Page 42 of Beast

But had that only happened because there was nothing else to do?

An idle mind had driven me to his arms.

He told me that I was his mate. I didn’t even know werewolves existed until the other day, but I’m supposed to accept it and believe everything he said to me. Once upon a time, I did so with the man who raised me, until I found out that he was a fucking monster.

Now, I was lying in bed with a wolf.

There was something wrong with me. Somehow I managed to end up in hell, and not fucking heaven.

17

BEAST

Ihad to give her time to calm down. At least that’s what I kept telling myself as I turned the spaghetti I made on low. The sun was setting and she hadn’t returned.

“Enough of this.” A growl vibrated in my chest as though my wolf agreed with me. I strode to the back door and opened it.

Outside, I let my body transform, welcoming the change into my wolf.

The breeze brought the scent of saltwater, sand, and a hint of Natalia’s own uniqueness. I’d know her anywhere.

With a howl, I chased through the darkening shadows until I came upon her sitting at the edge of the ocean, staring out at the darkening sky.

I shifted back and she shook her head like she could sense me too.

“Guess I can see why you like it out here on your own private island.” She didn’t look at me as I sat beside her. “No need to worry about being naked when you turn back into a man.”

“I’ve learned to keep backpacks of clothes in places around town.” I laughed. “I even have a few stuck inside trees and one buried near the power plant.”

“Really?” She looked at me sideways with a smile tugging at her mouth, but then she sobered. “What are we going to do about my dad?”

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly. We were mates and I wouldn’t lie to her. “But I’ll fucking deal with whatever comes our way.”

“Should we go back to town? Maybe the Feds can put us in the witness protection—” She stopped because she knew as well as I did that the Feds couldn’t do shit. If her father wanted her dead, then I had to change his mind.

“No, we stay. Here, I can see anyone coming and I can protect you.”

“You can’t protect me from my father.” The sadness that hung in her voice ripped into me like nails on a chalkboard.

“You’re not just his daughter. You’re my mate, and I won’t let him hurt you.”

The ocean sang in the background as Natalia leaned into me, wrapping her arms around me. I held her close, my heart burning in my chest with determination. No one would take my mate from me. Not while I was alive.

“We can protect each other,” she said, taking my hand in hers and squeezing it.

“Always.” I brought her knuckles to my lips and kissed them.

She hiccupped. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell me more about this omega thing you say I am.”

“I know you are.” I held her close. “Each omega has a different scent... something no other has.”

“Wait.” She pushed back, looking up at me. “Are you saying I stink?”

I couldn’t hold it back, and I laughed, unable to answer. She glared at me, hands on her hips.

“Answer me.”

When I caught my breath, I wiped the tears from my eyes. “No, Natalia, you don’t smell bad. Not to me. You smell like chai and vanilla. Both spicy and sweet.”

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