To Love a Beast

The Awakening

For the first time in a long time, Sin woke from a dreamless sleep.

Blinking to clear the haze from her mind, she was met with the sight of a dimly lit room.

Where am I...

Images rushed through her mind and she groaned, both from the circumstances and from the sharp pain in her neck as she attempted to sit up.

"What in the bloody hell..." Sin said as she made a move to massage the sore spot with a warm palm. Her hand shook from the simple action.

The damned beast really did take a bite out of her! Sin pressed her fingers into the curve of her neck, feeling the raised skin indicative of a healing flesh wound.

But if I was captured by the beast, then where is this place?

Because if this was the Lycan idea of prison, Sin would happily resign herself to her fate.

Taking a casual perusal of the room, Sin admired the antique lighting, the soft masculine touches and the-

Her thoughts cut off as her eyes landed on the dark figure slumbering on a seat close to her-too close for comfort.

Sin clutched a hand to her racing heart. How did she not notice him before? If not for the gentle lighting casting soft shadows across the room, Sin would've feared for the worst upon seeing a figure in the dark. But seeing the male sleeping, some of her worries shed. Asleep, the male couldn't harm her.

Daring a closer look, Sin shot back when the man's ears twitched.

False alarm.

Hearing her own heartbeat thrum in her ears, she edged closer. Something about the figure beckoned her forward; to see, to look, to touch. So even as her pulse raced to distances unknown, Sin bent closer.

She was sating her curiosity, she convinced herself. Being a witch of the lower echelon, Sin never got her hands on higher level specimens. This was an act to further her knowledge of the world. Of course. This was nothing more, nothing less.

Closer still, she could just make out a strong cheekbone and a high nose bridge.

The Lycan from before. This was the Lycan that tried to kill her!

If possible, Sin's heart rate soared even higher. Gods, she needed to get out of here if she wanted to escape with her life intact. The beast already took a chunk out of her and she wasn't keen on finding out what more he had in store for her.

And what of the child?

From her meager knowledge of Lycans in relation to their young, Sin was almost certain the pup faced no threats with his 'papa' around...almost. She damned her gnawing concern for the child. If only there was a way to make sure of the child's safety before she snuck away into the night...

Determined now, Sin slid from the warm, cushiony bed, onto the plush floors. And almost face planted the soft ground. Her legs might as well belong to a newborn calf!

Gritting her teeth, Sin pushed onwards. If she squinted just enough, the door didn't look so far.

One step. Two steps.

She glanced back to the bed, ensuring the beast was still slumbering. Then ventured forward at her snail's pace.

Just a few more steps...

Everything throbbed. Her neck stung, her head pounded and her bad arm felt like dead weight. Sin wasn't naive enough to think she could simply waltz out of the place. She was certain wherever she was, there were more of them and only one of her. Even on a good day, Sin doubted she stood a chance against one Lycan, no less a pack of Lycans.