Heavy Metal Heartbeat

by Ambear Shellea

  “That is a given. Let him have some time with Paige. He does love her and he almost died. I’m not taking any chances. Perhaps tomorrow we can take him out and see what he can do,”Jaxson replied.

  She darted her eyes to each of them, perfect pictures of resolve and acceptance. Inhaling, she gave in.

  “Fine. I guess we wait. I am just nervous.”

  “Are you nervous because you want to know what he is? Or because you want to know what he can do? Or does it have to do with you wanting to know what you’re up against when he finds out what you have done?”

  She glared at the vampire across from her, giving him her best 'piss off' stare. He returned her expression laced with that crooked grin of his. She caved.

  “Fine! Both! I am worried about both.”

  Jaxson pulled her close and she let him. Her head lay on his shoulder as he whispered in her ear.

  “I promise you, it will all be all right. Ozzie may get mad, but he is also a reasonable man. He will understand.”

  “He used to be a reasonable man. We don't know what he is now.”

  “Perfect! He is perfect, that is what he is.”

  Anna, along with everyone else, turned their gaze toward the coffee pot. There, freshly showered and dressed, stood Paige in her jeans and T-shirt.

  “Paige. We were...”

  “Anna, it’s OK. I had the same fears the three of you are discussing, but I'm telling you, he is perfect. He is Ozzie! Speaking of which, he said he was tired and he is sleeping. When he wakes, would you tell him I will be back soon? I told him, but he was fading out, so he may not have heard me.”

  Anna stood and walked her friend to the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I am going to run to the house and grab Ozzie and I some clothes and things. He needs to rest. I think we need to stay here until things calm down. You guys are worried about Ozzie, but he is the least of our worries. We did kill Perry's wolf pack and, if you'll remember, Ozzie said he wasn't sure Perry was the Alpha of that group. If he is right, we have big problems.”

  Jaw slack and dumbfounded, she stared at Paige. After a moment her sense returned. She hugged her friend and said, “Bye. Hurry back. I'm not sure how Ozzie will react without you here. Remember, when I did what I did, I told him to focus on you.”

  “I remember. I will be back as soon as possible.”

  She watched the door close and Paige disappeared behind it. As soon as she heard Ozzie's car start she turned to the men in her kitchen.

  “We never found out if the wolves we killed were just Perry's pack or if they were a smaller group passing through that belonged to a larger pack. She is right. We do have big problems.”

  Chapter 9

  Anna stood in front of the stove stirring and flipping food as she cooked. She danced around the kitchen to “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner.

  The steak smelled of garlic and lime juice while she sautéed it in onions. Fried okra sizzled in the pan and the potatoes boiled in the pot on the back burner. Sweet garlic and cheese rolls baked in the oven, adding to the hearty aroma.

  “Jaxson, can you get the door please?”

  She heard the door open. Jaxson welcomed someone in and old man Zane’s voice followed.“Is Ozzie still around?”

  “He is resting at the moment.”

  “Mr. Zane, you are welcome to stay and wait until Ozzie awakens. Are you hungry? I have plenty,” Anna told him.

  “Well, it smells wonderful.”

  “I think Ozzie told me once that steak was your favorite. I am frying it in garlic, lime juice and onions.”

  She smiled back at the man when he rubbed his stomach and answered her.

  “Well, how could I turn down a home cooked meal that smells so...mouth-watering?”

  Jaxson laughed and patted the old man on the back.

  “She is a pretty good cook, too.”

  Mr. Zane's eyes lit up and his smile grew even bigger.

  “Well, my dear, after that compliment, I will definitely stay. I love a good steak.”

  “Great, have a seat. Dinner is almost done. Would you like some sweet iced tea?”

  “That would be lovely, thank you.”

  Her eyes on Mr. Zane, she watched as he sat on the couch and struck up a conversation with Sebastian, of all people. She felt Jaxson right behind her, following her into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she bent down to grab the pitcher of iced tea when he felt a hand grip her bottom. She jumped up quickly. Giggling, she sat the tea on the counter and smacked Jaxson on the shoulder playfully.

  “Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You were bent over and it was right there, asking for it.”

  Laughing, she pulled him close and kissed him.

  “So, my ass was asking you to pinch it? Funny, I didn't hear anything.”

  He lifted her and sat her on top of the counter. With her back against the cabinets, she kissed around his smile, her hands ruffling through his hair. His whispered words sent vibrations down her spine, making her intimates tingle.

  “If Ozzie's dad wasn't here, I would take you right here right now.”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and whispered back.

  “If Ozzie's dad wasn't here, I would let you.”

  Her eyes closed and her head fell back as his growl fluttered against her neck.

  “Later,” he promised and disappeared with a glass of iced tea.

  Taking a deep breath, she attempted to calm her desire and douse the fire he had lit. His whispered promise lingered in her ears, leaving her dizzy and weak in the knees.

  Shaking her head free of the lustful fog, she returned to the meal still cooking on the stove. The plates lined the counter and the table was set. Frying pan in hand, she dished out the meal onto each empty plate. Leaning her head around the corner, she saw Jaxson, Sebastian and Old Man Zane engrossed in conversation.

  That must be why they didn't hear the door.

  Setting the pan aside, she stopped by the window and looked to see who was at the door.

  A delivery man? Who is expecting a package?

  She let go of the curtain and answered the front door.

  “Can I help you?”

  “I have a delivery for Anna Skott. Is that you?”

  “Yes, I am she.”

  He thrust out paperwork attached to a clipboard.

  “Sign here, please.”

  She used the pen under the latch and signed her name to accept the delivery. The young man handed her the package and walked away.

  No sender’s name. Who would send me something?

  She closed the door and turned toward the living room to find everyone standing, looking at her. Jaxson was within kissing range.

  “What is it?” He asked.

  “I don't know. I'm not expecting anything.”

  “Does it say who it’s from?” Sebastian asked.

  “No. It just has my name and address.”

  “Aye, Lass, you might wanna be careful. That looks a bit suspicious.”

  She shook the box slightly, trying to get a feel for what was inside. It made a slight rustling noise. She set the box on the kitchen table and opened it. As she pulled the flaps back, the smell hit her. Looking into the small box, she gasped and just about fainted.

  ****

  Ozzie caught her scent as it wafted into the house. His senses had heightened so much so quickly that it was almost disorienting.

  She is back!

  He savored the tropical aroma that was the love of life, Paige. It was so much stronger than before.

  Like ice chasing fire, his blood ran cold and he jumped from the bed.

  Oh no, something is wrong. That is her…

  He rounded the corner and his eyes witnessed what his heart had feared. Shock had him in a death grip, choking the life from him His steps staggered as he made his way stiffly through the living room. Fear and anger held hands, feeding off each other and caressing his mind, bringing to life im
ages of the unimaginable. He knew the pain he saw in their eyes when they turned and looked at him as he entered the room.

  No one moved, no one cried, no one even breathed. Everyone had gathered around Anna and a small box which sat open on the kitchen table. She held a large bouquet of virgin white roses covered and dripping with blood, Paige’s blood.

  Oh God, no!

  He felt it coming and he couldn’t stop it. The sound of war drums pounded in his ears and matched the rhythm of his beating heart. Each powerful boom set his blood on fire, scorching through his veins and burning away his frozen fear. His muscles flexed and moved, filling with the experience of his ancestors. Decades upon decades of knowledge and power infused his muscles and hardened his skin.

  He dropped to his knees.

  Chapter 10

  The cool bed of grass felt smooth against his back. Soft sunlight kissed his closed eyelids as he lay on the ground with her in his arms. He wore her scent like a security blanket. She was soft, warm, familiar and his. He felt her stir and opened his eyes. There she lay, naked, next to him, looking blissfully happy. Her hay-colored hair was messy from their outdoor romp, and her sky blue eyes shined brightly as she smiled at him.

  So beautiful and all mine.

  He softly rolled her over and kissed her. His teeth nibbled her ear and he smiled when she squirmed under him, rubbing herself against him. His inner animal came to life. “Suck My Kiss” by Red Hot Chili Peppers played off in the distance.

  He pressed his face into her, wetting her neck, one long kiss at a time. Her warm, supple body grew hotter with each passing moment, exciting his beast. She was an erotic buffet spread before him to devour, and he craved all of her. She smelled of tropical flowers and sex. Her skin, a tantalizing combination of sweet and salty, melted on his tongue. She was the air in his lungs, the blood in veins and the cells of his being. She was…life.

  She opened herself to him and he took her. He pushed against her, burying himself, and she crooned in his ear. Her words caressed his skin, setting it ablaze. He moved with her slowly, teasingly, until he could handle no more.

  He stood at the base of the euphoric cliff, looking over the edge, and he knew what he wanted. Just a small step, he was almost there. His body ached for it. Her body, moving and swaying, asked for it, and her words begged for it.

  Her blood swam across his tongue and he froze.

  “Please, Ozzie, do it.”

  Her words echoed in his ear. Confusion filled his mind. He drew back and looked into her face. She begged him once more.

  “Ozzie, please.”

  He fought his urge. He didn’t want to. Something was off.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  His words asked the question but the know-it-all in the back of his mind nagged him with the truth.

  He felt her nuzzle closer to him and he knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t. He opened his mouth and kissed her. She moved her tongue with his briefly before moving slightly. Just as he thought she would break the kiss, she confirmed his fear.

  “I need this Ozzie,” she said against his mouth as she ran her tongue across his fangs.

  What the…

  The fog in his mind finally broke free. He jumped from her grasp and to the ground.

  Fangs? Why do I have fangs? I am not a vampire.

  On the verge of hyperventilating, he stood, trying to sort through the storm of unanswered questions threatening to level his mind. The rays of the sun seemed to set his skin on fire and his heart attempted to explode from his chest. He knew this was it; he had finally gone bat-shit crazy!

  He cut his gaze to Paige. She lay peacefully on the grass, in white tiger form, purring contently and staring at him with her big blue eyes as if nothing were wrong. Her human image stroked the big white cat, begging for more. Yes, he had indeed reached crazy town. As if to confirm his fear, “Crazy Train” by Ozzie Osbourne wailed from unseen speakers.

  Unsteady on his feet and with vertigo slapping him around, he staggered back a few feet trying to maintain his footing. He fell and landed on his back. In an instant, Paige straddled him in her human form, exposing her long neck, taunting him.

  “Bite me, Ozzie. Don’t you love me?”

  “No! Yes!”

  She laughed and moved away. Her frame sizzled and took on another shape. Sebastian materialized, laughing, holding Paige intimately against him. He pressed into her, nuzzling her neck and making a show of smelling her.

  A beast from Hell grew inside him, filling his being. It grew hot, large and strong. A feral growl ripped from his throat as he watched Sebastian toy with his girl. She was his. He would not share. Sebastian’s words fueled his rage.

  “All you have to do, Ozzie, is bite, and she will be yours completely. Look at her. She trembles, but not in fear, in anticipation. She begs for it, she wants it. She wants to be bitten. If you don’t want her, I will gladly take her from you.”

  “No, that is not what she wants. If I bite her, she will die. You know this. You can’t mix the supernatural strains, she is Were-.”

  Sebastian ran his hands through her hair, exposing her neck. “Look, Ozzie, how smooth and untouched.”

  He moved to snatch her away from the vampire, only to grab air. Sebastian and Paige reappeared behind him, the vampire laughing, taunting him. Paige's back was pressed into Sebastian's chest, and he ran his hands across her midsection, teasing and venturing lower.

  “She smells so sweet, so pure.”

  “Get your hands off her.”

  Sebastian laughed louder, dropping Paige to the ground. He leaned down, pushed her hair back and pressed his mouth to her neck.

  He charged the vampire. It happened so quickly it surprised him. He surveyed what he had done. Blood ran from his mouth and his hands. His chest was slick with it. Sebastian, missing his neck, lay crumpled on the ground, dead. Paige stood, in human form, fully clothed and looking horrified.

  “Ozzie, what have you done?”

  He looked into her sorrowful tear-stained blue eyes and his heart broke.

  “I…he…you…”

  He dropped his gaze back to his hands and the blood disappeared.

  What the…

  His head popped up at the sound of commotion. One of Perry's strays stood before him, laughing.

  “If you can catch me before I give her to Perry’s wolf pack, then you can have her back. If not, well, let the best dog win.”

  Clenching his teeth, he darted forward and grabbed only air. She was gone and his bright sun-shiny day had turned into a dark, horror filled night.

  Chapter 11

  Ozzie stood stock still watching the fog roll in. The dark Irish landscape disappeared behind thick void curtains. It crept closer and he couldn’t move.

  What am I going to do? Where am I? How do I get her back?

  The thoughts in his mind were just as thick as the fog upon the ground, which consumed everything, leaving nothing in its wake. He found himself in the spotlight of the moon’s rays. They lit up his frame and blinded his vision. With his hands on his face, he shaded the brightness enough to see a form walking toward him. Perry?

  The moonbeams softened their touch and smoothed out the brightness, casting a more realistic glow over the area. Perry stepped forward in human form wearing hunting clothes and sporting a bloody best friend necklace around his neck. The fur on his neck stood tall, and he growled at the man before him.

  “What have you done with her? I will kill you.”

  He shook with rage and an inferno ignited within him. His muscles coiled under the skin and his body slowly broke. He crumpled into a painful heap upon the ground. Every bone shattered and splintered, breaking the skin and tearing the muscle. He heard Perry’s laughter in his ears but could do nothing to stop them.

  His screams rattled his ear drums and tore at his throat. The air passing through his lungs was like smoke from a fire with hot, scorching flames burning him to death. He shook uncontrollably from the pain
.

  “Please, make it stop,” he choked out through gritted teeth, fighting the agony.

  The laughter had ceased and so did the pain. He lay in the dirt panting and trembling. His body felt foreign, and it ached. His eyes opened and Perry stood in front of him, still and unmoving.

  “We have her, Ozzie. She belongs to us now.”

  Pain forgotten, he jumped to his feet and landed on all fours. Shocked, he tripped over his own paws, inspecting them.

  Now I am a wolf? What has happened to me?

  He opened his mouth to speak, only to howl at the big, bright moon. He rolled his eyes back to the man before him. Evil lovingly caressed the mocking laughter that poured from Perry’s mouth. He sneered when he spoke.

  “If you can find her, maybe you can have her…if there is any of her left. You know how we dogs feel about cats. Even delicate, beautiful ones like her.”

  Red hot rage like nothing he had ever felt before consumed him. Frothy saliva dripped from his teeth as he barked out his threat.

  “If you hurt her, I will rip every last one of you to shreds!”

  He raised his shackles as Perry moved closer and leaned in as if he were going to tell a secret.

  “I will have her first,” he said, then slapped Ozzie across his muzzle and bolted.

  Ozzie shot off after him like lightning. Trees and brush were a blur as he raced through the woods in search of the pack. He followed the scent of dirt, blood and the smell of Perry and his hounds. He knew he was close.

  The dying trees and dead underbrush thickened. Everything was splattered in blood, and debris and broken, rotting bones littered the ground like confetti. Twigs and femurs crunched under his feet as he made his way through the harsh landscape. With his nose in the grass, he followed their trail. There was a clearing, a circle of nothing among the thickened trees, and he knew he had found them. The stomping ground of his enemies.

  Now you die, Perry!

  Chapter 12

  “I’m through with these games. Where is she?”

  Ozzie paced inside the circle. The moon bathed the center of the clearing in light, leaving the others to lurk in the shadows. Their figures were made darker by the glare. He smelled her scent all around him.