Her Beast

Chapter 25: Sunburn

"I wouldn't be too sure about that."

"What do you mean? Is there something that you know that we don't?"

He grinned at her but gave no response,

Sometimes the beast was similar to an animal with his growling, sniffing, and biting. Other times he seemed almost like Jaxson but the meaning behind his words and the glow of his eyes gave him away.

The beasts smirked as she stared at him lost in her thoughts. He liked that she was curious about him.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. "You know, the bite was supposed to break the curse and when it didn't, they thought it was a waste of time. I don't. I believe it made this pull stronger. Made me stronger. Being around you pulls me out from the depths of Jaxson and all I can think about is how I want to sink my teeth into that pretty neck again."

Zoey gasped and tried pushing against his chest. The beast chuckled at her feeble attempt. He leaned down and placed his lips against her neck.

The blood pounded against her ears and she flared her arms, desperate to get out of his hold. Her heart thudded in her chest and her breathing spiked. The beast held her tightly until she couldn't move anything.

Zoey pictured the last time she was bit. The agonizing pain she was in for days. Hot tears fell down her cheek from the memory.

The beast pressed his lips to her neck once. She calmed for a moment, hoping that was all he would do. It was when she felt his teeth scraped against her delicate flesh that her heart began beating ferociously again.

"Pl-please stop! I can't go through that again." The evidence of her tears was clear in her voice as she begged him.

The beast pulled back and looked at her face. Zoey spotted guilt in his eyes. An emotion she was shocked to find.

He let go of her and took a step back. The glow in his eyes fizzled and Jaxson stood in his place.

He stared at her unsure of what to say. She still had tears on her cheeks. A fiery anger was lit inside him. He hated his beast and how he made her cry. He hated how he could take over so easily and there was nothing Jaxson could do about it.

"Zoey, I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could do to stop him."

She wiped away her tears and tried to soften her sniffles.

"It wasn't you, was it? My dreams or when you said I was y-... it wasn't you."

Jaxson sighed, "It's hard to explain because even I don't fully understand it. The beast and the human are separate, but also one. The monster you saw when he attacked you was who he's always been. He's never been anything more than that. Once I found you, he's slowly taken hold of my words and actions.  It's almost as if he wants to be both the beast and the human. Every day I can feel him grow stronger and I worry for what that means."

Zoey knew this. The beast had spoken of Jaxson no longer being in the way.

"How do we stop him?"

"We break the curse."

Zoey swallowed nodding her head. She had no idea where to even start.

"Let's get you home."

They walked silently to the house. Zoey noticed Jaxson look at her ever so often as if he wanted to say something but never did.

The people roamed the streets as it was a few hours till daylight and they had gotten back from daily chores. Many of them still watched her curiously, while others had accepted her being here. The people here were kind, but never got too close. They would wave and say hello or stare but that was all.