by Ava Walsh
Catching the distinct change in his stature Quinn asked if everything was alright. The moment it took Derek to recover from his paralysis was one moment too long as he felt the tips of his fingers suddenly going numb.
“You have to go,” he growled through gritted teeth.
“Why? What’s going on?” She asked, getting a little afraid. He looked like he was ready to punch a hole in a wall or something and she didn’t understand it.
“Just go, take my keys and go,” he said as he threw the keys to his Porsche in her direction and she almost caught them if she had not had a slight lack of depth perception.
“But why? I can get help if you need it,” Quinn pleaded.
“I said GO! ” He bellowed as the familiar snap of his back brought him to the ground.
She stumbled backwards a few steps but did not move. She stared in concern and terror as she watched his fingernails extend and his eyes glaze over and turn yellow as they snapped up to focus on her face. Snatching the keys from the ground in front of her but far enough from him so he couldn't reach her, Quinn ran for her life back to the car and slammed the door so hard she feared she might have broken it. Turning the key quickly, she heard a low howl in the distance.
Chapter 7
Minutes later Quinn pulled up the driveway of her apartment and hurried up the stairs slamming the door behind her. She sank against it. Her mind racing, she tried to make sense of what she just saw. Her date turned into an animal right before her eyes. That’s the kind of thing you dream about or read in shitty teen novels. It’s not real life. Waiting until her heartbeat slowed, she rose from the floor and walked over to the kettle. Tea.
While the water boiled, Quinn steadied herself at her laptop she left on the table that morning. Taking a deep breath she flipped it open and went into Google. Shape Shifter. She typed in feeling completely ridiculous. She laughed to herself and poured a cup of tea. The words that came up on the web pages she found were things like mythology, folklore, stories, and magic. But this wasn't a myth anymore, it wasn't a story, this was her life and she just watched the man she had dinner with losing his human senses and transform into some creature!
Delving into the lore further and drinking her tea, Quinn began to lose some of her fear of the shape-shifting man that scared her half to death. She began to build an interest in the reasons behind the changes.
The first thing she realized in her research was that not all shape-shifters have the choice of turning or not. Some have it bred within them and there is nothing they can do about it. Others had the ability to change on command. Clearly, based on the terrified look on Derek's face tonight, he had not had a choice. The next thing was that there are many kinds of shape-shifters. They seemed to stem from all sorts of ancient traditions and beliefs. There were spiders and dragons, stags, and even wolves. Wolves. The word stood out to Quinn like a sore thumb. It was a full moon that night and it was nearly midnight when they left the restaurant. The yellow eyes, the hairy knuckles, and the teeth that began to protrude from his gums when she turned and ran for the hills made sense. They all pulled together when she heard that long, distant howl as she drove away.
Derek was a Werewolf.
Glancing at the time in the corner of her screen, Quinn tried to collect herself and brush it off. She was crazy, she had to be. There was no other justification for what happened that night. It was almost 3 AM and she had to get some sleep. Maybe in the morning, she would forget the entire thing. Draining her teacup, she headed down the hall to bed. Once in her room, she slipped into her floral robe and hung up her dress. She crawled into bed and pulled the covers up trying to shut out all memory of that Tuesday. Wednesday would be a better day she thought and closed her eyes.
Chapter 8
It was 9 AM when Derek woke up again on the ground near the old oak tree he’d climb as a kid. The grass was still damp and he had to reorient himself when he stood up. Usually, the morning after he transformed, it was difficult to remember what happened the night before--during his transition. But he knew something bad had happened this time. Suddenly her image stood out clear to him in his mind. Blonde hair, curvy hips and bright green eyes. Quinn. Dammit. He thought to himself as he pulled his shirt over his head. He'd have to explain himself to her and soon before he lost her like he did Isabel.
Jogging through the city he considered stopping at her place to make sure she was alright. Hell, he’d need to get his car back sometime anyway. Plus he couldn’t keep from thinking how badly he wanted to see her again. But he went to the office instead. It wasn’t very likely that she’d want to see him again after what happened.
Around noon, Derek had showered and put lunch on the table for himself when his phone rang. Not expecting any calls, he reached for it and answered.
“Derek Harting.”
“Hi, Derek”. Derek almost choked on his sandwich. It’s her. “We need to talk; can you come by this afternoon?” She asked.
A bit taken aback he replied, "I will see you in half an hour.”
Click.
The entire walk to her house had Derek’s mind filled with worry over Quinn’s reaction. How much had she figured out? Did she want him to leave her alone forever? And was she afraid of him?
He knocked on the door when he reached the top of the stairs and he heard her stir inside. She hesitated at the door, wondering if this was the smartest decision, took a deep breath and eased the door open. Derek stayed a few feet from the door not wanting to frighten her any more than he already had.
"Please come in," she said softly, stepping away from the door. “I’ve got a pot of coffee on if you’d like a cup,” she continued, drifting further into her apartment.
“Feel free to sit, I um... have some questions," she said. He sat down at the table and looked at her beautiful face, as she avoided looking at him. She knew he must have been in much finer apartments what with his status and money.
“I am sure you do,” he motioned for her to sit across from him. She sat and they looked into each other’s eyes for the first time since they parted. Damn! Quinn thought to herself. If he wasn’t so damn attractive she probably never would have let him come near her again. But here he was with his gorgeous grey eyes staring at her from across her own kitchen table.
“I don’t know where to start,” she stammered.
“I can do that,” he said, taking a breath. “To start with, don’t think you’re going crazy. You’re not”. If anyone is going crazy it’s me, look at her! He looked her up and down to gauge her feelings, and his eyes lingered a little bit to admire her in her dark denim and button down top. "I need to apologize very deeply to you,” he continued as her pulse finally slowed a cinch.
“I know you can’t...”
“Can’t what, control it?” He cut her off. “But I can! And I should have done so much better last night; I put you in serious danger.” He looked away, trying to avoid her look.
“But I’m okay,” she assured him, touching his hand which made him jump up from the table. He strode around the table and stood on the opposite side of the room. “I’m sorry,” she squeaked.
“You’re sorry? You’re sorry...” he blurted in astonishment. “You saw what I did and you’re sorry?” He couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocent expression. Quinn continued to stare, unsure of what to say next. As Derek paced back and forth in her living room, she asked him to tell her everything. She wanted to know, no, had to know everything there was to know. If he could control it, why couldn’t he last night? Would she be safe if he was able to control himself? And would it be bad if she still found him to be the most attractive man she had ever met?
Quinn walked over to him. She grasped his hand tightly so as not to lose it this time and prodded him to divulge everything he knew about his condition. And so he did. He told her about his parents, about his attempt to keep himself away from people on full moons, the pain it caused and even about Isabel.
For a moment or so after he finished
talking, Derek just watched for Quinn’s reaction but all she could do was hold his hand as she processed it.
“If you want me to leave, I understand,” Derek offered when he realized the silence was not going to end on her side.
“No, please stay,” she interjected as she held his hand tighter to keep him from rising. She turned to face him and put her arms around his neck in a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she said once again, this time in his ear. The words melted into him this time and he understood that she genuinely felt for him, something he never imagined a person could if they knew his secret. He pulled her close and whispered "thank you" into the flowing curls that fell just in front of her earlobe when he got the sudden desire to nibble on it. He pulled away a little too quickly but Quinn held her position and gazed into the thunderstorm of his eyes. Was she really into him, still? he thought shocked, raising a gentle hand to her pink cheek and leaning forward.
The moment his lips touched hers he lost feeling in his fingers again like he was floating above himself and only grounded in the connection between her mouth and his.
Quinn felt her heart pound lively as Derek's lips moved with her own and his hand twisted itself into her long hair. When the two broke apart. Quinn searched his eyes for any sign of danger, finding none.
“Do you trust me?” he asked, eyes focused on hers.
“I do,” she replied and he kissed her again, more passionately and aggressive than before. Quinn felt his hand slide down the slope of her waist and she reciprocated by pulling his shirt over his head.
A fire burned in his chest as he landed a hand on one full, soft breast. Quinn responded to this exactly as he had hoped, by slipping her tongue between his lips. His excitement got the better of him. Sliding her shirt over her head, he felt his groin grow in anticipation. He inhaled sharply and Quinn once again took advantage of his open mouth by nipping his lower lip and reaching for his belt buckle.
Reclaiming the advantage, Derek moved back and laid her on her back, stationing himself between her warm, quivering thighs. He kissed her neck as he unclasped her bra and tossed it aside. He took one hard, pink nipple into his mouth and heard her moan with pleasure. He swirled it around with his tongue and flicked the other with his left hand. It instantly stiffened to match the other.
Quinn was arching her back. She wanted him. Removing the busy hand from her breast, he kissed her deeply, biting her lips as he did so. She reciprocated and it drove him wild. Reaching lower than before, Derek slid his hand into her red lace panties to discover she was ultimately wet and ready for him. Continuing to kiss her, he felt a curious hand once again reach for his belt. This time, he didn't stop her. He was rock hard as she wrapped her warm hands around his cock. He groaned into her hair. Stroking her between the legs, he felt her sweet moisture pool around his fingers and he couldn’t prevent himself from tasting it.
He rested his chin on the couch in front of her wanting womanhood. The tang of her on his taste buds only egged him on further, until he thought he would burst of the need for her. Reaching his face to hers, he kissed her and looked deep into her crystal eyes before burying himself deep inside of her. She gasped as he reached further than expected. Much further. His thrusts were even and strong until Quinn began to tip over the edge, arching her body into him more. He quickened the pace and pinched a nipple between his thumb and forefinger. In a few hurried thrusts, she exploded in satisfaction around him, crying out his name as she did. Then he burst, his warmth spreading through her as they each succumbed to their animal instincts, claiming each other as their own new territory.
Chapter 9
Several hours later and with clothes strewn about the living room, Derek reached for his cell phone. Stiffening at the message left on the screen he became aware that Quinn had roused and sat up next to him. “Everything okay”? She asked sheepishly.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Just business stuff,” he kissed her head. “Want to go get some sushi?”
“Yes!” She replied perkily. “Just let me fix my hair, I doubt it looks very flattering.” She popped her shirt on and did up only the first few buttons. Her self-confidence was enough to make him hunger for her again and her hair was definitely flattering. The curvaceous women he had known in the past always tried to hide in their clothes but he could tell Quinn was comfortable with herself and with him.
She reappeared in black pants instead of jeans with her hair tied in a loose ponytail at the back of her neck where he could still see small bite marks from earlier. The thought made him smile and he slipped into his pants, checking himself in her sun shaped mirror before heading out the door.
They drove with the sunroof open. It was a gorgeous afternoon. Food ordered and a couple of drinks had left Quinn feeling more alive than she had in a very long time. It didn’t even bother her that she was seeing and sleeping with a freaking Werewolf! He was hot as hell, genuine, kind and devilishly romantic. She was comfortable, which was a novelty for her in the dating world for once. He made her laugh as they indulged in some of the wackiest dishes and time yet again had slipped away from them.
By the time they were finished eating and sipping their last drink, Derek's phone began to ring and he politely ignored it. But seconds later it was going again and Quinn said, "Just answer it, I won't take offense." He didn't. It rang a third time and Quinn could see Derek growing frustrated and tense.
"We have to get out of here," he said urgently, tossing a one hundred dollar bill on the table and grabbing her hand.
“Where are we going”? Quinn asked, catching her breath as they reached the car. Derek opened the door ushering her in.
“Back to your place, I need you to get your things for a few nights. Quinn, we need to leave the city,” he said hastily driving away. His eyes were so glazed and focused he didn’t even blink. When they reached the apartment, Quinn asked what was going on and why she had to get her things.
“Listen, this whole Werewolf thing has its perks, but it also has its risks Quinn,” he explained as he helped her grab the essentials from around the room. “I’ve known about others who have been in these situations but so few people know about me I never thought it was possible” he rambled.
“What was possible”? Quinn finally shouted at him.
"I'm being hunted," he said flatly. A look of terror came across her face and she stilled.
“Why have I got to leave?” She exploded. “Am I not safe in my own home?”
Derek gripped her by the arm. “As a matter of fact, no, I don't think you are safe here. In a place where it'll be easy enough for him to figure out that I’ve been to, with my own smell all over your house? No, I’m not letting you out of my sight until I’m done with the fucker,” he pressed.
“I’m not going anywhere!” Quinn exclaimed. “If I’m going to be safe anywhere it is in my own home.”
Growing frustrated, Derek reminded her about Mike and how a simple, stupid man could be so dangerous.
Quinn was beginning to see the sense in what he was saying, but she was afraid. What would happen if something went wrong? She couldn’t shake the feeling that this might not end well.
"If it comes down to it, Quinn", he said, "I'll put you up in the best-protected hotel as far away from him as I can. It's not like I can't afford to keep you safe. But I would rather do it myself," he admitted.
“Then where are we going?” She implored, grabbing her suitcase and heading for the door ahead of him.
“I have a family cottage up in Bearskin Lake. We’ll go there, but we have to go now,” he hurried, grabbing her bag as he opened the car door for her. They got in, speeding down the road heading north.
Chapter 10
Although brought upon by danger and fear, the drive through Ontario's back roads and countryside were quite pleasant. Quinn had so many questions that she couldn't hold back and Derek answered them one by one as they drove to safety. Quinn learned that the hunter who had been trailing Derek for a matter of weeks now was Isab
el’s fiancée. Apparently, the psycho had it in mind that Derek still loved his ex and that Isabel wasn’t safe with an ex-boyfriend being a Werewolf so he decided to take matters into his own hands and chase after Derek.
“How long will we stay in Bearskin?” Quinn asked as the car rolled to a stop next to a gas station.
“Only a few days, just long enough for me to come up with a plan,” Derek explained, checking over his shoulder for the hundredth time that afternoon as he got out of the car.
Quinn waited for Derek to fill up the gas. “I guess it could be nice to get away from the city for a few days,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she made her way over to the little shop.
Derek came to her side, grabbed a handful of chocolate bars and kissed her head. “I’ll make sure it is,” he whispered in her ear and winked as he turned around to pay. Butterflies rose in her stomach and the memories of the previous afternoon came floating through her mind. They had been on the road nearly fifteen hours now and Quinn, who had fallen in and out of sleep the entire ride, felt exhausted and wanted nothing more than to be at his cabin already, beside a nice fire with Derek’s added warmth.
Munching on chocolate and pretzels, the pair strolled out of the store. Suddenly, Quinn felt Derek wince beside her and she whirled around to see what frightened him. A large black motorcycle had pulled over to the side of the road a few hundred yards before the gas station and was looking in their direction.
Sure enough, the motorcycle wasn't long in revving its engine and heading in their direction.
“Come on!” Derek shouted, pulling Quinn into the car. Panic seized Quinn by the heartstrings and all thought of a quiet, safe and romantic evening with Derek was forgotten. Thankfully, the Porsche could reach a staggering 200 miles an hour if it had to.
