by Mirajane
I was at a loss for words. I had no idea what to reply with. I felt sick all over and so angry. I wanted to bash his head in and kick the daylights out of him. How dare this little bastard of a man talk this way to me? I wasn’t going to stand for it. I was done playing around with him. He might have conned others into falling for his shit, but I wasn’t about to. He had no idea who he was dealing with, the pervert.
“You bastard. I’m going to tell Tyler every single thing you just said, and we are leaving. You’ll be damned lucky if I don’t spread this all over the internet and get your ass fired.”
“For what? Having impure thoughts? For having sex with willing women of legal adult age? Or for saying things with my potty mouth to you, also a grown woman in my home?” He clicked his teeth together and waved his wretched finger in my face.
“Whatever. You are through. This type of crap has to stop. You can’t talk to people this way. You are a disgusting pig.”
“So? Go ahead and tell Tyler. He will fly into a rage and punch me. Then he goes to jail for assault and battery on a former teacher of his on my property. That coupled with punching out Oren the other night at the bar-yes, I heard about that—would do wonders for his reputation, as well as his criminal record. He may not have one now, but he will when I’m done. Don’t you know that my brother is a judge downtown? He takes care of me. Anything I need wiped away, gets wiped away. So, take your pathetic bullshit and shove it up your ass. Or you could just take something of mine and shove it…”
Tyler came walking back through the patio doors right then. He was his usual chipper self, but I’d had enough. I stood up and said, “Tyler. I’m not feeling well. I really need to leave.”
Brad smiled and then turned the look around to something resembling concern. “Oh, no. I hope the food was ok. You want to lie down on my sofa for a bit?”
“No, I just need to leave,” I said.
Tyler seemed genuinely confused. “Um, ok. Sure. Brad, thanks for a great evening. The food was awesome. You take care of yourself.”
“Goodbye. It was great to see you, and Angie I do hope you feel better.”
I couldn’t bring myself to even turn and look at him.
“He said that?” Tyler asked when I told him what happened a few minutes after we drove down the road. I didn’t want to cause a scene there. I was worried that Tyler might really lose it and beat the hell out of him. That was trouble that Tyler didn’t really need. It was bad for his reputation and his business. Brad knew exactly what he was doing. The guy was a first class piece of shit.
“Yeah. I told you he was a pig. The man is the worst kind of low life scum.”
Tyler grunted and I heard the anger in his voice. “I’m going back there.”
I held my hand against his chest. “No. You can’t. If you beat his lights out then he will just have you arrested. It’s not worth it.”
“So, we just let him get away with talking to you that way? The guy said he is beating off to thoughts of his female students and who knows what else he is doing. The rumors about him are turning out to be right on the money, right? We need to tell the school and have the open an investigation, or see if any of the students will come forth about stuff he may have done to them.”
“I don’t know. He said he always waits until they are of age and no longer students to do anything.”
“And you think he is telling the truth? Does he sound at all trustworthy to you? I can’t believe I drug you to his house. I want to rip his freaking head off. The nerve of some people. Fuck!”
I had never seen Tyler so angry, not even when he had punched Oren. That had been more of a reflex, than anything, and he was really in control and well-composed when he had done that. But now he was raging, flying mad. He was going to beat Brad to a bloody pulp if he ever saw him again.
“Please, promise me that you won’t do anything. We will use nonviolent means to handle a pig like him. That’s the best way. Just promise me.”
He looked at me with anger all over his face. After a few moments, he gave in. “Fine. We will do it your way.”
“Good. Now take me back to your place and we can order some real food.”
He laughed. “Deal.”
Chapter Sixteen
Tyler
I’d been so steaming angry after what Angie had told me about Brad that I could hardly think clearly. All I saw was red. I wanted to go after him and rip him limb from limb. The problem was that he was right, and so was Angie. I would just go to jail and he would still be free to creep around and continue his disgusting ways. He hadn’t actually committed a crime to me or Angie, but I knew he was dirty. I now could see that eerie vibe echoing from him where I used to take it as dorkiness. It was now very clear to see that he was just a pervert and an evil one at that. The man was disgusting.
I woke up in the middle of the night still thinking about it. I wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight. I could tell that. After we got back to my place, Angie and I ordered a pizza. Then we relaxed with a good movie. By the time it was over, we were both so tired we just decided to hit the sack. I would have initiated some sexy time, but after all that stuff that Brad had said to her, I had a feeling that Angie just wasn’t in the mood.
But I wasn’t able to sleep a damn wink. Angie was lying beside me, purring and sleeping like a baby. She was so peaceful when she slept, so beautiful. I loved to watch her, to listen to her, and to place my hand on her solar plexus to feel her chest rising and falling with each breath. I could also feel every single heartbeat that way as well. It was wonderful. I treasured those moments.
I had to do something though. This was really eating at me. I kept hearing those words coming out of Angie’s mouth and I could just imagine Brad’s mocking, nerdy tone and the smugness that he was using to show that he had power of her and she should be almost privileged to be in his presence. The guy was so damn full of himself. He was a real piece of garbage.
I slipped out of the bed. I was nude, but I was going to need be nude for what I was about to do. I crept carefully out of the bedroom, closing the door behind me, and then I walked down the hall, quietly moved down the stairs, and then I slipped out the door unnoticed. Hiding in the shade of the bushes I looked around to make sure that no one was noticing me. I had to be discreet and very quiet.
It had been a while since I’d done this, but I had a feeling that this was what I needed. I was worried that I might be running the risk of making a mistake, but I had to tap into the bear. It had been too long. He had to run free and be wild for a bit, or else this anger inside of me was going to quickly consume me. I couldn’t have that. It was too dangerous.
Not that the bear wasn’t dangerous, but in a very different way. I was worried that I might not be able to control myself as the bear, but I was willing to take the risk. The last time I’d tried it, I was fine, and I was feeling that I had a strong connection this time to the bear spirit. I was going to be ok.
I closed my eyes and tapped into the hidden place deeply inside of me. Within seconds I was transformed. It felt good. All of the inhibitions, the wild dreams, the anger, the zeal for life that had been amplified by the bear were suddenly there. I felt truly alive for the first time in a long time.
I was ready. I let out a roar and ran into the woods. I had no idea where I was going, but it was going to be an adventure.
It felt so good to finally stretch out with my powers, with my senses, to really delve into the bear within me. It had been so long. I’d been so afraid of this power for so long. There was a real danger in giving into it, but sometimes you just had to say what the hell.
The ground under my feet connected me to the earth. I could hear every single sound in the natural world around me. I was one with the earth, with the universe, and it was the most beautiful and primal thing there was. Few human beings could ever know this. They’d lost that connection so long ago living in the false world that they had created. It felt so wrong to walk amongst them now. I didn’t
really belong with them. I hated to think I was above anyone, but I was elevated on a higher plane. Yet, at the same time I was living between two worlds. I was living in some bastardized version of my own reality.
That prick Brad… I could not let it go. That fucking piece of shit had spoken that way to the woman I loved. He’d bragged about being turned on by high school girls all day, the same kids he was supposed to be teaching, leading, and molding their young minds. All the while he was doing so, he was essentially grooming them for his own needs. I didn’t see anything wrong with a piece of trash like that falling victim to a heinous, violent death. I wanted to kill him. I kept thinking how good it would be to wrap my jaws around his throat and just squeeze the life from his disgusting body.
But I had to let it go. That kind of hate would just consume me and cause a whole world of trouble for me. Even if he did deserve it, I was not a killer. I would never be able to live with myself if I actually killed a man, no matter how much good it would do the world. I had too much conscience. I’ve always been a good person and I’d worked double hard to make sure that the bear did not turn me into someone that I no longer recognized. No. I was not that way. I was better than that. I wanted to be someone I was proud of. What had happened to me was not my fault. But I wouldn’t allow that pain to continue.
I often thought about who had bitten me. Who was this person who had turned me into the bear shifter? They had almost ended my life. They would have killed me and my two friends. We were all lucky, but I got off the least. Yet, I wasn’t bitter. There were a few things about being a shifter that were really advantageous. That was how life went; when bad things happened, you had to adjust and keep on going. Otherwise you would shrivel up and die.
I wasn’t sure how far I ran. My large, lumbering bear body had to be close to eight hundred pounds, but I was so fast that it was incredible. I could hardly see the trees whizzing past me as I ran. I would estimate my top speed to be about sixty miles per hour, faster than a real bear. I was not an actual bear. I was a supernatural being. I still didn’t have all the answers, even after being a bear for so long. But I did know that this was not some germ, some virus; no, it was a curse. I had searched far and wide for a way to cure myself, but then I finally accepted it.
I wondered if Angie would ever accept it. I didn’t see how anyone could, but if she really loved me I knew that she would try. She would accept all of me, even the bad parts. She may have even been interested in this side of myself. But I was terrified to think that I might one day do something awful to her under the influence of the bear. That would be something I would never forgive myself for. I might have to end it all if that were to happen.
But I was thinking about worst case scenarios. I tried to stay positive. I tried to stay in the right head space to avoid those kinds of negative inner talks.
I eventually returned home and transformed back. I was a bit dirty, so I hopped in the guest shower so as not to disturb Angie, and then I got back in bed. I felt good. I was finally relaxed enough to sleep. I was no longer dealing with so much inner turmoil. I was at peace with myself.
The alarm clock came at me faster than I imagined it would. I was still sleepy, still tired when it came. But it was time to get up and face the world. There were things I wanted to do today. There were things I had to get done and people I wanted to spend time with. I thought I might finally be getting in the Christmas spirit.
Angie was already up and getting dressed. “Hey, you. Where do you think you’re running off to?” I teased.
“I need to go home. My mom will be so disappointed if I’m not there for her huge breakfast.”
“Sounds good. Can I come?”
“Of course. I’m sure she would love that, but she would drill you with a million questions at eight in the morning. So just be prepared.”
I smiled. “Nah. I’ll pass. I need to get some work done right away. But, you should consider staying a little later one of these days. You are a grown woman. You don’t have a curfew.”
She laughed. “You would think that, but my parents are super old fashioned, and they will totally disagree. If I was out all night, my mother would shit a bird and I’d never forget it. So, it’s just easier to avoid that conflict.”
“Why did you want to come back home?” I asked with a bit of sarcasm in my voice.
“I guess something pulled me back here. I have a feeling about what that was, now,” she said as she winked at me.
I nodded and got out of bed. I was standing there fully naked with a rather sizeable erection showing through. Angie smiled and her eyes lit up. I placed my hands on my hips and let her check out the goods. She was enjoying what she saw.
“Is this it?” I asked.
“I think that may be a big part of it,” she giggled. “That’s so enticing. It’s a dirty trick really. So not fair.”
“Well, you can just say no…”
Angie walked across the bedroom and stood in front of me for a moment. She looked me up and down, and then she kissed me hard on the mouth, injecting her tongue into me and sliding it so sexily back and forth across mined while at the same time stroking my cock with a strong, squeezing hand. I loved the little bit of pain. She could abuse my dick as much as she wanted to. That was what it was there for. Hell, I’d probably abused it more over the years.
“Keep it ready for tonight,” she said. “To be continued.”
Then she smiled and walked out of the bedroom. “Wow, that is not fair,” I said to myself with a laugh.
I got dressed and headed downstairs. Angie was gone and I decided to make myself a quick breakfast. I figured last night’s run was enough of a workout for the time being. I felt pretty good, fully refreshed and invigorated. It was like I’d cleaned my own spark plugs, and finally decluttered all the sludge inside my head. I felt clear for the first time in a while. I felt really renewed in my purpose and dedication to what I wanted to accomplish in my life. It was almost like some odd spiritual cleansing.
I threw some eggs in the frying pan and then grabbed some turkey bacon to place down beside it. Then I flipped on the television to get a little bit of background noise going on. The local news was on. As I prepared my coffee and listened to the sizzle of the eggs and bacon, I grabbed a glass of water and chugged it. It always amazed me how thirsty I was after I drank a glass of water. It was like my body finally wised up and realized that was a good thing to have in my system.
“In local news, the body of a local man was discovered by a jogger in the early morning hours in Piners Woods. The body of Brad Stewart, a local high school teacher, was discovered about six a. m. this morning, the victim of an apparent mauling.”
I dropped the glass of water from my hand. It shattered on the floor. I didn’t care. I was too focused on the television. What in the hell were they talking about? No… this had to be a dream. Some kind of nightmare was taking place before me. Shit… what in the hell happened? Surely not… no… there was just no way.
“Authorities say that it looks like Stewart was mauled by a pack of coyotes, or possibly a bear, though there hasn’t been any bear sightings in the region in many years. We will bring you more information as we receive it.”
I turned off the television. What had I done?
“No, get a grip. I didn’t do this. There is just no fucking way. You have to know that,” I told myself. I was in full control last night. I didn’t black out. I didn’t have any blood on me when I got back. I was fine. I did not kill that man.
But something did.
I shuddered to think what had actually happened to him.
Chapter Seventeen
Angie
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was eating breakfast when I got the phone call from Jackie. Brad Stewart had been mauled to death by some wild animal. He was practically torn apart. This didn’t make any sense.
“I was just there last night with Tyler,” I said. “Oh, my God!”
“I know. It’s crazy. Th
at’s like the most gruesome killing around these parts in a long time. And they are talking a bear might have done this. I can’t remember the last time I heard about a bear sighting, let alone an actual attack on a person. They are usually so squeamish and avoid people like the plague. There are too many hunters around here for them to get comfortable being around people.”
“God, I feel awful. The guy was such a jerk last night. He was disgusting.”
“What do you mean?”
I told her everything that had happened. When I was finished, she was practically gasping in shock. “That’s horrible. What a creep. I hate to say that he got what he deserved, but now it sounds like it.”
“No, that isn’t right. We can’t take joy in the fact that he deserved this. I’m not sure anyone deserves to die that way.”
“Yeah, it’s weird. I used to have his class. He was always a bit creepy, like he would leer at me and stuff. I’m sure I caught him checking out my cleavage regularly.”
“Well, if you didn’t flash your cleavage around like that, then people wouldn’t stare at it,” I joked.
“Yeah, I know. I’m a whore. Blah, blah, blah.”
We shared a laugh to lighten the mood and we ended the phone call. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this. I hated Brad. I had actually wished him dead and now I felt very guilty for this. Was it something as simple as bad karma finally catching up with him? I wasn’t sure I really had any of those kinds of new age or spiritual beliefs, but even I sometimes had to believe in more than simple coincidence or bad luck. It sickened me to think about it. I tried to get my mind off it and onto something else, something enlightening or more in the happy holiday spirit, but every time I did the image of his body in that rubber bag with all those people standing around him that I had seen on the news after Jackie told me about it, was too disturbing to get out of my head.
