Page 14 of Warrior

Her hands settled on her hips, and I could tell she wasn’t going to let the conversation drop.“You’re saying we could live like this, even with another attack imminent?”

I stepped closer, feeling the heat of her agitation radiating from her.I glanced past her at the ocean, letting its steady rhythm anchor me.“If you mean living above ground and taking precautions, like providing safe bunkers in case of a hellhound attack, then yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

The air between us grew warmer as she struggled to control her rising anger.

“I’m not going to like most of the things you tell me, am I?”she asked, her voice tinged with dejection.

Her tone hit me harder than I expected.She was lost, her world crumbling beneath her feet, and I knew it would shatter even more before she understood the full truth.

I took her hand, threading my fingers through hers.The heat of her skin called to Beast.

Run,he urged in my mind, the command sharp.

I released her fingers with a measured breath, loosening the straps around my chest.One by one, I removed my weapons and placed them on the table beside me.

Marinah’s tongue swept across her lips as she watched me.“What are you doing?”

Anticipation and a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes as I continued undressing.

Beast had me breathing deeply, scenting the air, before I realized what I was doing.It was there.Her desire.

And we weren’t ready to take that step.

I shot her a look filled with frustration, hoping she couldn’t see the animal lurking beneath my surface.“You need to run.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie.My beast needed to run, to get Marinah out of his head—or more accurately, his groin.

“I’m shifting so we can run along the ocean, and you can learn what it feels like.”

“Running as in jogging?”she asked skeptically, narrowing her eyes.

“Yes,” I said, my voice laced with mock seriousness.“You place one foot in front of the other, move forward, and travel faster.People have been doing it for years.”

“Ha, you’re funny,” she retorted with an exaggerated eye roll.She started lifting her shirt but paused, peeking up at me before pulling it over her head.“I don’t have those cool leather straps or a bra that fits my monster’s deformed chest.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the way she called it her monster.If only she knew how extraordinary she was in her beast form.

Her breasts were another matter.When she shifted, her body grew, but her breasts blended more into her powerful frame.She was a killing machine, and large breasts would only have gotten in the way.

“Your beast doesn’t need a bra,” I said, shaking my head.This was a conversation I never thought I’d have.

“Remove your shoes first, then your shirt, then shift.Don’t overthink it, just do it.”

I grabbed a chair and sat down to remove my boots.Marinah took the chair across from me, untying her athletic shoes.

I focused on my laces, but when she spoke again, I glanced up.

“You’ve seen it all before,” she said with a shrug, pulling her shirt the rest of the way off.“It’s a little late to hide now.”

I stood and moved closer to her, taking a moment to admire her natural human beauty.

“Don’t fight the change,” I said softly.“Think of your beast and give her the lead.”

Marinah closed her eyes, and a few seconds later, a gasp escaped her lips as she lifted trembling hands to her face.

“You’re fighting it,” I told her.“Breathe and let your beast do what comes naturally.”

“I can’t,” she grumbled, her vocal cords already shifting, giving her voice a deeper, rougher edge.

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