Resurrecting The Beast [Werescape Book II]

by Skhye Moncrief

  The door shoved wide.

  A crisp gust of air ushered Jackal's tall muscled form through the doorway. He carried a plate of biscuits atop two others dishes. His gaze landed on mine. “Tornado is waiting for you. Just enter the doorway to the left."

  Great. Here goes nothing. But I'll be damned if another man tells me what to do. They're all a pack of self-centered oafs.

  Jackal thrust the pan of biscuits at me as I walked by him. “Take one. I won't have the village claiming you starved under my care.” He shot me an adorable smile.

  Sierra laughed.

  This couple was nice. Friendly. Supportive. Maybe I could be happy here.

  The village's meeting lodge was spacious. Firelight pushed back the shadows. Not all the way. But enough to illuminate the faces of all the males ringing the room.

  Oh boy. Everybody showed to get their claws on the little unmated girl.

  Tornado sat on his plain wooden chair.

  Throne, I guess. Father had a chair he fancied special himself. Every leader in the world must have a chair to reign from. Jerks.

  "Good morning, Sylvie,” Tornado thundered.

  He didn't need to shout. What was the point? I nodded a salutation.

  "My policy is that all unmated females without kin take a Shifter mate when entering the village. It saves us the trouble of any issues that might arise."

  Well, get right to the point. “I can pay my way."

  Tornado's spine straightened as he repositioned to sit up perfectly straight with arched brows. “Oh?"

  Money opened lines of communication. Except in reference to water rights. Dammit. “Yes, there's no need for me to pay by fucking one of your relations.” I yanked off a boot.

  "Nobody said a woman pays for her keep in that manner,” Tornado replied carefully.

  "Well how in the hell am I supposed to feel when you phrase your policy so eloquently?” I plucked one solid round gold piece from where I'd stuffed them into the lining down the inside of my boot shaft.

  His gaze pinched. “You don't have to pay for anything."

  "Oh?” I slung the coin at his forehead.

  If only it were a bullet. Annoying bastard.

  He caught it but held the disc in his fist. “No. It is an honor to take a Shifter mate. You choose."

  The asshole. “Don't try to twist your ultimatum into something it's not. I've spent my life listening to Lords do the same thing. I won't stand here and take it.” I threw two more coins at him. “And there's more. You can have everything I own. Everything but my body. Gods know my father thought he could trade it to whomever he wanted.” I threw more coins at the clan leader.

  The door whisked open.

  A cold draft knifed through the space.

  Just another man coming in hopes of gaining a woman. Moron. I shook my boot upside down in hopes of shaking the rest of the coin from the shaft.

  Mother's ring jingled as it hit the hard-packed earth.

  They could have it too. “Here,” I threw the diamond and gold at Tornado and watched it bounce off the armrest of his throne with a ping. “My mother left me that when she died. Surely it's valuable enough to mean something out here in the gods-damned Wild."

  A hand settled on my forearm and gently pushed my arm downward.

  Who had the nerve? I turned.

  To find Beast. His copper hair pulled back into his tidy queue. He wore a deer hide coat cut in the style of a trench coat. “Calm down, Little Bit. You don't need to do this."

  Just who did he think he was? I didn't owe him anything. Especially giving him the authority to order me around. Hell, he'd already gotten my virginity. He owed me. The ass! I'd probably be pregnant with his child as the universe's final hysterical cackle to my ridiculous life. I'd never be able to forget Beast then. I yanked my arm from his warm palm and stalked to the wall, wedging myself between two hulking Shifters.

  Beast stared at me for the length of two breaths. “Why did you leave the cave?"

  Like he cared. I leaned over and yanked my boot back on, then tightened the three straps that sealed the shaft.

  His buckskin boots stopped beside my nose.

  I'd show him. I rose, grabbed one of the quiet Shifter's pistols from his hip where he leaned against the wall beside me, and shoved the tip of the barrel into Beast's face. “I don't owe you anything after you fucked me and left me standing there wondering where in the hell you were going."

  Nobody moved.

  Not a sound rose above the swoosh of the wind outside.

  Beast blinked those green eyes and exhaled. “I came after you. That stands for something."

  "I don't want any of these Shifters. And I damned sure don't want one who hides in a cave afraid of the world. Not to mention little old me."

  "Nobody in this room is afraid of you,” he said.

  "Then what in the hell are you running from?"

  Beast blinked and inhaled.

  "Too afraid to cough up some story? Go home, Beast. The last thing I need is a man afraid to live following me around the countryside."

  Beast's eyes flicked into glowing embers. “Watch your mouth, Little Bit. I told you I came to take you back."

  "Take me back?” It was all I could do not to laugh. But I wasn't about to give him a chance to knock the gun out of his face. Or, even worse, make me accidentally pull the trigger. I guess he'd be out of his misery then. But where would that leave me? I wanted to be with him. But he had to want to be with me. He had to tell me exactly what he wanted. Just the way he warned me to tell men. “Just what do you want, Beast. I'm not going anywhere with a coward."

  His body transformed so quickly I gaped. One second he stood there the gorgeous man I wanted to throw my arms around. The next he'd sprouted so much shaggy brown fur I had no idea where the man ended and the Wolf began.

  His face extended into a wolf muzzle full of jagged teeth.

  I'd pissed him off. By the age of his scars, somebody should have done it long ago. Because now he'd lose those little trophies he loved to groan about. And he'd blame me. I gulped, squeezing the pistol tighter.

  Beast roared in my face, then bolted out the door.

  I lowered the pistol, made peace with the trigger, and casually handed the butt to the Shifter at my side.

  "Well, it's about time somebody pushed Beast over the edge,” Tornado said, stepping over to claim a spot before me.

  I'd done nothing wrong defending myself. “He deserved it after the way he treated me.” I snorted.

  Tornado grabbed my hand and dropped the coin and my mother's ring into my palm. “You're welcome to stay. Keep your money. Use it when your mate comes back for you."

  Did all men talk in circles? “My mate?"

  Chuckles sputtered around the room.

  Tornado eyed me over. “Ever since his clan's village was destroyed by Prophets, Beast's sulked in that Gods-be-damned cave. No one could talk him into coming down from the mountain. Not until you. You stay here. Beast will be back for you.” Tornado turned on the heel of his boot.

  The idea was crazy. “He never marked me."

  Tornado crossed through the brightest firelight cast from the central fire pit in the floor and headed back to his throne. “There's more ways than one to mark a mate.” He settled back into his wooden chair. “Go on.” He waved at the door. “Sierra will take you to Sue. Sue will help you settle in somewhere. And you sit tight. Beast already lost one mate. He won't be losing another."

  Already lost one mate? I glanced at the solid wood of the door and then back at Tornado's smug smile. “I didn't know. I never would have called him a coward..."

  My heart knotted in my throat.

  Beast slumped down against the cold hard back wall of his cave and tried not to think about the words she spat at him with her sassy mouth. That mouth that made me hard and roused my Wolf. That made me run for fear of hurting her.

  I wouldn't have. I couldn't have. But I ran anyway.

  She had to have lied.
Had to be punishing me for making her face Tornado.

  Gods, what I'd give to run back to her.

  But what if she spoke the truth?

  What if she only saw a coward?

  I'd taken her maidenhead. Even though she'd gifted it to me, I'd slapped her in the face with it. Why? Because I was afraid like she said. I was a coward. And she announced the assessment to everyone.

  Gods.

  Go get her. Claim her. Mine, Wolf snarled. She won't fight me. Mates don't fight their Wolves.

  Shut up.

  I want mine.

  How could I show my face at Death Summit again after she tore me apart before the clan? But I wanted to squeeze the pain and anger from her eyes. I scrubbed my palms down my face.

  The clean slate skin. Minus the scars. I no longer was marked with my failure.

  Until Sylvie labeled me a coward with a far worse brand that never lost its searing heat.

  Tornado had probably made her choose one of his relatives for a mate by now. I didn't deserve her after I left. I'd walked away twice. No sensible woman would take a man back after that. I'd lost the one woman I'd fallen in love with since I failed my clan. Since I lost my wife and child. And not even the damned bear I threw myself at killed me before Tornado happened upon us and saved my tail, killing the crazed creature.

  Two days later, my Wolf dragged me in to stand at Tornado's feet. To beg for access to Wolf's female. Okay, for the woman who'd stolen my heart. But the clan leader's welcoming scowl proved rather irritating.

  "So what in the Gods-be-damned hell brought you back to my door after having your way with that woman and then sending her here to cause the scene of the century?"

  At least, nobody else was present to witness my tail-reaming. “I've come to find her. I need to talk with her—"

  "Wolf won't let you rest, eh?” Tornado chuckled. “I figured you'd be back for that one. She's got enough carnivore in her blood to lure every unmated Wolf here into chasing her tail across country.” He gave me a pat on my back.

  But did Tornado make her mate with one of his kin? “Where is she?"

  "She's got her own lodge between Badger and Steel."

  Her own lodge? Under Tornado's rules?

  Tornado locked a grim stare on me. “And don't you scratch at that door or say one word to her unless you plan on marking her. I won't put up with that Gods-be-damned shit in my village."

  His commanding gaze didn't ease my anxiety.

  "Beast, by the time you found the village burning, it was too late. You couldn't have changed things for your clan. You hunted down those Prophets and killed them. Avenged your kin. It's time for you to put it behind you. And a little kitten is a few doors down waiting for you.” He waved me toward the door. “Welcome home to your clan."

  Sylvie's hopes ripped away on the blustery cold wind as she wiped the steam caused by her breath from Sue's window, to take another peek outside. Beast wasn't coming back, she sighed. Why would he? I'd embarrassed him beyond showing his face again. Now, I'm just a lady in waiting. Not with one of the Shifter's pregnant mates, mind you. Literally waiting. For Beast. Who isn't coming.

  Tears stung the back of my nose.

  "Come now, Sylvie.” Sue patted my arm. “Eat something. Tornado said Beast would be back. Believe Tornado. He's a wise man. He's dealt with Shifter things for years as a clan leader. He knows how Shifters think. He knows what they do. He knows how to work them. Stop staring off into the distance. This vigil is a waste of your time. You have to keep up your strength to be waiting for him."

  The lyrical sound to the woman's voice was starting to grate on my nerves. “He'd have come for me already if he meant to, Sue.” I took the plate of food she was sending to Sierra and turned to the door.

  "Here. Take one back to your lodge for yourself. The weather's getting bad. There's no need for you to go out in a snowstorm when you don't have to later. And don't worry about me. I'll be fine here."

  Fine. What a word to ponder. I'll wallow in my sorrow alone over biscuits, beans, and one large crunchy red apple.

  And Sierra wasn't much company with her morning sickness pinning her to her bed. So, I left her food on the table and went a few doors down to my lodge. Tornado had tucked me between two of his sons. Probably as a ploy to drum up my interest in one of them. The Gods know I didn't want to think about choosing anyone else after I hurt Beast so horribly. Beast was so kind and gentle. Funny and smart. I shouldn't have popped off with all that crap about cowards. Really, how had I even put the points together? He'd made love to me like I asked him to but always told me I had to seek shelter in Tornado's domain. I had simply refused to listen.

  A knock rattled at the door.

  Probably Sue. She couldn't leave me alone for the life of me when she could see tears pooling in my eyes. I pulled the door wide.

  Beast stood there. His strong face purged of any trace of scar. Massive. In black leather—his knee-length hem of his coat flapping around the top of his black boots. His copper hair would have whipped around his face in the bitter wind if he hadn't kept it tied back in the leather lacing securing his queue. Not a scratch remained on his sun-kissed face.

  Okay. He's back. Just what did he want? To rip me into parts after what I'd said in front of his people? “Beast—"

  Tears drowned my words away.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Eight

  Beast snatched me up, kicked the door shut, and carefully held me against his warm drumming heart where he could stare me in the eye. “I'm sorry, Little Bit."

  Gods jest. Those were the most priceless words I could hear. I nodded and placed my palms on his wind-chilled cheeks. “I am too. I didn't know."

  Tears blurred my view of his green eyes.

  But I rubbed my fingers into the almost nonexistent stubble prickling his skin. I had to say something. To make amends for shaming him the way I had. I tipped my forehead to touch the heat of his. At least to hide my own embarrassment. “I didn't mean to hurt you in front of all those Guardians."

  His soft lips latched onto mine and sucked my senses into an ache deep in my belly. I wrapped my arms and legs around the wrought iron of his consoling body. His tongue thrust between my lips and danced inside my mouth. There was no way I could say how much I loved him. Not with the way he devoured my mouth. So I just clutched his strength and heat to me. And slipped hopelessly into the beat of his heart.

  He carried me across the room and lowered us onto the familiar squeak of the bed.

  My bed. Empty. A place I hated because it was so damned cold without him. I pulled my head back to look into his yellow eyes. “Don't leave me here. I'll die if you leave me again, Beast.” I slid a palm back to his warm cheek and petted his face with a thumb.

  "I've come to live with you. Here, Little Bit. Is that okay?"

  His eyes held so much tenderness I dared not answer, or I'd sob like an idiot. I nodded.

  "And I'm going to mark you, Sylvie. Hell, I should have done it back in the cave when my Wolf insisted."

  I managed a jerky nod. “I love you, Beast."

  He slid his hands around the bend of my lower back and pulled me against him. Our noses almost met where his face dropped down to study mine. “I'm sorry, Sylvie. So sorry. Can you forgive me? I've been pushing people away for so long I just didn't think I could have another mate. Not until you were gone. And then I knew misery."

  Now he had a life back. Something to treasure. Friends. Family. Me. A clan to work for. And his face. Perfect as if he'd healed at long last. I'd mate with him and have what I wanted too. I reached for the button beneath his chin and popped his jacket open.

  He wore nothing under the coat. “You're going to freeze to death if you don't start wearing enough clothes,” I scolded.

  He chuckled. “Babe, I'm so damned hot for you just walking around that it's a joke for me to don a coat."

  "I don't believe that for a second.” One at a time, I unbuttoned each round disc
until his coat hung open down to his lap, revealing the golden valleys and hills of his chest.

  Oh, he was perfection. I slid my palms across the silk of his hot skin.

  He inhaled deeply, watching my hand.

  "Can I mark you, Sylvie?"

  I tilted my nose until it touched the end of his.

  Would he kiss me again? He'd better! I stared into the deep green of his eyes. So much love glowed in them. So much longing to claim me. And I wanted to be his. “Yes."

  "No more talk about all those Guardians back home,” he chuckled, swinging my back to the soft bedding.

  Oh the challenge in that statement. I'd show him. “Who cares about them? Now, you, you're incredible and just can't keep your hands off me. I chose you anyway, remember? You do remember? Don't you?"

  He backed off my groin just enough to shrug off the coat, yank off his boots, and strip his jutting erection out of his pants. “You, my dear, need to learn that quipping me will only get you spread-eagled beneath me. And hopefully, round with my child."

  Now that's a threat. “Prove it."

  He growled a wild sound and worked my clothes until I lay with my bare nipples frozen in wee peaks. The weak heart of the fire couldn't save me from autumn's chill. “Beast, it's freezing!"

  "Give me a moment, Little Bit. You haven't tangled with a beast on a day as cold as this.” He sank his rigid shaft atop my groin, trailing his fingertips through the tiny curls at my vee, and hovered with his golden gaze directly over mine.

  "You, my little angel, have brought me back from where no man should live. Brought me back, Sylvie.” He planted a soft quick kiss on my cheek and pierced my soul with his gaze again. “I promise to keep you safe from your father or send him a go-to-Hell message. Whichever you prefer. But nobody's going to bother my mate again. It's just you and me. Normals who think otherwise are inviting death."

  A chill feathered through my body.

  None the matter. Beast latched onto my neck with so much force my sex clinched.

  "Beast!” I bucked against his hot iron body and slid my palms down his broad back.

  "You're mine, Sylvie Drake.” He planted another sucking kiss on the hill of my breast. “Mine. My love. My life."