Waking the Beast

by Lacey Thorn

  “Not only that. Look at you. You were just beaten and tortured, shot full of adrenaline, drugged, shocked, and knocked unconscious not once but twice.” She walked over and jerked his shirt up, revealing his chest and the lion tattoo. “But look at you. There are no marks on you, not even from the knife. Hell, you’re not even sore.”

  He glanced down as if just now realizing what she was pointing out. “I’ve always been a fast healer.”

  “No one heals that fast, Tah.”

  He leaned his head back and sighed. “What else?”

  She paced away from him. “He hit you with the needle and you…God, you…”

  “I what, Abby?”

  She turned to meet his eyes. “You changed, Tah. You changed. I swear your eyes turned a deep golden yellow. Your back pulled away from the wall when you roared. And you were pissed. I’ve never seen you that angry.”

  “I was chained to a fucking wall.”

  She shook her head. “It was more than that. Harlan turned to me. Oh, my God, I just realized that. Harlan turned and yelled at me just before you snapped the first chain.”

  “They must have been old.”

  “I checked them when I took the cuffs off your wrists and ankles. They weren’t weak in any way, shape, or form. And you snapped them.”

  Tah looked at her, flexed his shoulders, and then glanced down to look at his hands. He held them out, turned them over, then curled them into fists. He took a deep breath and shook them out again before glancing back toward her. “What happened then?”

  “Whiney took off running. Harlan yelled at him to come back, but he was gone. He turned to me again, and the second chain started groaning as you pulled at it. Harlan took off then.” She looked up with excitement in her eyes. “He yelled at Southy to get me. I forgot that or was too much in shock to remember it before. That’s why Southy stayed. He wasn’t trying to help me. He was trying to take me.” Her eyes softened with emotion she couldn’t hide. “You saved me. You protected me.”

  He walked over to her and pulled her firmly against his chest. “I’ll always protect you, Abby. No one will ever hurt you again. And if they do, they’ll pray they hadn’t.”

  She could hear the ring of truth in his voice, the sincerity. He cared for her. He rubbed her back then stepped away again, twisting his head around on his neck as if trying to work the kinks out of it. His hand rubbed over the back of it before dropping as he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Are you okay?”

  “How did I kill him?” Utah ignored her question.

  “He opened the cell. He was reaching for me when you leaped from the wall and landed in front of me in a crouch. You growled at him. My God, I almost peed myself when you did that. He screamed when you reached for him. You took him with one hand. One hand, Tah. And threw him across the room as if he were nothing, as if he weighed nothing. He muttered something about telling Harlan to torture me next time, and you went wild. I swear I saw—” She stopped and looked at him.

  “What did you see?”

  “I swear I saw claws come out of your fingers just before you grabbed his throat and ripped it out.”

  They both glanced down at his hands. He flexed the fingers before curling them into fists.

  “I know I sound crazy. I know none of this makes sense to you. But, Tah…I really believe that you are a paka watu. You are the alpha lion, the pride leader.”

  “You think the beast is waking up?”

  “I think the lion spirit you were gifted with is emerging.”

  Tah looked at her, shook his head, rubbed the back of his neck again, and then flexed his shoulders.

  “What’s wrong?” It finally dawned at her that he was uneasy physically, not just mentally. He was agitated, rubbing and shaking, standing then sitting then up and pacing again. He couldn’t stay still. “Tah?”

  He looked at her, and for a second, just a brief moment in time, she saw the flare of yellow in his eyes before the warm brown took over.

  “We need more information here, Abby, and we need it fast. I’m restless. It feels like something’s inside me, and it’s trying to take over. I’m fighting to stay sane here. Hell, I’m fighting just to stay here.”

  “Oh God, Tah.” She went to him, but he held his hand up, warding her off.

  “I’m hanging by a thread here. My senses are crazy. I didn’t stop at the bar, my house, or yours because I could smell they had been there, that it wasn’t safe. The reek of this Harlan guy was all over each location.” His gaze met hers, and she could see the desire he was feeling. “I’m barely keeping my hands off of you, when I can smell the heat of your lust wrapping around my cock and stroking it like I want your pussy to do. I can still taste your skin on my tongue, and my mouth is watering for more.” His eyes were anguished. “I’m fighting, but I’m afraid if we don’t figure out what’s happening soon, I’m going to lose it and whatever this is…some lion spirit or whatever…it’s going to win. And you may not be safe.” He shook his head. “This other part of me wants you, Abby. And I’m not sure how long I can control it.”

  Every time the animal had emerged it had protected her, not hurt her. “I’m not afraid.”

  “You should be,” he muttered. His body shuddered, and for the first time, his lips peeled back, and she saw what his tongue kept tracing over. His canines were growing, elongating, and looking more like the animal than the man.

  Chapter Four

  From the journal of Abby Lane

  I need to purge that day from my mind. If I could use bleach to scour it away, I would and damn the consequences. I killed my parents, just as Harlan said. Grandmother made him leave when she caught him in my hospital room, but he’s right. I’m responsible. They are both dead because of me, and knowing that, accepting that, has the power to destroy me. It’s hard to shut out the pain, but it’s the only way I can protect myself.

  I wanted to see the lion. He was beautiful, so majestic and royal, even in his sickness. Mom said he would probably have to be put down because of his primal rage. They had to shoot him with a dart to even get in and rescue him. I hate the people who kept him like that. A cage much too small and filled with the filth of his body’s waste. No wonder he was angry and untrusting.

  Still, I ached for him. I wanted to touch him for just a moment, just to feel the warmth of his skin on mine and know he breathed, just to offer him a comforting touch. He’d been out for so long from the dart. I slipped away and went to him, feeling drawn like a magnet.

  His head lifted when I touched his side. But not in anger, not in rage. He was just as curious about me as I was about him. We had a connection. I could feel it humming between us. Then Harlan screamed and grabbed at me.

  I know the lion swiped his paw at Harlan. No matter what they say. I know he did. But he was slow and weak and it hit me instead, as Harlan grabbed my arm and tried to jerk me away. The paw caught the right side of my chest, and I felt the burn as my pale skin tore beneath the pajama top I wore.

  I didn’t mean to cry out, but the arm Harlan was jerking on was screaming as it separated from the socket. And that’s when all hell broke loose. My parents came running. And the lion roared.

  Those are the last memories I have before I blacked out from the pain. I’ll have a scar where the lion’s paw caught me. Grandmother says I bear the mark of the beast that killed my parents, and I know it hurts her. I hear her cry when she thinks I’m sleeping. I heard her tell Harlan to stay away, that he would never be welcome in her home.

  I know something more happened after I passed out. But no one will tell me. I’m young, and they are afraid of how this will affect me.

  But I bear the mark of the beast, and I swear it has made me stronger.

  * * * *

  It had taken Abby over an hour to get Tah to agree to what she needed. The stop at the bank the day before had been so he could clear his account out. She couldn’t empty her own because she had no purse or identification, except for one card she always k
ept hidden in the sole of her shoe. It was a trick her grandmother had taught her. The woman had always been afraid someone would try to take Abby from her, and she’d made sure Abby would have the means to get back if she could escape.

  So after arguing with Tah that they needed supplies and more clothes than what they were currently living in, she finally ripped her shoe apart and pulled the card free. It was an account set up a long time ago by her grandmother. The name on the account didn’t really exist, though Abby had the needed identification tucked away in a lock box. It contained all the money left to her by her parents and her grandmother. It was a fortune.

  Abby used the card all the time, just as her grandmother had taught her. That way if and when she needed it, there would be nothing to set alarms off like there would be if a suddenly dormant account was accessed. Abby moved thousands of dollars in and out of it every month, and she kept the ATM card hidden in her shoe. Always.

  She and Tah needed clothes, toiletries, a laptop, and something other than fast food. It wouldn’t be the same as having her personal computer with all her favorites and her contact lists, but it would have to do. It might take her a little longer to access what she needed, but she could do it.

  Their first stop was the ATM, where Abby took out her limit for the day. They’d have to be frugal and make it last for a few days before she could hit the ATM again. They’d also need a disposable phone as a contact number. As she worried about how they were going to get everything, she saw the library.

  That had led to another long argument. She wanted to cut costs by accessing the computer at the library, instead of buying a laptop, while he did their shopping, took it to the room, and then came back to pick her up before the library closed. But Utah didn’t want to leave her alone. He’d even growled at her. Growled at her!

  She’d been no better, stomping her foot at him and thumping him in the chest with her fist. Then she’d done something that almost made her ashamed of herself. Almost, except for the fact it had felt so good.

  She’d rubbed against his chest, until he wrapped his arms around her.

  “This is important, Tah. I might be able to contact someone who can help us. I can’t do that and get all the supplies. I need you to help me. I need you. Please, Tah. For me. Please.”

  He’d surprised her with a sound suspiciously like a purr before kissing her fiercely and agreeing, only after she’d agreed to his order to keep her pert little ass inside until he got back. God save her if the animal made the man even more dominant than he was.

  Then he’d smirked and said he liked the idea of picking out her panties for her anyway. And he’d flat out laughed when she’d demanded he get her a new sweatshirt. She was almost afraid of what he would choose for her. But she’d just have to deal with it. She’d wear anything at this point, especially since the pair she’d rinsed out were still missing.

  It had been hard enough to get to a computer with no identification on her. She’d resorted to tears and started blubbering incoherently about getting robbed while here on vacation and needing to access her email, so she could contact a friend to cancel everything. Thankfully, the guy behind the counter had been so busy staring at her boobs then freaking out over her tears that he’d set her up at a computer station immediately.

  She’d never used her boobs in such a way before, and it made her feel dirty. But she told herself whatever it took. Tah was all that mattered, getting him the help he needed. She stayed away from her personal email accounts, not knowing how far Harlan would go to try and find them, or if he even was trying to find them. She still didn’t understand what his agenda had been. Since when had Harlan cared about anything she’d spoken of as a child? And why would he follow her to Africa?

  She might never know, and that was just something she’d have to accept. She sent a message to Professor Mueller from yet another of the therianthropy forums they were both registered at. She’d already been at this for two hours with no luck, but she refused to give up.

  This site was one of the largest available, and she knew he frequented it. Her last name would show when she sent a message, and she hoped the Professor was on to answer. She’d never suspected when they first met just how much of a mentor he would turn out to be. Not only was he an anthropologist, but he and his daughter Jess were big into the lores and myths of cultures. And Jess was as into therianthropy as Abby was. They’d spent hours talking about shapeshifting, while Abby and Professor Mueller had researched the genealogy that had led her to Tah. If anyone could help her now, it would be them.

  She felt her heart beat faster when he messaged her back instantly.

  Mueller: Call me 7778123265895247

  Lane: No access to phone yet

  Mueller: Tonight?

  Lane: Yes

  Mueller: …did you find what you were looking for

  Lane: …yes…

  Mueller: eyes are watching. not safe to say more here. tonight?

  Lane: …yes…

  She ended their contact before he could ask anything else. She might be getting as paranoid as he was, but better safe than sorry. Plus, it had taken too much of her time before she’d found him. Tah would be here any minute. She’d tell the Professor everything on the phone later. She had his number written down, easily deciphering the code he’d used to send it to her. She just hoped Tah remembered to pick up a phone.

  “Holy shit.”

  She looked up as the woman sitting at the end of the row of computers spoke out loud. Abby wasn’t surprised to see Tah standing there. She watched him inhale, saw the twitch of his nose as if something distasteful hit him before his searching eyes found her. One corner of his mouth lifted as he curved his finger and motioned her toward him.

  They were really going to have to work on his caveman attitude.

  She closed her internet browser then did a quick delete of the history cache. It wouldn’t hinder anyone if they really wanted to see where she’d been, but it would be enough to halt the average snooper.

  The clerk stopped her and asked if everything was okay.

  She did her best to ignore the growl behind her, but there was no ignoring when Tah stepped forward and pulled her back against his chest.

  “We’re leaving,” he stated clearly with a hard glare at the guy.

  She would have laughed, except she could tell Tah wasn’t joking. He was getting territorial of her and jealous. His palm moved to the small of her back and that easily he had her turned away and heading toward the door. No one interfered or stopped them again.

  As soon as they were in the parking lot by the bike, he pulled her against him and nuzzled her hair, rubbing his cheek over hers and then licking at her neck.

  “Tah? What are you doing?” she squeaked out, embarrassed by the public display.

  “I need to be able to smell myself on you,” he informed her, as if that made perfect sense and didn’t sound crazy as hell.

  “Tah?”

  His mouth took hers, his tongue thrusting deep and fast as he found hers and sucked it into his mouth. She felt the sharp point of one of his canines and went back to explore it with her tongue. He growled into her mouth, and she felt the rumble in his chest. His palm cupped her ass and lifted her into him. If she didn’t help him get control, she was afraid she might just lose her virginity in the parking lot.

  She pulled her mouth away, panting as he moved to her neck. It shouldn’t have excited her to feel the scrape of his teeth against her skin. But it did, and his deep inhale assured her he smelled just how much it was affecting her.

  “Tah, let’s go back to the motel.”

  “God, yes,” he moaned as he patted her ass. She squeaked again when he lifted her off her feet and put her on the bike. “I need you, Abby. I’m ripping apart with the need.”

  His eyes. Brown, yellow, brown, yellow, brown. And was that a sliver of blond she saw in his hair?

  He thrust the helmet into her hands and straddled the bike in front of her. She barely had t
ime to put the helmet on and wrap her arms around his waist before they were roaring out of the lot and heading back. She could feel the coiled tension in his body.

  I need you, Abby.

  His words were tearing her up inside too, tearing apart every excuse she was still clinging to that would allow her to deny him, deny them, again. His whole world was changing. She could see the changes occurring in him, but he was dealing with them. And what was happening that she couldn’t see, changes hidden inside him and not visible to the eye. How could she refuse his need for her? Especially when she needed him too.

  No words were spoken as he parked the bike and helped her off. He laced their fingers as he led her to the room. Another inhale and he pulled they keycard out and unlocked the door. His eyes met hers as he held it open for her. Everything was about to change again, and she only hoped these changes didn’t destroy her heart.

  She heard the soft click as the door shut behind her, and she turned to watch him. He’d picked up some type of safety bar and used it to secure the door before he turned to her. She licked her lips in anticipation as he caught the hem of his T-shirt and almost ripped it as he pulled it off and tossed it aside.

  “Tah.” Her voice was breathy, husky, and she couldn’t stop herself from backing to the wall as he stalked toward her.

  “Strip.” The words left his clenched jaw as he dropped his hand to his belt.

  She could see he was shaking.

  “Too long,” he growled as he pulled the belt free and tossed it aside before going to work on his jeans. “We were apart too long.” He rolled his shoulders and neck as he popped the button loose and tugged down the zipper. “I can’t be apart from you. It drives me insane with need, Abby.”

  His eyes met hers. Brown with yellow swirling through them. She felt a tremor rock her core as heat swept through her. His eyes dipped almost closed as he inhaled her lust. His lips edged back, revealing the full length of his canines, and damn, if the sight didn’t make her pussy cream more. She should be terrified.