Page 65 of Rescued By the Beast
I shake my head, my voice firm.
"Then no. Find an alternative."
Balthazar looks at me for a moment before shrugging.
"As you wish, I can continue researching." He turns to leave, but stops at the door, giving me an intense look. "I read the cards for you... Something bad is coming. Be careful."
My jaw tightens and I growl softly.
"Bad things are already happening, Balthazar. I don't know if you've noticed."
He shakes his head before leaving, leaving only his warning hanging in the air.
***
Upon entering the house, I am greeted with a purr and a feline body rubbing against my legs. A smile escapes before I can contain myself. I pick up my little cat, feeling her comforting warmth against my chest. The weight of all my problems fades a little as I pet her, listening to her purr louder.
But the tranquillity is fleeting. A chill runs down my spine, cold as a sharp blade. My instincts scream a primitive warning.
Something is approaching.
The air carries a metallic, earthy smell.
Wolves.
Their scent contaminates the wind like a subtle poison. My jaw clenches, and every muscle in my body tenses.
Then, the protective barrier vibrates.
The magic surrounding my home responds to the approach of intruders with hostile intentions. The ground seems to murmur a warning, and my breathing becomes heavier. They are close. Too close.
I set the cat back on the floor and growl towards the back door.
I let the Beast out, and it takes over me, filling every part of my being with raw power and predatory instinct. My body expands, my muscles and bones adjusting to the larger, fiercer form. My hands transform into lethal claws, my skin covered with thick fur.
The cat leaps backwards, startled by my sudden change, her eyes shining with uncertainty, but she does not run away.
"Go to the bedroom and don't come out for anything," I command, my voice reverberating in a guttural tone.
She meows softly and, as if understanding every word, runs for the stairs. Only when I hear the soft sound of her paws reaching the second floor do I leave.
The night air enters my lungs like a call to war. My eyes now see through the darkness with lethal clarity. Every detail of the surrounding forest stands out in sharp shadows.
And there they are.
Five figures standing inches from the barrier.
My fangs bare in a loud growl. I take one step, then another, and the power of magic sparkles as I approach the edge of the protection. The vibrant energy makes my skin tingle, alerting me to danger, trying to keep me inside its shelter. But I am the master of this territory, it bows to my will and allows me to pass.
I step out of the protection and find four grey eyes and one golden eye, similar to mine, fixed on me. Liam is in front, his body tense, ready for the challenge. He came as a human, fool. Without the full moon, he cannot assume his hybrid form, theonly one that would give him any chance of survival in hand-to-hand combat.
Even so, he would still be weaker than me.
"What are you doing here?" My voice carries the weight of thunder, the warning of a predator.
He smiles. A provocative smile.
"I came to challenge you to a duel."
