The Beast Lover's Anthology: Vol. 1 - Colby [Giant Bat Shifter x Reader] M/F

Part Three

"Did I hurt you?" Colby took me in his arms, carefully removing the IV needle and untying my wrists before checking my pulse and examining my skin for bruises. I could hear the absolute despair in his voice when he pressed his forehead to mine, cupping my face in his unsteady hands and closing his eyes. He whispered my name, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Fuck... please tell me I didn't hurt you." I was woozy from the drugs and confused as ever, but I knew that the Colby who'd drugged me was not the one before me. "I love you so much... I'm so sorry."

"I'm okay, Colby," I promised weakly, reaching up to wipe the tears from his face. "I'm okay."

He didn't speak, but he pulled me closer, wrapping me in his strong arms and pressing his lips to the puncture wounds he'd left on my neck. I lifted my hand to run my nails across his nape, drawing soothing shapes on his skin. We stayed like that for a long moment, the gentle crackling of the fireplace and Colby's warmth nearly lulling me to sleep in my disconnected state.

"Please forgive me," Colby finally murmured, his wet lashes brushing my flesh as he hugged me tighter, nuzzling my pulse. "Please... I can't lose you."

"I do, but... Colby, what happened to you?" I asked quietly.

"I should have been upfront with you, but it hadn't happened in so long; I thought I was safe." He spoke quietly, pulling away. His sorrowful, mismatched eyes met mine. "There's a reason you've never seen another of my kind before."

"What is it?" I brushed a lock of dark hair off his brow.

He sighed softly, taking my hand in his tattooed one, smoothing his thumb delicately over my knuckles. "Bat shifters are all... unstable. Identity disorders are somewhat of a staple in our DNA, and while most of us have four or five personalities, I was lucky enough to have only two. Most of the bat shifters I grew up with are either locked up or dead, and I should have known I wouldn't be an exception. I thought I could date and have a normal life - that I had better control of my disability because my other half had been dormant for years - but I was so wrong, and now you're paying the price for my mistake. I can't tell you how truly sorry I am."

"Colby, I love you, but I wish you'd just told me from the start. I would have understood."

"I know I should have, and I understand if you don't want to see me anymore."

"Of course, I want to keep seeing you, but you... you killed someone, Colby. We can't just go back, I mean-"

"I killed someone?" He froze.

"Yeah. You don't remember?"

"I don't remember anything after that guy tried to spike your drink. I know I lost control because I'm familiar with the feeling. It's not the first time it's happened, but I've never killed someone before..." He took his hands off me, but I was quick to pull him back.

"I'm not afraid of you." I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing the bridge of my nose to the underside of his jaw, nuzzling into his warmth. "I didn't know what to think before, but I knew that I still loved you. You are wonderful, Colby, and this doesn't change the fact that I want to spend my life with you, but you need help. There has to be a way to treat it; maybe psychotherapy or some kind of medication..."

"There isn't," He muttered. "My kind has been trying to correct our bad genetics for centuries, but nothing helps. It's been embedded in us for too long."

"What do you think triggered it?"

"Someone tried to hurt you, and I love you too much to let that happen. I started thinking about the possibilities - about him dragging you upstairs and having his way with you. The thought of him drugging and raping you was just... too much."