Waking the Beast

by Lacey Thorn

  * * * *

  Tah slowly felt whatever was inside him quiet as Abby went about scolding him. Breakfast was on the sidewalk outside. He’d smelled the male scents in the room with her, along with the scent of him and Abby and the night they’d spent together. Then he’d scented her anger and lust. It had nearly made him leap out of his skin. She was lucky there wasn’t more damage. As it was, they’d either have to pay for the door or sneak out.

  His friends’ humor wasn’t lost on him either. He could tell they had questions, and he planned to answer them. He’d called them because they were two of the few people in this world he knew he could trust. He needed them. Until he could get a handle on things and figure out just what the hell was happening, he needed people he could trust to help watch his back and protect Abby. Mostly, to protect Abby.

  Watching her stomp around in a temper made him wish he’d heeded her wishes and bought the clothes she’d wanted, instead of the ones he wanted to see her in. His dick was spike hard and showing no signs of going down any time soon.

  He needed to talk to Reno and Logan, but he wanted to do it without Abby around. He needed to make damn sure they knew how much she meant to him. But he started going a little crazy every time he was apart from Abby. And it seemed to only be worse now that he’d tasted her, been inside her.

  The growl rumbled up from his chest, making Abby pause in her packing and give him a look while Logan and Reno just stared at him. He needed to learn how to control it, but damned if he’d figured out how yet.

  “You might as well start talking to them while I’m here,” Abby finally said. “We both know you might not want me here, but you won’t be able to let me leave.”

  And he saw the shadow of hurt move behind her eyes. He felt it like a physical ache in his chest. “I want you here,” he growled at her and didn’t like it one bit when she just cocked her hip out and gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him.

  “I’m hungry,” she reminded him. “I’m not at my best when I’m hungry.”

  “You’ve had more to eat today than I have,” he reminded her, loving the blush that covered her cheeks as they both recalled her lips on his dick.

  “Tah.”

  He loved the way her mouth spoke his name. In a whisper or shouted out, it just sounded differently rolling off her tongue.

  “I’ll feed you soon, Abby,” he told her. “Promise.”

  “Abby? As in Abby Lane?”

  Tah could feel Abby’s emotions as they tumbled through her eyes. She nipped her bottom lip with her teeth and that hand automatically dipped down to rub over the scar that marred her perfect skin.

  “Abby, I’m sure you remember Logan and Reno,” he said.

  She nodded and he fought the need to go to her, to take her in his arms and rub against her until his scent dominated hers, marking her as his, and only his. He wanted to hold her and diminish the uncertainty he sensed she felt. He was deeply afraid if he didn’t get a handle on this soon, he’d find himself pissing circles around her and wouldn’t that just freak them out even more.

  He was fighting within himself, and he wasn’t sure if he was winning or losing. All he knew was Abby was the key to soothing the beast that fought inside him, and she kept Tah sane at a time when he worried it would be far too easy to lose it.

  “Good to see you again, Abby,” Reno offered with a smile.

  I bet she’s a hot little bit under all those clothes.

  He remembered the first week she’d shown up at the bar and Reno saying those words. Tah had been surprised to find himself irritated enough to tell Reno to leave her alone. Remembering those words now just pissed him off.

  All eyes turned to him.

  Fuck. He was growling again.

  Abby crossed to him and put her arm around his waist, cuddling up to his side. God love her, she knew exactly what he needed, sometimes before he did.

  “I think maybe you need to start telling us exactly what’s going on,” Reno demanded.

  “And what the hell’s up with that growl,” Logan added.

  “Yeah,” Tah agreed. “Sit back down and get comfortable. This is going to sound about as insane as it can. Just try to keep an open mind and hear me out.”

  “We got your back,” Logan stated, and Tah didn’t doubt it for a bit.

  They’d been Marines together and spent plenty of time guarding each other’s backs. But the bonds formed in the situations they’d been in were forged in blood and lasted a lifetime, probably beyond a lifetime. He hadn’t batted an eyelash when Reno and Logan had shown up at the bar he worked at and hired on. They were his brothers—along with the seven other team members Tah was already considering getting in touch with if needed. That was part of the problem. He still was so uncertain, and he hated it.

  “Just listen. No matter how much you want to interrupt, to protest, or deny. Just listen and look. I need you guys to hear me. I need you…”

  “To believe him,” Abby finished for him when he let the last sentence hang in the air. She rubbed her cheek against him, offering comfort and support.

  What would he do without her? He prayed he never found out. He could feel the something inside him agreeing.

  “Abby and I were kidnapped.” He saw both his friends tense up but neither spoke. They were listening like he’d asked them to. “He hung me to a wall and beat the shit out of me and plunged a needle full of adrenaline into my chest.”

  “Jesus, Tah.” Logan ran his gaze over Tah, and he knew just what his buddy was seeing. He didn’t look like he’d been beat up just a few days ago, and he’d been purposely vague about the ways they’d beat him. “A shot of adrenaline? You’re lucky you’re not dead.”

  He cradled Abby as he felt her shudder against him. “I’m fine,” he crooned to her. No matter the battle he waged inside and tried to hide from her.

  “There’s more,” Reno prompted. “Hell, I can see the physical changes from here. There’re blond streaks in your hair, maybe a little red too. I swear I think you’re bigger than you were, and that’s saying something.”

  “Then there’s the wicked teeth you’re sporting and that growl thing you seem to have down pat,” Logan added.

  “And was that fucking roar from you when you busted the door open?” Reno demanded.

  “I swear I thought we were getting attacked by a lion or some other big fucking cat. Scared the shit out of me,” Logan confessed.

  “You have no idea,” Tah muttered.

  “Maybe it would help if I told you a story first,” Abby said and, with a rub of her palm over his chest, moved across the room to sit on the bed facing Reno and Logan.

  “What kind of story?” Logan asked.

  Tah couldn’t help himself. It was as if the beast inside him had a primal need to touch Abby when any other man was around. Tah might trust Logan and Reno, but whatever was inside him didn’t share in that. He crossed to them, lifted Abby up, and sat down, pulling her onto his lap. Abby just sighed and settled back against his chest.

  “Was that a fucking purr?” Reno asked with a grin and started laughing.

  “I love that purr,” Abby stated, and there he went, purring again, making Logan laugh as well.

  Tah sat and watched as Abby spoke, sharing the legend about the paka watu or whatever it was she called them. Cat people. She believed they existed, and so help him, he was starting to as well. Nothing else could explain what was happening to him. He watched Logan’s and Reno’s faces, searching for reactions to her words.

  He could feel the beast crouching inside him. It felt like a constant battle lately just to keep control. He swore there were times when it reached out and took over. Those moments, that loss of control, terrified him more than he’d ever admit. And he was scared. Not for himself, which was the funny part. Whatever was affecting him was working on Abby as well; now that he’d bit her.

  His senses had always been good. He’d often had to pretend otherwise just to keep people from acting different
ly around him. But now, they were so far off the charts he couldn’t pretend if he wanted to. He could see clearly for a distance no man should ever be able to, especially at dusk or early morning. His night vision was damn good too. His hearing was to the point he could listen to the newscaster on the television in the room six doors down from them. He was fairly certain he could hear further if he wanted to.

  And the smells. He loved the smell of Abby, like sunshine and sex. He could live on the taste of her and be a well-fed man. He admittedly enjoyed the ability to scent the smell of deceit and rottenness on people, knowing instinctively who he could trust. Who knew such things had scents? But they did, and he was learning all of them.

  When the sales lady had hit on him when he went shopping for clothes for Abby, it had disgusted him. He’d almost gotten violent the second time she’d rubbed her breasts against his arm. It had sickened him, made his skin itch and crawl with the desire to tear her scent from him. He’d almost taken Abby in the parking lot of the library in his need to feel her, to smell only her on his skin.

  She belonged to him. As odd as the idea was to the man, he accepted it, knowing it was true. And he belonged to her. That was just the way it was. She fit him as if she were made for him. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. She understood and accepted him at a primal level no one else ever would.

  He stroked his hand through her hair as her fingers made lazy circles on his arm. They just fit. Perfectly.

  “So, Tah’s the descendent of this lion guy of the paka watu and his lion’s emerging?”

  Tah focused in as Logan voiced his question.

  “Yes,” Abby answered with absolutely no hesitation. God love her, she didn’t care how crazy they both probably sounded.

  “And you believe this, Tah?” Reno asked, though both he and Logan turned to Tah, waiting for his answer.

  Slowly, he nodded. “I’d be crazy not to believe it.” He flashed the canines again and let the growl rumble up in his chest, not minding in the least when the smell of Abby’s pussy scented the air around them. She really did like that growl. He bet her panties were damp with desire, and it was all he could do to keep from kicking his friends out of the room and finding out.

  “Well, okay then.” Reno nodded. “What do you need us to do?”

  “You believe me?” Tah questioned, his gaze darting back and forth between them as he squeezed Abby closer.

  “You’ve saved my ass more times than I can remember with things you heard or saw or sensed that none of the rest of us did. I’ve always known there was something different, something unique, about you.” Reno shrugged his shoulders. “You’re a lion. I’ve always liked cats.”

  Logan snorted. “I always thought I was more of a dog person, but whatever. I’m here for you, Tah. Whatever you need.”

  Tah’s body stilled as he tilted his head to the left, lifting his right ear as he zoned back in on the television newscast several doors down.

  “They found his body. The police are searching for a person of interest in the case.” He glanced down at Abby. “You.”

  “Why me?” She sputtered and he could see the fear in her eyes.

  “Because Harlan’s not a stupid man.”

  “Well, that’s debatable,” Abby countered. “But why have them looking for me. It’s not me he wants. It’s you, though I’m still not sure why.”

  “Because if they take you, they’ll have me. And I’ll do whatever they want to make sure you’re okay. Don’t you know that? I’d do anything to protect you.”

  Chapter Seven

  From the journal of Abby Lane

  Here it is! I’ve discovered the story of what led up to the creation of what the books refer to as the Legend of the Paka Watu. I’ve always wondered where the roots of the story came from. Always so many questions burning my brain and no source for the answers. Until now.

  The pride leader lost his young wife during the birth of their child. She labored for hours, but the baby would not come. As she felt her spirit waning, she took a knife to her swollen belly and cut her son free. The whole pride mourned the loss. Even the lands rebelled and famine struck a deeper blow.

  That was when a pale mwanamke, or woman, was found in the bush beaten and close to death. The people took her in and nursed her back to health, though some whispered it was another bad omen. She fought many demons as her body and mind struggled to heal. The fever was strong, and many nights they prayed to the Great Creator to watch over and protect her as she fought in the spirit world.

  Then she awoke, weak of body and spirit, but alive. And with her waking, the land awoke. The rains began and the people rejoiced. The pride leader came to see her and saw beauty in her heart. Her laughter warmed him, and as his people grew to love her, so did he.

  The family of his wife had another daughter and offered her often to take the place of her sister, but though she was beautiful, the leader found no love in her heart and did not wish her to mother his son. He took the pale mwanamke as his, and the Great Creator blessed him with another son with skin pale like his mother and eyes of amber. They called him Tau after the great lion spirit of his father. The land rejoiced with them. Food and water were plentiful, and the people wanted for nothing.

  Tau grew big and strong as his father, and more and more the people turned to him for answers when his father was busy or away. Only one sought out the eldest son. The one who felt rejected by the pride leader, the one passed over when the leader took the pale mwanamke instead of her. She plotted vengeance and weaved a web to see it done.

  The older brother watched and waited, and as his aunt whispered in his ears, hate festered and grew.

  Then came the day when Tau reached manhood and spoke of a dream sent to him in the night by the Great Creator. He was to be blessed with the same spirit as his father, a lion, fierce and strong.

  While holding the people spellbound, Tau shifted, taking the shape of the great lion he was named for. The people celebrated, understanding the significance of his spirit guide even if Tau didn’t.

  Except for one, who still prayed for his spirit guide to call out to him. He watched and waited, while his aunt whispered in his ear, encouraging his hate to fester and grow.

  * * * *

  “Abby’s going to need to ride with you guys. It won’t be safe for her on the bike, even with the helmet on. They might have that information and be on the lookout for both of us, even if the news claims it’s only her they’re looking for.”

  “I’m not riding without you.” Abby glared at Tah. What the hell was he thinking or was he thinking at all?

  Tah sighed. “And I’m not taking the chance I’ll kill someone if we get pulled over and they try to take you from me.”

  “So ride in the truck with me and let Reno or Logan take your bike.”

  All three men looked at her as if she was crazy. Reno and Logan she could forgive. They weren’t up on the new Tah and how he took possessive to a whole different level. This idea of her riding with his buddies might seem good now, but he’d busted down the door of the motel room earlier when she was in here with them. He’d get them all killed if jealousy hit him at eighty miles per hour on the road. And it would. Even now, he stood next to her, touching her. Any time they were in the room together, he had to be touching her.

  “I’m not letting anyone else ride my bike.”

  “Then I’ll ride with you.”

  “You’re not riding on the bike, Abby, and that’s final.”

  All three male heads turned away from her as if that comment was the end.

  “Then you’re not riding on the bike either, and that’s final.”

  All three of them jerked back around to look at her, but she had eyes only for Tah. He was pissed; she could see it in the way he slowly turned fully toward her and pulled her closer, lowering his head to meet her eyes.

  “What did you say?”

  Hmmmm. So possessive was okay as long as it was his decision to keep her glued to his side, but
not if she demanded it. If he wasn’t so on edge right now, she might challenge him over it. But that would have to wait until later. She knew they needed to be on the road, putting as much distance between them and Harlan as possible and heading to the safety she hoped they’d find in Colorado.

  She wasn’t proud, but she was desperate. She let a whimper of distress leave her lips.

  Tah instantly sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping her in his arms. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want to go without you.”

  “I’m going with you, Abby. We’ll just be riding separately. Don’t you trust Reno and Logan to take care of you?” Tah glanced at his friends, and she saw his eyes narrow as if somehow one of them had said or done something to make Abby upset.

  “She’s going to get us killed,” Logan said as he nudged Reno.

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. You trust them, so I trust them.” She leaned closer, rubbing her nose against his neck. “What if I need something?”

  “Reno and Logan will take care of you.” Silly man actually looked clueless.

  Man, she sucked at playing these sexual games.

  “I’m sorry, Tah.” She pulled away from him, not sure he was going to let her go at first. She took a few steps toward Reno and Logan. “I didn’t realize you guys were such close friends that you,” she cleared her throat, “liked to share.”

  Tah growled behind her, and her lips twitched as she kept her back turned and ignored him. Logan looked a little scared, but she got the impression Reno might know exactly what she was doing and approved of her methods.

  “I have to tell you I’m a little new to all this.” She chattered nervously. “Tah’s my first. I mean, well…” She stammered a bit, suddenly embarrassed and unsure of just how far he might let her go.

  “Abby.” Her name was a rough growl. She could hear the rumble of displeasure in his chest.

  She turned around. “I just thought it was important to share some information with them if they’re going to be taking care of me while you ride ahead.”