Animal Heart (Beast & Beauty) (11 page)

“I'm getting some deep feelings for you too. Is that allowed?” She murmured.

“As deep as you like,” he replied, a surge of joy flooding through him.

“I'm not into sharing though.” She looked up and he caught the brightness of her eyes in the dark.

“Nor am I, it would seem.” he said softly in reply, his eyes holding hers.

“'Night then, it's been such a lovely day, far better than yesterday anyhow.”

“Yeah, that it has. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better. Pleasant dreams sweetheart.”

She kissed his neck lightly and stroked his chest with her fingertips and finally, with a deep sigh, fell silent and still and fast asleep, hugging him tightly.

He had never felt so close to anyone as he had at that moment. His heart grew with such feelings it was fit to burst. He felt like he was on a runaway train travelling somewhere wonderful, somewhere he'd never been before, and he so wanted to get there and see it. But at the same time it scared him more than he liked to admit.

He roused in the depth of the night. He could have sworn he saw a brief flash of light in his half opened eyes and heard the bedroom door close. But all was still and dark. He came to the conclusion he had been dreaming it.

She was still there, curled across him, her leg looped around his. He sighed with pleasure and stroked her hair before he drifted off to sleep again.

Shane woke them. They came apart self consciously as he shook Aden hard.

“Come on, get up. Mia's gone. Her room's empty and she's taken the old truck. And Maddy, I'm sorry but she's fucked up your car.”

“No... The stupid jealous bitch.” Aden's mind processed it all quickly. “I think she came in here last night. When we were asleep.”

“Well you two looked like a right pair of love birds all cuddled up there on that single bed.” Shane pointed out the facts, not that he needed to. “You know, I think she put two and two together and rightly made four. But in any case, it's probably for the best. You've always made it clear that any one of us can leave whenever we want.”

“No, I owe her an explanation of some kind. I have to find her,” Aden insisted, pulling on his clothes in a rush.

“She could be anywhere. Leave her to cool off. She'll be back soon. She won't risk the full moon without shelter,” Shane suggested sensibly.

“You're right. Maybe I'll give her some time to think and calm down.”

This event concerned him more than he was letting on. He never slept in the females' rooms. It was his rule and they all knew it. They always came to him, into his lair, where he was king. By seeing them together like that, Mia had realised his intentions were different towards Maddy. Although she had misconstrued his reason for being so close to her at that moment, his underlying meaning was clear.

He had chosen Maddy and Mia knew that she and the others would no longer be welcome in his bed.

They stood by Maddy's car, silently surveying the damage. What a damn mess it was. The roof had been buckled and dented beyond recognition, as if a heavy weight had jumped up and down on it repeatedly, which of course it had. The tires had been slashed to shreds, and even the shreds had been shredded. The wipers and side mirrors had been bent and wrenched off, and the hood had large clawed slash marks criss-crossing it everywhere.

“Hmmm, do you think werewolf attacks are covered by insurance?” Maddy asked sadly, with a note of ill humor.

“A pack of wolves set upon it in the night. Perhaps you left food in it accidently,” Aden advised. “Far more believable. Look, I'm sorry. Were you fond of it?”

“It was my first new car. I worked hard for it.”

“Well you can replace it of course. But to be truthful, it's hardly the best form of transport for these parts is it? What about a tractor? We need one of those.”

“Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that? I'll swap my nice cute little VW Golf for a tractor, shall I?”

“Would you?” he asked hopefully.

“Not a chance in hell. I need a car. I'm not visiting my parents on a tractor.”

It was busy at the diner, but Betty still made time to welcome them all enthusiastically, as she always did. She took their orders, in her usual no nonsense, bustling way.

“So... That's eight Big Betty's, and three Mega Mountains, everything on, with double cheese and hot chili peppers on the Mega's, right? Might take a little while to get this order out to 'ya. Jesus... You coulda warned me Aden. I'd have got extra staff in... My poor nephew Jimbo's gonna be fried and frazzled in the kitchen. He already has stress issues!” she laughed.

“
That's okay, we're not in any kinda hurry, are we guys? Tell Mr Allen to take his time over us. We're chillin'
all
afternoon and so can he,” Aden said with a warm smile at her.

He gave Maddy a little hug of affection around the shoulders. Without Mia being around, he felt less concerned about showing his feelings for her. Charlene and Grace weren't anywhere near so possessive and evil tongued as she was. In fact they weren't evil tongued at all until she'd whipped them into shape. He was sure she was possessed by a hateful frenzy at times.

He also knew Grace had a thing for Lucas. She always had. In fact she was sitting next to him right now, as she so often did, in the adjacent booth with Charlene, Sammy, and Shane. He'd seen her looking at him, many a time, wistfully. He knew Lucas thought a great deal of her. He referred to her as 'my Grace', or 'my sweetheart Grace', and other such terms of endearment quite frequently. And Aden felt this went further than the closeness brought about by merely working together. But whether his feelings ran that deeply, he just couldn't tell. Aden wanted him to pair with someone, as he obviously needed it desperately, and she seemed to be the perfect choice. She was small and pretty, with big hazel eyes and short curly blonde hair. Despite their arguments, and the falling out they'd had over Maddy, he did care for him, almost like a brother, and he wanted him to be happy.  He'd be devastated if he left their pack.

Maddy squeezed his knee hard under the table and turned to give him a smouldering, wide eyed look. He was completely taken aback by the strength of it.

“Aden. My God, I suddenly feel so … so damn odd...” she whispered quietly in his ear, leaning against him.

Then he realised her smouldering look was actually something quite different. Sweat was breaking out on her brow and her eyes were flaring brightly with an orange hue.

“Hold one Mega and cancel one Big,” he shouted at Betty as he slid out of the booth, dragging Maddy hastily to the door and outside, bundling her into the truck. “Awww honey, that's such a shame. It doesn't look like you'll be having much party fun today, does it?” he commiserated with her gently, as she looked at him with fear and horror dawning on her pretty features. Her face was changing rapidly, and he could hear the creak of her bones and joints as everything began to transform. He patted her hand. “Don't worry sweetheart. This is your first rush, I've been expecting it. It won't always be like this, I promise you. Let it happen, let her come out, because you need to understand your animal side properly. Right now I'm taking you somewhere you can rest and hide for a while, okay?” He stroked her arm gently and compassionately.

“
Rrrruuurrl” she replied, nodding her head, her long tongue no longer able to form human words.

Maddy had been desperately thinking of ice like crazy and it hadn't worked at all. At his urging, she gave up and let her body take over. Part of her was fascinated, and the other part repelled by the changes she could see. Her limbs were lengthening at an alarming rate, making crackling, groaning sounds that scared the hell out of her. Her whole body was hot and tingled like mad, almost painfully. It was as if she couldn't quite feel herself properly any more, which was just as well, because she didn't want to feel herself during this transformation. Not at all.

Before her eyes, deep brown and black hair was sprouting like crazy, on her hands and wrists. She scratched at it. She could feel it emerging everywhere underneath her clothes, spreading like an itchy rash.

Aden reached behind him and grabbed something bright green, throwing it at her as he put his foot on the gas and sped off, out of town. “There's a blanket.... Cover up and undress, and make it quick or your clothes will be ruined,” he instructed.

She pulled off her trainers, jeans, and top quickly, and slipped out of her underwear under the blanket. She dared to take a good look at her changing body as she sat rather awkwardly on the truck seat. Partially hairy, elongated and thin, she looked so very repulsive. There was no other word for it. A dull throbbing pain in her backside forced her to move onto her hip as she felt her tail begin to emerge.

Her eyes filled with tears as she started to fully comprehend what she really was becoming. She was at best a monster, and at times she would be a potential killer.

With a sudden need to hide from the whole world, she sank down low, under the cover of the blanket, and into the footwell on her knees, resting her head on her arms on the seat above her. She lay still as waves of stretching muscles, straining tendons, and creaking bones washed through her hot, protesting body. Everything ached and stung like hell.

It was all happening too fast. Panic started to overtake her, and she let out a terrified whimper of distress. The truck ground to a halt a few seconds later and Aden tugged gently at the blanket covering her.

She growled at him, wedging it under herself tightly, so very desperate to remain hidden from his view.

“Maddy, come on, there's no part of werewolf transformation that I haven't seen or experienced. Let me look at you, please?” He tugged more persistently at the blanket and she finally released it, closing her eyes so that she couldn't see the horrified look that would undoubtedly appear in his. He gasped quite loudly and her eyes watered with wolf-like tears beneath her lids at what she imagined he was seeing. “My God... What can I say? You're beautiful. Really. I mean it.” His voice was low and sultry, his tone sincere and admiring.

She opened her eyes tentatively and sat up, taking a look at herself properly. Her body was covered with thick, fluffy, dark brown fur, streaked with black. Black silky paws and jet black claws replaced her hands and feet. A long bushy black tail curved around her on the floor... She swished it back and forth with a growing delight.

“There, take a look at your face.” Aden pulled down the vanity mirror and tilted it in her direction. If she could still smile, she would have smiled for Canada, but sadly wolves couldn't. She did however manage a surprised and extremely pleased yelp. She looked this way and that, admiring her new wolf-face. She was so very black, and her golden amber eyes, a hue they all possessed, contrasted so beautifully against the darkness. Her ears were long, black, and sat regally high on her well proportioned head. She was sleek and long nosed, and darkly elegant.

In fact, she had to admit, she rather preferred herself this way, over her human form.

He opened the truck door and she ventured out slowly and falteringly after him, after which he gathered up her clothes and carried them off towards the nearby gate. Taking a few dainty steps, she began familiarising herself with walking on all fours. It came so naturally, as if she had been born to it. She leapt and bounded and charged around the truck while he laughed at her joyful enthusiasm. He unlocked the padlock on the gate and they both entered the old container yard beyond.

“
This is where we camp out on full moons. I rent the yard and boxes here from one of Betty's cousins,” he grinned. “It's safe and so far outta town one can hear the noise we make. I'll let you in one of the 'rooms' here and come back for you in a few hours. Is that okay with you?” She licked his hand, meaning yes. He took her to one of the boxes. “This is mine. My other luxury home,” he chuckled. After unlocking and unbolting it, he led her inside. “All mod cons as you can see,” he gestured around the completely empty, battered, and badly scratched metal container, with humor.

She growled at him, her sarcasm coming to the fore, 'how lovely, thank you so much' and he replied with a 'you're so welcome' amused growl in return. That made her laugh, which ended up coming out as a strange high pitched squeak, which seemed to amuse him even more, based on the broad grin he now wore.

God, I love his smile so much...I could eat it...

She sat down and looked around. This was his 'bad wolf lair', where he would go crazy on full moons. Crazy with the need to kill something. She wasn't looking forward to that experience. Being trapped in here with an inner madness, howling and scratching and desperate to escape, couldn't be pleasant. Still, from what she gathered from Sammy, she wouldn't know a thing about it, which comforted her a little.

She sniffed at the heavy, musky air. It smelled strongly of wolf, the animal him. And how she wanted to experience that. Her rush was bringing out more than her inner wolf. Her feelings and emotions were running riot right now. She was desperate to experience him in every way she could. She hoped it would be soon.  She was done with settling for their cuddles and hugs and the odd hot kiss. She wasn't a nervous high school virgin. She was an experienced twenty five year old woman who knew what was what. And she certainly knew what she wanted beyond all doubt. It was standing right in front of her now. 

All six foot four of him.

He had been so caring, controlled, and thoughtful since her accident, and she couldn't stop herself from loving him to pieces as a result. And she got the feeling he was more than a little stuck on her too. She was waiting for him to make a move. It was his choice when and if he made it. She'd made her point last night. Said what she needed to say and showed him she cared. More than cared.

“
You don't mind being left here do you? Please tell me if you do,” he asked, crouching down and stroking her head. She so enjoyed his touch. She hadn't realised how sensitive her head would be in wolf form. Reluctantly she put her paw on his arm and growled out, 'no, I'm okay'. 

He began pulling her ears, over and over, his face nuzzling hers.

Oh my God, that is so arousing and erotic... don't stop...

She nuzzled into him in return, licking his ear, growling 'do that again', and he continued caressing her head and ears as she dissolved in wolf-like ecstasy inside.

“Are you sure?” he whispered. “I'll stay if you want me to, it's not a problem.”

She took a deep breath and shook herself, growling 'it's fine'. She didn't want to spoil his afternoon out with the pack, or deprive him of his much anticipated Mega Mountain burger. She wasn't hungry at all herself, and was quite content to lie down and sleep in here. Changing had worn her out. He hugged her around the neck tightly and touched the tip of his nose to hers before rising and leaving.

“Just a few hours, that's all. I'll be back before you know it.”

She flopped down happily on the floor, her head resting comfortably on her clothes, swishing her tail to and fro and yawning so widely that her jaw creaked. She ran her tongue over her long sharp canines in amazement. They were huge compared with her human teeth. Huge and lethal. He locked the door, called out goodbye once more, and a moment later she heard him drive off, leaving her in silence.

He drove back full of wild excitement. He couldn't wait to chase that cute little tail through the woods. In fact he planned to do it as soon as he could. He hoped she liked his wolf form as much as he loved hers. He wasn't beautiful like her, but he was well built, fast, and extremely powerful. He hoped those characteristics compensated for his lack of beauty. 

In a couple of minutes he arrived back at the diner as the first round of burgers appeared. Betty nodded at him and called out, “Jimbo, get that other Mega done PDQ.”

He sat down with the others once more.

Despite her assurances that she didn't mind, he still felt guilty about leaving Maddy where she was, but he really didn't have much choice. Either they all went home, or she stayed safely locked up. He put those thoughts aside, determined to enjoy himself for a few short hours.

“
How did it go? You both left in a real rush...” Shane turned and jokingly asked him. Everyone suddenly looked at him with a lot of smiling interest.

“
Fine, just fine. No problems at all. She's locked up, sleeping it off, you know?” he said in an understated way as he sat and drank his coke, secretly smiling to himself.

“
What's she look like then?” Jack leant across the table and whispered in his ear privately.

“
Absolutely fucking gorgeous...” he whispered back.

“
You lucky bastard!”

“
I know!”

They all gazed out the windows in unison as they spotted Sergeant Filomountie, in her patrol car, driving down the street towards the diner. She turned and pulled up next to their truck and picked up her radio, having a long conversation with someone.

Why the Mayor and his wife were set on persecuting them, was beyond Aden. Surely they had a town to run, with nigh on a thousand population to watch over? The ranch wasn't even part of it technically, so why that little part of the world grated on them so, he couldn't fathom. The pair of them could ignore the dozen people miles away in Heart Mountain Ranch and get on with their lives as if they didn't even exist. He tried to ignore the growing unease he felt. It had been growing rapidly lately after their increasingly unpleasant run-ins. Bill Stevens was certainly a man with a grudge. A man determined to take him down. He needed to be careful and on high alert for anything unusual. Because he was quite sure something was brewing in the Steven's household. Something dreadful.