped her breakfast with a smile on her face.

  I added three more eggs and a couple strips of bacon for flavoring. Breakfast of champions, that. Some toast and a small chunk of cheese, and I was a happy pup. The good thing about living in Percy’s house was things like bread were always freshly made, so I cut two thick slices, popped them into the toaster oven, then got the butter out of the fridge. Real butter, no chemically saturated margarine in that house. No, sir.

  The smell must have permeated through the ceiling because Doug stumbled into the kitchen sleepy-eyed and disheveled.

  “Bacon and eggs?” I offered, grabbing the bread out of the toaster oven.

  “Smells good.” He took a seat in my chair.

  I grimaced and flipped the eggs over. I always sat in that chair or on the counter with Lacey-Marie, who had finished the last drop of her blood and was rummaging around in the fridge. I plopped the mess of protein onto a plate and set it in front of him before starting all over again for myself. A newly changed werewolf needs to eat. I’d rather wait than see what would happen if he didn’t.

  Screw cooking. I put some milk, raw eggs, protein powder, and yogurt into the blender and whirred it all together. I don’t need to cook my eggs, and I was starving.

  I was drinking directly from the blender when Percy and Hades made their entrance. We were one big, happy, dysfunctional family.

  Percy and Lacey-Marie both had full schedules for the day. With only one client, I didn’t feel the need to impress, so I threw my still damp hair into a ponytail.

  It was a simple trim and only took me about 10 minutes. Upon finishing and cashing her out, the girls descended.

  “So, I hear you have a date tonight,” said Meredith as she slid onto the stool that I just vacated.

  “Uh, yeah, sorta.” I edged away, only to be blocked by Toni on the other side.

  “Oh, honey, it’s definitely a date.” She tapped one wildly painted nail on the desk.

  Apparently, they didn’t have a healthy fear of wolves.

  “I guess.” I stepped backward and was headed off by Fern.

  “How long has it been since you’ve been on a date?” she asked.

  A very long time. My dates didn’t tend to end well. “A while,” I said, thinking they didn’t need to know about the dead men littering my past.

  “Well, what are you going to wear?” asked Meredith.

  I looked down at my outfit, indicating it by pointing.

  “Oh, no, no, this won’t do.” Meredith plucked at my sleeve, shaking her head in disapproval.

  “What’s wrong with my clothes?” I looked down at my boot clad feet.

  “It’s a date. You’re supposed to look your best.”

  I crossed my arms under my chest and planted my feet firmly apart. “I’m supposed to dress like I normally do.”

  The girls looked at each other, surrounded me, and herded me to the stairs.

  “Hey! Don’t you guys have work to do?” I pleaded.

  “I think we might have a spare moment or two,” said Fern, pushing from behind with a surprising amount of strength for such a little thing.

  I let them push and pull me toward my bedroom, knowing they wouldn’t give up. Toni shut and locked the door in an effort to slow down any escape attempt or to prove a point, I wasn’t sure which. She then raised her face toward the ceiling and sniffed loudly. “I detect the faint scent of man.”

  Immediately, there was a row of woman in front of me with arms crossed, looking intimidating instead of silly.

  “He slept in here. I slept in the barn,” I defended with my hands up, palm out.

  “Right.” Fern walked right up and sniffed my shoulder. “I suppose we’ll have to believe you. Now, where are your clothes?”

  There was no way she’d be able to smell anything on me, even if I had slept with Doug. Besides, I’d taken a shower.

  I led the way to my closet and turned on the light. The vultures descended on my clothes, chattering loudly.

  “This maybe, definitely not that,” and, “Oh, that’s pretty!” They finally settled on a form-fitting cowl neck short sleeve red sweater, a pair of my customary black jeans, and a pair of black ballet flats.

  “You tend to tower in your clunky boots.” Meredith handed the shoes to me, and I was ushered into the bathroom to change as they stood guard just outside the door.

  I contemplated jumping out the window but resisted the urge. When I was dressed, Meredith tamed my hair with a curling iron, Toni went at my claws, and Fern my toes.

  “There’s absolutely no point in nail polish,” I complained loudly when Toni pulled a bottle of red that was a close match to my sweater from her pocket.

  “So? You can’t have nice claws for one day?” Toni yanked my hand toward her and started her job with a base coat procured from the same pocket.

  “Well if I change, which we will since I want to supervise Doug’s first, it kind of goes away while running around.” I submitted my hand to her, somewhat enjoying the attention.

  “Again, so?” she said, blowing on the clear coat then starting on my other hand.

  Fern picked up my makeup case and advanced. She was a masseuse—she wasn’t supposed to do makeup.

  “Hey, gimme that,” I grabbed the eyeshadow brush from her and tried to apply while Toni grabbed for my hand.

  Fern grabbed back. Woman can be dangerous critters. I gave up and sat meekly. I didn’t want to end up with mascara down on my cheekbones. They finished at an astonishing pace and stepped back to admire their work.

  “Now you’re presentable,” said Meredith.

  Wow, thanks. What happened to the shy girl we had hired?

  “Where are you going?” Toni wanted to know.

  “Not a clue.”

  She smiled. “Fine. Since you don’t have any plans for the rest of the day, We’re going to hunt down the man and see if he’s ready to go.”

  They disappeared in a moment, giving me a chance to inspect their work. My makeup was a little more natural than I tended to go, but it wasn’t out of place. I wandered back to my bedroom and picked up my Austen novel, attempting to catch up on my reading.

  There was still the date itself to get through. I glanced down at the red polish on my claws, so expertly applied, and smiled. I had friends. Human friends. I used to be able to count on one hand how many full-blooded humans knew what I was and stuck around. If they could accept me, then I could as well. I felt content for the first time in a long time, sitting there curled up in the sunny spot on my bed, reading.

  My tranquility didn’t last long. I heard the pitter-patter, clatter, thunk of the girls once again gaining the top of the stairs. They didn’t even bother knocking, just burst in and piled on the bed around me.

  “So we found Doug,” Meredith said, “and he’s getting ready. He’ll be waiting out front for you in 15 minutes.”

  “But you’re driving,” Fern added.

  “Yeah, he doesn’t want to take the RV to the coast,” said Meredith.

  “Hey, I don’t think you were supposed to mention that!” Toni shoved the younger woman playfully.

  Meredith shoved back. “Yea
h, whatever.”

  It seemed she was picking up my attitude. Great, now I’m a bad influence.

  “The coast?” I asked tentatively. It was still a little cold for swimming, which would mean the beaches would pretty much be abandoned.

  “Uh-huh. Sounds like a romantic walk on the beach. So what is Lacey-Marie?” Meredith stared me down, her fists balled up and balanced on her hips. She even tapped her foot.

  Apparently Fern had kept the information to herself.

  “Uh.” Right, think of something intelligent to say to the way-too-curious woman.

  “Oh, for goodness sakes, I’ll tell them,” said Fern, not being able to hold out any longer. Traitor. “Lacey-Marie is a vampire. She drinks the blood donor bags behind the milk.”

  “Nasty.” Meredith wrinkled up her nose.

  Toni just nodded as if this made complete sense. Maybe it did. I hadn’t had to deal with finding out there was something else out there in a very long time. There was plenty I probably didn’t know about, but then I was aware of the idea.

  They chattered, and I listened, contentment welling up in me once again. That is, until Toni checked her watch.

  “Up! Time to go.” She pushed me gently, trying to hurry me toward the door. I grabbed my keys and wallet from the stand and again let them herd me, this time down the stairs where Doug sat waiting in the salon.

  “Ready?” Doug stood, his fingers tucked in the front pockets of his jeans, shrugging his shoulders up and back, his plain black t-shirt pulling tight.

  “Yeah, I hear we’re taking my truck.” I pulled away from the pack of girls and took his arm.

  “Yes, is that all right?” He opened the front door for me, shutting out the sound of excited squealing behind us as we exited.

  “Sure.” I dug my keys back out of my pocket and climbed into my old pickup. “Where to?”

  “Head southeast, towards the coast,” he directed, buckling in.

  I couldn’t see any marked difference in him since the change, except maybe in his confidence, and the amber eyes of course. I couldn’t remember, but I would guess the claws came after the first change. I could see the wolf in his eyes fighting to be free.

  If one was with a pack, and it wasn’t new moon, it was guaranteed that you would change right away. The pack magic drew it to the surface like metal to a magnet. But this was just the two of us, and I supposed my wolf wasn’t enough to pull it out alone.