Page 55 of Cursed Alien

“I told you she was in danger,” one of the villagers called out—Tomas, the butcher’s son. The same man who’d once tried to court her, only to be offended when she’d shown more interest in his delivery wagon than in him.

“I’m not in danger,” she called, trying to step around Malrik’s arm but he wouldn’t allow her to pass.

“Stay back,” he snarled, his voice roughening.

“See how it controls her?” Tomas shouted. “It’s bewitched her!”

“Nobody controls me,” she snapped, but her voice was lost in the growing tension.

“This is our land. You come armed into Vultor territory and dare to make demands?” Seren asked coldly.

“We come for one of our own,” Mayor Hendry replied. “The girl doesn’t belong with your kind.”

A younger man pushed forward, his rifle raised. Bella recognized him as Jared, whose sister had been killed years ago in an accident blamed on the Vultor. “My sister was killed by one of you beasts ten years ago,” he spat. “I won’t let another girl die!”

“No one is dying today,” she insisted, but her words were drowned by angry shouts from both sides.

Under her hand, Malrik’s arm began to change. The transformation was happening faster than she’d ever seen before—muscles expanding, skin giving way to thick fur. His pants ripped at the seams.

Bella could feel him slipping away, the rational part of him receding as the beast took control. His breathing grew heavier, more ragged.

“Malrik,” she whispered urgently. “Malrik, stay with me.”

The villagers gasped as he grew larger, his transformation accelerating. Someone shouted “Monster!” and another voice called to shoot him.

“No!” she screamed, her voice finally cutting through the chaos.

Malrik dropped to a crouch, a terrifying growl tearing from his throat as he gave the armed humans a predatory glare. All of the Vultor tensed, preparing to intervene, though whether to protect the humans or join Malrik wasn’t clear.

Korrin’s voice rang out. “It was Malrik who saved Tessa’s life. The beast you fear protected a human when he had no reason to.”

The revelation caused a brief hesitation among the villagers, but their weapons remained raised. She could see the fear in their eyes—the same fear that had driven humans and Vultor apart for generations.

Jared stepped forward, his rifle aimed directly at Malrik.

“Stay back, Bella,” he called. “We’re here to save you.”

Malrik’s control shattered completely. His massive body tensed, muscles coiling to spring.

In that suspended moment before violence erupted, she made her choice.

She slipped around Malrik before he could stop her and placed herself directly between him and the rifles. Her hand found his arm—now completely transformed, massive and covered in dark silver fur.

“Stop,” she commanded, her voice steady despite her racing heart. “All of you, stop this right now.”

The beast snarled, trying to move her aside, but she held firm, turning to face him directly. His yellow eyes blazed with rage and fear—fear for her, she realized. The same protective instinct that had driven him to challenge the armed villagers now warred with his need to keep her safe.

“Malrik,” she said softly, holding his gaze. “I’m not afraid of you. I never have been.”

The beast growled, but he didn’t try to push her aside.

“Look at her,” the mayor called. “She’s trying to calm it like some wild animal!”

“He’s not an animal,” she shot back without turning around. “And I’m not your prisoner to rescue.”

She kept her eyes on Malrik, speaking only to him now. “I know you’re in there. I’ve seen you fight this. I’ve watched you come back to yourself, over and over.”

His breathing slowed slightly, the yellow eyes focusing more intently on her face.

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