by Susan Bliler
Regan jerked around.
Tyson’s lip ticked up in a feral smile. “Eyes right here, fucker. Wouldn’t want you to miss the show.” Turning his attention to the Councilman, Tyson shook his head once. “When this is all over, remember that you asked for this.”
Without another word, Monster exploded from him. White fur, vibrant scars, snapping jaws, and then it was on.
The women gasped and recoiled. One of them made a break for it, and the rest quickly followed. It was a good thing too because Tyson was already tearing into the line of men who’d faced off against him. Stupid bastards. They’d brought menstruating women because they’d wanted to verify that Tyson’s medicine was stronger. They’d forgotten that while it’d prove Tyson was immune, it also meant they’d be unable to shift.
Left defenseless, they attacked as best they could, but their human forms were no match for Monster.
Cersi watched as Tyson’s animal lived up to his name. Ripping and tearing, bodies flew everywhere and cries filled the air.
Beside Cersi, Mary Alex shot The Council a scathing look and hissed, “Fools! You’d chop down the tree for one season’s worth of apples.” Turning her attention to Cersi, she pleaded, “Only you can stop him. The Monster is your animal as much as it is Tyson’s. Call to him. Calm him.”
Glancing between Mary Alex and the carnage Tyson was wreaking, Cersi had one moment’s hesitation. Tyson was right, these people had asked for this. They’d called Monster out! Still… Watching bodies fly as blood coated the snow, Cersi knew she needed to do something, especially when men began pouring out of the manor with rifles.
“Noooo!” she screamed and used all the strength she had to rush down the stairs and race for Tyson.
Engaged in battle, he didn’t hear her and continued to attack. These poor bastards were no match for Monster.
“Stop!” she screamed. “Monster, stop!”
But he was growling and snapping and over the screams of the men who were being tossed around like rag dolls, he couldn’t hear her. Racing up to him, Cersi fisted his fur and pulled hard, but he didn’t budge.
“Damn it! Tyson!” she screamed, appealing to the man since the beast was ignoring her.
Monster crunched down on some poor guy’s leg. The sound had Cersi’s stomach heaving. The scream that followed was terrifying and had Cersi flinging herself against Monster’s back. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she squeezed tight and yelled, “Please stop!”
Someone ripped her off Monster’s back. It was so unexpected that it hurt when her hands were ripped away from where they’d been gripping each other around Monster’s massive throat.
“Hey!” The guy holding her yelled, trying to get Monster’s attention.
Cersi spun in his hold and started fighting him, but he was really strong and had no problem grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her back. He spun her so that she was facing Monster again.
“I’m…trying…to help,” she grunted as she continued to struggle. Back kicking, her foot met the guy's shin, but he didn’t even grunt. When the guy wrapped an arm around her throat and squeezed too tightly, Cersi let out one last scream, “Monster!”
The beast spun and fierce flashing green eyes locked on them. There was only a brief second of ferocity before recognition hit and had Monster stilling. People scattered and ran for the Manor, but the guy choking Cersi held fast.
Monster’s eyes slid from Cersi up to her captor before Monster cracked his jaws. His front legs tensed and his massive paws curled into the snow-packed earth as an ear-splitting growl filled the clearing.
“Stop!” The man holding Cersi ordered, but Monster slowly stalked them.
The guy was holding Cersi so tight that her vision started collapsing from the outside in.
“Ty…” she wheezed and then mouthed, “Kill him!”
Her Monster obeyed. One second he was a snarling pacing demon in front of them and the next, his big body was sailing over Cersi’s head. She felt her body falling backward, but when it impacted with the guy’s body behind hers, his arm fell away, and she was able to suck in an agonized breath.
Rolling to her side, she clutched at her throat and dragged in gulps of air as her eyes sought out her attacker. His body lay motionless on the ground and his head…it was gone.
Maw dripping blood, Monster padded quickly to her. When he got near enough, Cersi fisted his fur and pulled him in close, wrapping her arms around one of his massive front legs, she clung to him.
Eyes pinched shut, they snapped open when Cersi felt an odd pulse in the air. It sent chills drifting over her skin and looking up, she watched in horror as several men staggered to their feet. Eyes locked on Tyson, they grinned wickedly as wolves burst from their skin.
Cersi had initially thought the women had run in fear of their lives, but now she understood. They had to get as far away as they could so that the men could shift and fight Tyson.
All around them men exploded into masses of fur and teeth and Cersi felt hopelessness swamp her because their numbers were too many, even for her Monster. Apparently, Monster felt different because he lowered his head and chuffed at her with his snout. Lifting a hand, she laid it on his cheek and stared into his eyes. She wanted to tell him so many things. She wanted to apologize and beg forgiveness for leaving the way she had. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to fight these shifters, not over her, but all she could do was stare up at him.
Monster dipped his nose pressed it against her jawline. Unable to stop herself, Cersi threw her arms around him and hugged him hard with a whispered, “Don’t let this be the end for us.”
Chapter 29
Cersi didn’t know why she’d made the desperate plea. It wasn’t fair, but it was something she couldn’t keep from begging.
Monster pulled back and looked down at her, eyes had gone hard. He swayed his big head from side to side. And then the fighting started.
Tearing away from her, Monster tore into the wolves surrounding them. It was easily the most brutal, violent, and beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She was in complete awe of her Monster. He was a beast, an unstoppable freight train of carnage, and she’d had no business doubting him. She realized now that he’d been holding back against the shifters when they were in their human skin, but now all bets were off, and there was blood. So much blood.
Not putting it past one of the shifters to use her against Tyson again, Cersi stayed closed to Monster, her back to him as she watched the wolves circling them. When one got too close, she yelled for Monster, and he took care of it, but more and more wolves kept coming. Cersi wondered how long Monster could hold out. He didn’t even seem to be tiring, but his concern over keeping an eye on her had him taking too many blows and bites that were beginning to matte his fur in his own blood.
Cersi looked up onto the porch, her eyes locking on Mary Alex as she screamed, “Make them stop!”
Mary Alex was already standing before The Council, clearly pleading with them as she pointed to Cersi and Tyson. They weren’t listening though, and true fear hit Cersi at the prospect of watching Tyson battle to the death.
“Enough!” A voice bellowed through the clearing.
Cersi’s head whipped around. A whimper left her when she saw Haddix and Afften stalking toward them with a bleeding Noah and a bruised and clearly pissed off Brayden. Vesa was there too. She was close to Haddix’s side and was shouldering a high-powered rifle.
BloodMoon!
Haddix lurched forward as his mighty grey wolf took his skin. His pack followed suit and then they were rushing Tyson with Vesa following closely behind, eye never leaving the sights on her rifle.
Unsure what to do, the wolves that’d been attacking Tyson backed off. Cersi had never been so relieved in her life. The BloodMoon pack surrounded her as she struggled to her feet. Vesa stood so close to her that their shoulders brushed once Cersi righted herself.
“What in the fuck are you doing?” Vesa bellowed.
The
Councilman’s eyes shot to her.
Cersi watched Mary Alex rush away from The Council, a pissed off look on the woman’s face.
The Councilman narrowed his eyes on Vesa. “Alphena BloodMoon. We heard a rumor that your pack was harboring an unknown shifter. We had to see for ourselves. It’s true.”
“Unknown?” Vesa sneered. “He’s a dire wolf. You all knew that!”
“We were unaware that he is unaffected by a woman’s medicine.” The Councilman slid his eyes to Haddix. “Which means it matters not that you hunted down Vesa.”
Cersi shot her sister a look. Hunted Vesa down? Vesa had said Haddix had “found” her. She’d made it sound like she’d been rescued by Haddix, but this, this sounded scary. It was certainly something she intended on talking to Vesa about.
“Having women in your pack changes nothing,” the Councilman continued. “Your BloodMoon pack has an unfair advantage over all others because Tyson and his Monster can’t be controlled. It’s unfair to all other packs for yours to not have a weakness. Something must be done.”
Haddix shifted, a shuttle ripping through him from the head down as his fur receded and the man reclaimed him. Clad in his typical low slung jeans, fitted white tee, and black hiking boots, his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as they locked on the Councilman. “The fuck you say?”
“He can’t be controlled.” The Councilman pointed to where Tyson shifted and gave them his back as if he could care less that they were discussing his fate.
Crossing to Cersi, Tyson cupped her face in both hands, his head dipping low as he studied her before murmuring, “You alright?”
She nodded and lifted her hands, placing them over the top of his as she drank in his nearness.
“If you think for one fucking second that I’d ever let you touch a member of my pack, you’re mistaken,” Haddix thundered. “As a matter of fact, you sending shifters into my territory to attack my pack is a challenge.” Haddix jammed his finger at the Councilman. “One I accept. Shift, motherfucker!”
The Councilman’s mouth fell open. Fear was evident as he turned to gape at the other four members of The Council. The men were all older, and clearly not a match for Haddix or any member of his pack. Hell, Cersi was positive that Afften could take any one of them.
“That’s not how it works,” the Councilman sputtered. “We decree the law and…”
“Wrong!” A female voice cut him off and had all eyes turning to the door. Mary Alex was exiting the house and behind her was a line of six women. The women were all gray-haired, some of them were hunched with age.
“We,” Mary Alex turned and gestured to the women. “We decree the law. The Council is only meant to enforce it.” She pointed a crooked finger at The Council. “You overstep your bounds.”
“But Tyson’s Monster cannot be controlled,” the Councilmen argued in incredulity. “Who is to stop the BloodMoons should they attempt a coup?”
“A coup?” Mary Alex cackled a laugh that was mirrored by the women around her. “A coup of what?” She waved her hand around the property. “This?” She looked at Haddix. “If you want it, you’re welcome to it.”
The Councilman gasped out, “You can’t do that!”
“Wrong!” Mary Alex’s expression went hard for the first time and the calm demeanor she’d been harboring fled. “We are The Elders. We make the law. Not you, Vance. As a matter of fact. We think it’s time you step down from The Council.”
The Councilman’s face went red.
“It has been decided.” Beside Mary Alex, the women all said in unison, “It has been decided.”
Swallowing hard, The Councilman tore his eyes from Mary Alex. Dipping his head in a bow, he turned, clomped down the stairs and shot Tyson one last scathing look before disappearing into the forest.
“As for Tyson and his Monster.”
All eyes went back to Mary Alex where she looked at the remaining Council members and then pointed at Cersi. “You thought his Monster didn’t have a weakness. He does. She is his weakness. If you didn’t see that for yourselves here today, then we Elders will be considering your dismissal as well.” Looking straight at Tyson, Mary Alex asked, “Monster? Is she yours?”
Tyson didn’t even hesitate before he dipped his head in a nod.
“Seal it,” Mary Alex commanded.
***
Even knowing the battle was over, Tyson couldn’t stop the adrenaline that flooded him. It almost matched the relief at having his pack arrive just in time. Monster had fought like a demon to protect Cersi, but she and Afften had been right. The Council had too many shifters and just when Tyson feared the battle would be lost, Haddix had shown up. Thank fuck!
Now, listening to the elder woman chastise The Council, he was relieved to know that there was some fucking sense among the lot of ‘em.
The woman pointed right at him and asked him if Cersi was his. Fuck yeah, she was his. Nodding, he thought it’d be enough, but should have known better. Even though he’d been willing to die her to protect Cersi, he understood the elder woman’s need for proof.
“Seal it,” she commanded.
Excitement tore through Tyson so damn fast that it flooded out the regret that tried to struggle to life.
No, this wasn’t the way he wanted to claim Cersi, but right now Monster would take her any way he could get her.
Looking down at her, he felt a feral surge of rage sweep through him. Her beautiful face was bruised and swollen, and her makeup was smeared from where she’d been crying. Her! His beautiful little badass had been brought to tears.
Tearing his eyes from her, he shot a dark look at where Regan’s lifeless body lay slumped in the snow. Good! Fucker!
Looking back at Cersi, he didn’t know how to explain to her what The Elders were asking of him.
“He has to bite you,” Vesa said from right beside them causing Tyson to wince at how barbaric it sounded.
Eyes rounding, Cersi looked at Tyson. “What? Why?”
The scent of her fear blossomed in the air, and he was ready to fight all over again. Hell, he’d kill everyone that was still standing if it meant Cersi wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.
Swallowing hard, he explained. “They know that if you’re mine, they can control me. I need to mark you. They want me to claim you so that they can feel safe.”
Cersi’s hand flattened on her chest. “By biting me? Where? How deep? Will it hurt?”
Part of him was glad that she wasn’t arguing that she wasn’t his, but that glee faded when he admitted sadly. “It’ll hurt, but I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
“It’s a good thing,” Vesa told Cersi. “And it’s the only way Tyson is walking out of here, Cers. You need to let him do this.”
Cersi was already nodding before Vesa had even finished. Looking up at Tyson with such trust in her eyes, he felt his heart constrict with emotion.
“O-okay. Do it.” Dropping her hands, she looked up at him.
Pulling her into his arms, he pulled the collar of her shirt to one side and snarled when he exposed the bandages from her bullet wound. She’d endured too much because of his kind and having to hurt her even more gutted him.
Shaking his head, he released her and stepped back. “No. I ain’t doing this.”
“Tyson!” Haddix growled the warning while Vesa pleaded, “You have to, Ty! They won’t let you walk out of here.”
He kept his eyes on Cersi though. “I ain’t hurting her to save myself.”
“Come on, man,” Noah begged. “The Elders are giving you an out. Fucking take it!”
But he couldn’t. He refused to use Cersi as a means to save his own ass. She didn’t deserve that. She’d made her choice. She’d walked away from him already, and if he forced her to be his now then what? She’d hate him forever.
“No.” Tearing his eyes away from Cersi, he faced the Elders and spoke more loudly. “No! I’m not letting you force a claim on her. I came here to protect her, and I intend to do so, even if it’s f
rom myself.”
Silence reigned, and he wasn’t sure what The Elders intended, but he’d take it. Whatever the punishment, even if it was death, he’d accept it to keep from doing any more harm to Cersi.
Something soft touched his hand. When he looked down, Cersi was there. Her tiny hand slid into his as she tilted her head far back to look up at him. “Is this…is this because you don’t want me?”
What? Fuck no! Confusion dipped his brow. “No,” he shook his head. “That ain’t it. I’m just not gonna sacrifice you to save myself. It ain’t happening.”
“So…do you want me?”
“Cersi,” he growled turning fully to face her as he caught her other hand and held them both up to his chest. “The only thing I’ve ever wanted in my whole life is for my pack to be safe, happy, and healthy.”
She lowered her chin and looked away, but he squeezed her hands, the action bringing her eyes back to his.
“Until I met you. Woman, you got me wanting shit I ain’t got no business hoping for. From the second I saw you, I felt something inside me ignite. And, for the first time ever, it settled Monster. From that first night in the hotel ‘til now, Monster has needed you, but me… Yeah, I want. I want so fucking bad. I want you like I want my next fucking breath, and that’s why I ain’t claiming you just to save my ass. If it ever happened between us, it was meant to do so naturally. If it happened, it should have been sweet and romantic how women like it. It would have been perfect.” He heaved a tired sigh. “But, you gave me your answer. I offered myself to you, and you walked.” His expression hardened. “I’m man enough to accept that. I hate it, but I accept it, and part of that accepting is me not forcing myself on you now because The Elders dictate it. To answer your question simply, Beautiful, yeah. I want you. But not like this. Never like this.”
Cersi tore her eyes from him and cast a glance over everyone standing around before letting her eyes glide back to his. “I have a lot to tell you. A lot I wanna say, but not here. Not now. I just…” She squeezed his hands. “I want you to bite me, Tyson.”
“Cersi,” she sighed. “No, I can’t. It’d be…”
