The Beloved Beast

Part 27-A Confession

Dinner that night was a joyful affair. Her mother had cooked her favorite dishes to tempt her. Ray sat on one side of her, while Neil sat on the other, holding her hand under the table. "Tanya, have some more chicken, darling. You have lost so much weight," her mother cajoled her, serving a generous portion on her plate. Putting her fork down, Tanya leaned back in her chair. "I can't possibly eat another morsel, Mom. The meal was too delicious and I already ate so much," she protested. "You have to eat for two, dear," she advised, and Tanya saw Neil beaming in approval. What was with him? Since when had he become so amiable? She doubted that the pleasant mood would last. Renee just had to beckon him with her little finger and he would go running after her, leaving his Luna and his cub.

"Well, I should make a move. I have a long drive in front of me," Ray declared, rising from the table and thanking her mother for the meal. "Look after the pack business for a few weeks more, Ray. Iwon't be coming home for a while," Neil instructed Ray, taking him aside. Ray nodded. He would do as his Alpha said, though he had a mating ceremony to plan too. With a peck on her cheek and a gruff, "Take care of this girl," to Neil, he walked out of the door. 

Tanya heaved a heartfelt sigh. Ray lightened the atmosphere between her and Neil. Now they would be alone, and she did not know what to say to him."We should make a move too. Tanya must be tired from all the exertion," Neil addressed her parents. Tanya looked rebelliously at him. She wasn't going anywhere with him. Taking the hint, her parents left them alone, going to the kitchen to do the dishes. "Come, Tanya, we shall be staying at the mansion till you are fit enough to travel," Neil extended his hand to her. Brushing it aside, Tanya spoke firmly, "You go, Neil. I am staying here." "What madness is this?" he uttered, annoyance flickering in his eyes. So, the old Neil was back, she thought. Now, he would ride roughshod over her wishes, disregarding her feelings. "I have to go to work, Neil. I have neglected my job enough. You are free to return back to the mansion or back to the territory if you so wish," she stared down at her hands, toying with her ring."Sweetheart, I am not going anywhere, and you too are not returning to work. You are too weak. You need to rest so that our cub grows strong," he knelt by her side, his face near to hers. "I can rest here too," she made one last effort to have her way. "I shall be constantly worried with you out of my sight," he said, drawing her to her feet, and gently nudging her forward. "I will go pack your things, you wait here." Neil went upstairs and she took the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother. "I hope everything is alright once again between you two," her mother asked eagerly. She nodded, not willing to share her reservations with her mother. How much longer could the cub keep him interested? He would soon tire of playing the doting father-to-be. 

Back in their bedroom at the mansion, Tanya changed into her pajamas, after a warm shower. Coming out of the bathroom she found Neil sprawled on the bed in his shorts. She eyed him warily, then made her way to the couch to lie down there. "Come to bed, Tanya," he ordered, raising himself on his elbows to look her in the eye. She shook her head, "I am fine here. Please drop the pretense now that all is okay between us. It isn't and you know it," she said, tired of the game Neil was playing of being the attentive husband. He got up from the bed, coming to sit beside her on the couch. "I think it would be too crowded for both of us here," he smiled devilishly, "....and foolish when we have a perfectly good bed waiting." With that, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently, before joining her there. Tanya turned her face away, tears swimming in her eyes. Why was he doing this? 

With an oath, he turned her face towards himself, wiping her tears, before taking her lips in a kiss of separation mixed with passion. Tanya found herself fighting the lure of his charm. It would only lead to another heartbreak. She tried to avoid him, and at last, he got the message. "You are right in not trusting me Tanya. I have betrayed your love in the past, but believe me, I am not pretending this time," he whispered softly against her lips. "I don't know why you are here Neil. Is it because of the baby? I know you can't care less for me. You had not even come out to say goodbye to me when I left your home a month ago. Also, you and Renee are about to be married in a few days, aren't you?" "Who told you that?" he exclaimed. "None other than your girlfriend, before she tried to kill me and my baby."

Neil got out of bed, pouring a strong drink for himself, before sitting on the bed again. "Believe me, Tanya, even before coming to the city on that unfortunate day, I had broken off my relationship with Renee. We had been lovers a long time back, but I had not been with her since our marriage, in fact, not since I came to the city two years ago. The curse was almost driving me mad and I was at my wit's end when I saw you and that idea germinated in my mind, to marry you to remove the curse." Placing the drink on the bedside table, he pulled her into his arms. Tanya felt herself resisting for a moment before she gave in to the heavenly sensation and leaned against his chest. He continued, "I chose you not only because you were naive and innocent but also because at some level I felt attracted to you, though I would not acknowledge it even to myself. You see, I considered all humans to be weak, but you taught me otherwise. Once we had been truly mated, I could not bring myself to carry out my plan. I wanted you with myself always, but was afraid you would leave me once you knew the truth." 

"Why were you so beastly to me then? Why send Renee after me?" Tanya asked, bewildered. "You were asking too many questions and I panicked. Also, I was extremely jealous of the closeness between you and Ray." "You had no reason to be," Tanya murmured. "I know that now, but for some time I had been mad enough at the two of you to kill." "Ray was only helping me out to know more about the werewolves and that curse that plagued you." Neil nodded. "I hated the idea that you found it easier to talk to him than me. I understand that it too was my fault. I should have come clean about everything, without causing so many misunderstandings." They lay for some time against the pillows, Neil stroking her hair, and caressing her back, till his hand wandered to her stomach. "Why didn't you tell me about the cub, Tanya?" There was a pain in his voice. He had obviously been hurt to find out about the cub in that unfortunate way. Tanyastroked his cheek with her fingers. "I assumed that you would not be interested in me or my baby." "Then you assumed wrong. I am obsessed with everything about you, including this cub, whom I love already. I can't wait for it to be born," he said between kisses. "That day, when I arrived at your doorstep and found you lying in that condition, I could have ripped Renee apart with my claws on the spot. I only let her escape because you needed my attention. Believe me, Tanya, I died a hundred deaths that day, repenting for my mistakes, castigating myself for leaving you unprotected in the city, not being there for you and our cub when you needed me most," he said, moisture gathering in his eyes, something which Tanya had never hoped to see. "Forgive me, darling. Be my Luna and the mother of my cubs," he said, bending down on one knee, and kissing her hand.

 Tanya felt tears of joy coursing down her cheeks, it was as if all her dreams had come true. All her dreams anyway had been related to this man here, and with his avowal of love, she needed nothing more in her life to complete her happiness. Neil pulled her back into his arms, both of them laughing and crying at the same time, until exhausted with all the emotional outbursts, they lay together, in peace at last. Neil covered them with the duvet and they slept with their arms around each other, just as they had always done, Tanya's face nestled against his bare chest. At first light of dawn, she felt Neil, nuzzle her neck, his hands roaming her body."Stop it!" she playfully brushed his hand aside. "Mmm....." he continued with his exploration, placing tiny kisses on her shoulder. "Bad timing, Neil," she said, indicating the baby. "Not at all, sweetheart. It is a werewolf cub, strong and hardy. A little loving will not hurt it," he grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let it get used to its Dad being around," he joked, removing the pajamas slowly from her body.

 Hours later, she sat sipping a glass of fresh orange juice and having her breakfast in bed. Neil had got up to prepare French toast for her. She had been pleasantly surprised with all the pampering. "You deserve all of it, and more, sweetheart. Thank you for being in my life. I love you more than my own life," he said, putting a piece of toast into her mouth and following it up with a kiss. "I love you too, Neil. More than you can imagine," she returned, kissing him back.