Page 51 of Rescued By the Beast
Mark.
He came after me.
I should hate that the enchanted collar worked, but if it hadn't, I know whatever was hiding in the forest would have attacked me.
He holds me with one arm, keeping me steady against his chest, while he lowers himself onto three legs and sniffs the ground, then the air. Suddenly, he lets out another growl. If I thought the previous ones were powerful... this one sounds like thunder, a lethal threat.
The sound reverberates through my bones and shakes the entire forest. The trees tremble, the leaves vibrate. I hear—whatever was hiding, ready to attack me if Mark hadn't arrived—startle and flee into the darkness, branches snapping in its haste to disappear.
Mark suddenly rises and sprints with me in his arms, his quick, heavy footsteps reverberating against the ground. The wind whips my hair as he charges forward with overwhelmingforce, and before I know it, we've crossed the magical barrier. A wave of energy runs through my skin, a momentary warmth that tells me I'm back in the protection of the cabin.
Only then do I realise how much I am shaking. My heart is still racing, the adrenaline still burning in my veins. But here, in the Beast's arms, I know I am safe.
Mark transforms back into human form without letting go of me. I feel his fur disappear, giving way to warm, damp skin that smells of soap mixed with sweat. His breathing is heavy, and when he looks into my eyes, there is a mixture of anger and relief in them.
"Have you gone mad, Kitten?" His voice is tense, charged with emotion. "What if I hadn't arrived in time? What if something had got you?" His fingers tighten around me slightly before releasing, as if he is forcing himself to calm down.
He pulls me away slightly, holding me with outstretched arms, scanning every inch of my feline body with his eyes. His eyebrows furrow as if he's looking for any hidden wounds. He only relaxes when he confirms that I'm unharmed.
"I sensed when something was wrong. The spell pulled me straight to you." His jaw tightens. "You have no idea what's out there, Kitten. You could have been attacked by wolves. You were heading straight into their territory."
I shudder and a strangled sound escapes my throat.
He's still breathing heavily, and the movement of his chest, rising and falling, holds my attention irresistibly.
My eyes slide down his bare chest, following every line and curve of his muscles to his chiselled abdomen. My gaze, thirsty, takes in every detail, tracing the path of golden hair below his navel, until it gets lost in the towel still wrapped around his hips.
A sharp meow escapes me before I can stop it.
By the stars...
I begin to squirm in his hands, an instinctive need to pull away, to escape the heat radiating from his skin and the overwhelming presence of his human form.
It's too much to process. My heart is still racing with the terror of my failed escape, the echo of danger still fresh in my mind.
I don't need this damn attraction adding to the chaos.
He lets out a heavy sigh and lowers me to the floor.
"I'm going to put protective screens on the windows. I don't want to take that risk again." His tone is decisive.
I almost let out another meow, this time out of despair. But it wouldn't do any good. I can't run away. He'll always find me.
And, come to think of it... where would I go?
I've lost everything. It's too much of an illusion to think that Luther would recognise me and help me. I can't speak, I can't explain myself.
Maybe... it's better to accept it.
Here I am protected. Here I can live. Like a cat.
That's my reality now.
Chapter 17
Mark
I take the morning off to install protective screens on all the windows of the cabin. I thought it would be quick, two hours at most, but the task takes much longer than expected.
