Blood of The Beast

vii

Alastair:

    Her breathing became even and calm after she took the scene around us. The smell of our blood is prominent in the air. I got up, gently setting her down over the pillows where there is no blood. I pulled the comforter off before the blood could ruin the entire bed. It hadn't seeped through yet. The sheets are still clean. I wrapped them up into a pile and walked over to the bathroom to start her a warm bath.

    The slightest movements cause me pain. This bite isn't going to heal as fast as my wounds usually do. She marked me hard. I still felt the impact of it all over my body. I hadn't known what she had meant when she agreed to the pain. The look on her face scared the hell out of me. My body is covered in our blood. I walked back over to her and lifted her sleeping form into my arms.

    Scylla. Her features don't match her father's. The pitch-black hair, the smooth creamy texture of her skin, those striking silver eyes of hers. It makes me wonder what her mother looks like. These curves everything about this woman is going to get me killed. She's going to be the end of me. I'm convinced.

    No one and nothing had ever caught my attention as she has. She likes the fear I strike in her. It makes her nervous to the point of passing out, but she held on for the ride. I bathed her and not once did she wake up or try to move. I couldn't help the laughter that came over me as I wrapped her in a couple of red towels and set her on the bed again.

I have a mate.

    When I was done with my shower a knock at the door knocked some sense into me. I cover my torso with a shirt covering the slashes of her claws over my skin. They're deep and if I bled in the same manner she does, I'd be dead.

    "I smell blood," Killian barged in. I growled at him, grabbing him by the back of his t-shirt before he went up the staircase towards the bed.

    "We got a little carried away," I explained pointing at the bundle on the floor. Fear came over him.

    "Is she okay?" he asked his voice trembling. She has no idea how much these people love her. 

    "She's fine. Can you take this and get rid of it?" he nodded quickly. "Thank you,"

    He rushed out taking the bundle with him. I was halfway up the steps when the door was pounded on again. I sighed wondering if maybe I can open the window to air out the smell. Maybe not. That would stir up the younger wolves she talked about before.

    "Where is she?" Dylan asked. His tone is concerned. I would be too if she were my daughter.

    "She's asleep," I whispered putting my finger to my lips to shush him. He looked at my shoulder and relaxed.

    "Do you guys need the cleanup crew?" I shook my head.

    "No, I got it. Killian took the covers. We will need a new comforter," he nodded.

    "It'll be brought right up. Make sure my kid is dressed," he walked away.

    I opened the massive closet taking in a deep breath. This girl has the world laid at her feet. I looked around for some undergarments and something that looked like pajamas, something told me she would prefer to sleep as she is. I couldn't imagine her in sleep attire. I didn't find any. I grabbed a pair of spandex shorts and one of my t-shirts. I slipped them on her just as the warning knock echoed in the room.

    I hadn't noticed before, but the knock didn't come from the door rather from the small speakers at the top of it. The room is soundproof which is why no one came when she was screaming the way she was. I opened the door. Three women rushed in and over to the bed. To my surprise, they were all vampiresses. They were done in a couple of minutes and left without saying a word.

    The strength of her blood is running strongly inside of me. There will be no sleep for me anytime soon. Power like this isn't born. Power like this is gained through sheer will. I know that from experience. This girl is something else. I shouldn't have let my impulses take over as I did. I don't know what a bite from her can do to me, nor what a bite from me can do to her specific kind of shifter. 

    I began to look around. She has an enormous collection of books and artifacts. It surprises me to find that most of them are on the psychology of shifters and vampires. From the basics to the extreme experimentation of it all. A lot of physics as well. She likes to know the mind and the body of things, or foremost what she is. I want to know what she is. 

    "Those are old," her sleepy tone rocked through me making me hard for her again. I've never felt this kind of attracting in my life. I feel frustrated with need. I didn't even feel this as a human. "From when I was a kid,"

    "Are they?" I asked turning to look at her she nodded rubbing her eyes.

    "Did you call the cleaning crew?"

    "After I washed us up, your dad showed up. He caught the smell of your blood," a deep blush flushed over her making me smile. Her blood smells delectable entwined with my own.

    "Embarrassing," she shook her head in between laughs. I had her in arms before she could move again. The scent of her arousal and fear swirled in the air. "I want you again,"

    "All you have to do is ask," I assured her before laying her down. She shivered under me. "I want to do it properly this time. I'd like to take my time to make all of you mine,"

    "Kay," she breathed out excitedly. The knock came again and I growled making her giggle nervously. "Rain check for later?"

    "We can't ignore them?" she shook her head.

    "Your dad is coming today. We need to be ready," I sighed pressing my lips to her forehead. She pressed the button on the small intercom next to her bed. "What?"

    "Alpha, sorry to wake you. Your father requires your assistance," the feminine voice in the box called back. She let out a frustrated grunt before pressing the button again.

    "I'll be down in a bit," she reassured the voice.

    "Yes ma'am," the voice came back.

    "Can I get up?" she asked timidly.

    "If I say no?" she giggled, her cheeks flushing with color again. I'm going to miss that.

    "I'm going to have to toss you," she promised playful tone gone.

    I feel the truth in her tone. I feel a lot of her inside of me. It feels a lot like it did when I was turned. She lifted her arms and then slowly began to lift her legs. I tried to pull away but was too slow. I was launched about ten feet into the air over her head. I landed on my feet startled by how fast she had gone through on her promise. She let out heartfelt laughter as she ran into her closet. She beat me by two seconds.

    "You sneaky minx," I laughed against the door. I heard the full force of her laughter in return. That's the kind of sound that becomes addicting.

    I opened the closet and changed into something proper so that I didn't lose her from sight. That fresh mark on her neck is calling me, drawing me to her. The feeling is almost all-consuming and very hard to ignore. My sire is not going to like that I didn't wait for more information. He's going to flip out when he sees that she has taken complete claim. 

    Her dad looked up at both of us as we walked down the steps hand in hand. I have to admit that I do feel bad about how everything had happened last night. This isn't my usual thing. I never stay long enough to know if a girl has a father much less meet them or in a vampire's case, their makers. 

    s**t, some of them were made by my maker's wife and I had tossed them around as I pleased. I'd even killed a few who had tried to cling on a little too tight. Agathos had warned me about doing that. He said one day I'd meet my match and here she is and she's every bit of the monster they say she is.

    "You need to eat something," he scolded her. "You haven't eaten since..."

    "I can eat," she beamed cutting him off. She looked back at me and asked. "Do you eat?"

    "Yes, I do," I answered and she nodded.

    "Good," she smiled motioning me to follow her. "Is everything ready, dad?"

    "Yeah. We're all set," she paused turning to glare at him.

    "Why did you send for me then?" I felt a spark break out through my body at her annoyance. I want to laugh at the reason behind it.

    "You lost a lot of blood last night. I need you to be at your full potential, Scylla," he's upset. I watched them interact.

    He never submitted to her and she never forced him to. They meet at an equal level. This is a new concept for me. As a former human, what my sire wants goes. I never questioned any of his orders or demands and in return he let me do as I pleased. So as long as I followed his rules, everything was perfect. How will he react to her?

    Once she was fed and her sugar levels were at top points her body along with her blood in me responded with strength. Her heart is working on healing her and the mark on her neck turning into a permanent crescent scar. The blouse she's wearing is showing it off perfectly. Her hair is braided onto her right shoulder so she could show off the mark on her left.

    "You stare at me any harder and I'm going to spontaneously combust, fangs," she smirked.

    "You promise?" I asked and she laughed.

    "Behave," she warned playfully. 

    It was late when I felt his presence. I have to admit that I'm a little nervous. I've never disobeyed not that this is what this is. It has never been addressed. The times when mates did come up, the topic was passed through his siblings. I didn't know formers could have mates. 

    She stood up, no one else had any indication of his arrival. Except maybe the guards that were bringing him in. Does she feel that? What is it she feels? She snapped her fingers and everyone lined up at the doorway to welcome him. This fear is different from the one she shows me. A twist of nerves came over her when she stepped out into the cold night. It's something aggressive. The kind of dominance I've only felt in the presence of the King.

    The four SUVs pulled up to the front of the packhouse. The one he's in stopping right at the bottom of the steps. I walked out feeling a little excited. She let me lead. It's been a while since I've seen my maker. Occasionally, we'd call or send each other pictures on our phones but that was the extent of it. She looked around silently communicating with the others. I walked down, the guards allowing me to get the door for him. I opened it.

    "Naloc," he greeted stepping out.

    "Agathos," I greeted back. He pulled me into a hug. Always been a grabber this one. He looked me over his eyes landing on the fresh mark on the crook of my neck. This is it.

    "Always in trouble with the ladies, kid," he chuckled pulling at my collar. She growled from the top of the stairs making me smile. He glanced at her. "I have to say never like this. You've gone and landed yourself the next reason for a world war,"

    "Never liked them boring," she growled again making us both laugh.

    I can feel the possessive aggression she's feeling. It feels like a sharp stabbing in the mark she placed on me. I pulled away from my sire knowing she wouldn't like it if he were to actually touch it. The feeling faded to a dull pressure. We walked up the stairs together. Her eyes are glowing silver. She's pissed as f**k. My sire looked her over and then looked at me.

    "Only the best for you, huh?" he asked a spark of approval in his eye. "Lady of Malacoda. I am honored to meet your acquaintance," she didn't disappoint when she snarled flashing him her canines. "Don't fret my dear. Past conquests are in the past. It is you who bears the crown,"

    "Prince Malacoda, excuse my temperamental girl. She's still young," Dylan interjected nervously from the doorway. "Welcome to Rogue Creek,"

    "Dylan Narolin. It's a pleasure to meet you. You were a beast in your day. You and your beloved just took what you could and gave nothing back. I am pleased to know our children's path is connected. This one here has waited long enough for his right,"

    "The honor is all mine, your highness," he smiled at him ignoring the last part. He doesn't like me. "We've made arrangements for your stay,"

    "I won't be staying too long. I'm just passing through. I'll be out of your hair by tomorrow evening,"

    "What are you doing here?" I smiled at the disrespect that poured out of her question. She came around me her fingertips grazing my body as if to tell him I now belong to her and not him.

    "Oh, you've got yourself a spitfire, Naloc," he laughed not liking the way she's challenging him. I didn't stop her as she created the tension between herself and him. One of them has to learn this lesson the hard way.

    "Not gonna answer?" she smirked her posture defensive. The emptiness I had encountered last night is starting to settle on her. I don't know how strong she is yet and I really don't want to see Agathos force her into submission or vice versa.

    "I'm here for him. We have something to settle," she growled pushing me back challenging him to take me. He smiled, loving her possessiveness of me. "With your permission, of course, my dear. He will be returned unharmed,"

    "What do you need, Agathos?" I smiled pulling her into me. She growled at me but didn't move away. She even pressed her body closer to mine.

    "My word, boy. I haven't seen you smile like that in centuries," he beamed. "Do you remember Genevieve Russo?"

    "How can I forget? She almost killed you," he smiled.

    "She's in the country," I tensed up.

    "You can't go after her," I warned panic filling my senses.

    "We're going after her. I'll leave you to talk it over with your femina," he turned to face Dylan. "Are these beautiful ladies for me?"

    "If you promise not to kill them," Dylan gave him a nod.

    "Man of my word," he smirked reaching for one of the blondes. She giggled.

    "Ladies, show these gentlemen where they will be staying. I'll be at your disposal all night if you need anything," Dylan is very hospitable for someone who is as scared as he is. Maybe Scylla gets her composure from him.

    "So amiable," Agathos winked in my direction.

    "No," she said.

    "No?" I asked. She pushed me back, breaking free of my hold and began the climb up the stairs.

    "Thanks, Agathos," I groaned knowing this is going to be a long night.

    "You'll thank me in the morning," he shot back before he disappeared into the lower levels of the packhouse.