The Beast Within the Beauty (A Werewolf Romance)

The Beast Within the Beauty: Ch.2 A New Challenge

                                                                  Beast Within the Beauty

                                   Copyright © 2011 Nina Deviine

                                                                     Chapter 2-Catherine

                                                                        A New Challenge

       My body shot up from the bed and my breath came out in ragged pants. I felt beads of sweat on my forehead and brought my left hand to wipe the droplets of water. The pyjamas I wore were stuck to my body, clinging to it and outlining my figure. After a few calming breaths and reassurances that it wasn’t happening again, my body relaxed.

        There were three rapid knocks on my bleak grey bedroom door that carried through the thin layer of wood.

        “Yes?” I called out.

        “Alpha Catherine my deepest apologies for disturbing you at the crack of dawn but Shane has just retuned form his hunt and has an urgent message that needs to be delivered immediately,” my maid Flora informed in a quiet timid voice.

       “Tell him I’ll be out in a moment and call Kyle,” I answered and gingerly sat on the edge of my queen sized bed.

    My hands were still shaking form the traumatic experience that I still remembered like it happened yesterday. I tested one foot and then the other, making sure I had enough power to stand.

        I stripped off my pyjamas and put on a pair of teal sweatpants and a white rank top. My jet black hair with a few white highlights hung in loose curls by my shoulder and was matted to my head. I managed to collect it and arrange it into a messy bun. Feeling I looked presentable, I stepped out into the hallway which was dimly lit with the warm glow of the wax candles.    

     As I inhaled the scent of cinnamon and lilies that the candles exuded, I made my way to the living room at the end of the hallway. My heart relaxed considerably when I entered the room where Kyle and Shane were standing talking in hushed whispers. When they noticed me I the room both of them bowed their heads down.

     “At ease,” I instructed indicating they could both sit down. My own voice came out stronger and more powerful than I felt at the time. I looked at Shane’s stormy grey eyes expectantly, telling him to start with the message.

     “Alpha Catherine, firstly I have to apologise for coming here so early without warning but this was truly an emergency,” Shane apologised and I nodded my head.

      “As you know yesterday Sydney and I went hunting into the woods and early in the morning Sydney had got thirsty and went the small lake near the edge of the woods. She didn’t come back for a long time and I grew worried so I also went to the lake. I found her on the ground with her clothes ripped and her torso bleeding and I returned immediately. My assumption is that she got attacked by a powerful rogue,” he concluded looking at me expectantly. I let out an exasperated sigh. Rogues! should have figured.

      “Is she alive?” I asked my voice tinged with worry.

      “Yeah, nothing too critical, she’ll live. Oh and she said that the rogue was very powerful,” Shane added handing me over a tattered blood smeared shirt. I pinched it up and held it under my nose for closer examination.