Beast Within the Beauty
Copyright © 2012 Nina Deviine
Chapter 9: The Poison that Festers
Recap:
“Listen to him and you might achieve something…boy. All of you will live long lives if you listen to the wise and I’m sure that’s in everyone’s best interest,” I said. Kyle shifted uneasily beside me, clearly wanting me to stop this charade. I knew what he wanted. He wanted me to accept the deal. If anything, our numbers would be safer if Jones got his hands on some werewolf scum.
“Alpha. I’m sad to say this isn’t a choice. I’m not going to argue that you are the best, but your pack needs help. Remember, it’s pride before fall.”
____________________________
-Dane-
The Alpha of the other pack was huffing and puffing. She looked quite funny acting all tough. But I knew it was all a charade. She was just kitty underneath all that badass attitude.
My stomach still hurt a lot from her attack earlier and I hoped it would heal soon. For some strange reason, the nasty gash didn’t disappear the minute I was in human form again, but it bled less. I put my hand for my stomach, silently wincing, hoping no one would notice. But she did... Those seductive eyes were on me once again. And despite my injury I wanted her. I wanted her badly.
“Hurts, I bet, pretty boy?” she sneered at me and I clenched my teeth. The wound started to throb with a vengeance at that exact point. However, I still managed to smirk at her.
“It’s nice to know you’re attracted to me.”
Her look of contempt dropped as she narrowed her eyes.
“Want to know why that wound didn’t heal the minute you turned into a wolf?” she asked. That took me off-guard. How did she know?
“No,” I replied tersely, wondering if she spied on me.
“Long ago, before all this military crap was invented, there wasn’t much in the guise of weapons—apart from rocks really. So how would the big, bad Vulks hunt their innocent prey?” she posed the question and looked around the tense faces in the room.
“Anyone?” she smirked, “Our claws are encrusted with venom of the likes you haven’t seen before. It doesn’t work on us, as we produce it, but on anyone else? It’s pure agony. That wound won’t ever heal pretty boy. It’s only get worse and infected. Currently, I can cause you agonising pain just by thinking about it. The power is called mental manipulation. One of the many talents we actually possess. Eventually the poison will rot your insides and give you a slow, painful death.”
Catherine took such great detail to describe my demise, I shuddered. Everyone else in the room gasped in outrage.
“She’s committing murder!” one woman yelled.
“She should be punished!”
“The bitch should be tore limb from limb. Daring to threaten the future Alpha,” Hunter hissed.
“Yes, why don’t you all start the witch trials while you’re at it?” Catherine threw in.
“Are you saying I’m going to die?” I asked gravely, no longer feeling sure of myself.
“Precisely.”
“Alpha Catherine, please be reasonable. There is no reason for anyone to die today,” Salem spoke up. Catherine smiled serenely at him.
“I just want you to understand what you’re getting yourselves into. Don’t delude yourselves for a moment to think you could double-cross us and get away with it. You can’t. Neither should you underestimate us and think we’ll do all the dirty work for you. Every wolf for himself. Eh?”
“We aren’t trying to trick you Alpha. Give us some credit, even we aren’t that stupid,” I said.
“Sure could’ve fooled me,” Kyle muttered under his breath and Alpha Catherine snickered. I clenched my fist at their insolence.
“Our intentions are genuine,” Salem announced, “the question is; are you willing to help us?”
He extended his hand, in a gesture of peace. Catherine stared at it for a few seconds, as if it was going to bite her. I smirked; I sure would’ve loved to. She finally relented and shook on it.
“You’ve got a deal. But know we’re not going to be responsible if anything bad happens to the pack you’re sending with us.”
“They can look after themselves I’m sure.”
“Better hope so.”
“Now would you be so kind to get rid of the poison?” Salem asked, pushing it a bit in my opinion. Catherine was crazy and unstable, and had bizarre mood swings. Was it really wise to ask another favour of her?
“I’ll help this once. Know that you owe me wolf-boy,” she snarled. She was beside me in seconds and leaned to whisper in my ear.
“You may want to go somewhere private when I do this, unless you plan to embarrass yourself wolf-boy.”
“I plan no such thing. My name is Dane by the way.”
“How fitting. I’ll call you the Great Dane then, just like the dog. Besides, your macho crap doesn’t impress me. I wasn’t threatening you, I’m warning you.”
I scowled at the name she given me. As far as she was concerned, I just moved down the food chain from wolf to dog. Great, just great.
“Okay then.”
“Alpha Salem, please be so kind to direct us to a more private place. I’m sure no one is interested in hearing his screams.”
Currently, I wanted to die of mortification. The only girl that I wanted to impress was ignoring all my efforts. Looks like I just had to lay on my charm thickly.
“Down the hall on the left,” Salem answered, slightly amused. He sure was getting a kick out of seeing me ignored by a girl. I glared at him as Catherine dragged me down the hall. Her talons were digging into my arm, but I didn’t mind. I was going to seduce her and it would be like taking candy from a baby.
YOU ARE READING
The Beast Within the Beauty (A Werewolf Romance)
WerewolfWould you do anything to kill the man who turned you into a monster? Catherine didn't have much on her mind except hunting down Jones, the man who ruined her life, and running her powerful pack of Vulks. She is the female Alpha after all. But fate...
