Page 70 of Rescued By the Beast
I huff in frustration, but I don't give up.
I go to the kitchen. Mark usually throws his keys on the counter, but there's nothing there. I look around and smile when my eyes find a key ring hanging on the wall.
There's only one key there.
Please, let it be a spare key for one of the doors!
I take it and insert it into the lock on the living room door, saying a little prayer to the stars.
It doesn't even fit; it seems too big.
Damn!
I run back to the kitchen, to the back door, and test it with trembling hands.
It fits perfectly, and with a satisfied smile, I move on.
I leave the door ajar, without locking it. If I lose my human form on the way back, I won't end up trapped outside. The protective barrier will prevent any intruder from entering anyway.
I head straight for the forest, but I don't make the same mistake as before. Instead, I circle around the house towards the back garden.
I hold the key absent-mindedly, only realising I still have it in my hand when I'm halfway there. I can't waste time going back to put it away, so I hide it under a rock near the gate.
I glance briefly at the access panel and shake my head.
I know the password, but walking naked down the street is not an option!
I'll climb the wall like a cat.
The transformation happens in an instant. With feline agility, I climb the wall and leap to the other side, landing lightly. The nearest house, Ethan's, doesn't interest me. I pass straight by, speeding along the silent asphalt of the long street. My senses sharpen as I advance.
Large houses appear around me, one after another. I keep on the lookout, analysing each one, looking for signs that they are empty, preferably some with feminine touches.
When I see a house with flowers in the yard and an open window, my instinct tells me I'm in the right place. I'm sensible, checking the smell around me, and I don't detect anyone.
I sneak in and, right at the entrance on the sideboard, I see a photo of a young couple. I am excited to notice that the woman has a very similar physique to mine.
Luck seems to be on my side today!
I transform into a human, feeling the scent grow weaker, but I know I still have a few minutes left. I hurry up to the bedrooms, leaving what appears to be the guest room and entering another.
I open the cupboard and a scream escapes before I can control myself.
"Ah!"
I jump back when a lizard darts out of the wardrobe door, climbs the wall in a flash and disappears behind the chest of drawers.
"For heaven's sake, what a fright!"
I press my hand against my chest, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart — and the emerald, which vibrates at the same rhythm. In seconds, my breathing stabilises, and the stone hangs cold and inert against my neck again.
No distractions, Sandra, focus on the plan.
I turn my attention back to the wardrobe and examine the clothes. At the back, hanging on a hanger, something catches my eye — a stunning white dress.
It seems almost forgotten there, as if it had never been worn. The light, ethereal fabric falls in soft waves, with long sleeves that widen at the wrists, a deep neckline and slits that run up the legs, suggesting a forbidden elegance. A dress made to be seen... and yet hidden.
It's perfect, but the weather is colder than I expected to go out wearing just that. I rummage through the drawers, and that's when I find a black scarf. I put it around my neck, wrinkling my nose as I pass the drawer full of knickers.
