Beautiful Creatures Series

As promised, Aurora returned at noon and again at six after she closed up for the night… and she had brought take out. Like with breakfast, they sat at the kitchen table talking and getting to know one another. Aurora answered all of the questions Katelyn had about Lycanthropes and the pack. Much of it was difficult to believe.

At seven, Darrell returned home. He walked into the kitchen, putting an end to the conversation as Aurora greeted him. “Evening, Cowboy. How was your day?”

“Uneventful. Just the way I like it,” he said, stealing a piece of fried chicken off Aurora’s plate. “What is going on here? Are you giving away all our secrets?”

“Just getting to know one another,” Aurora said. “I thought if she understood us, maybe she wouldn’t be so gung-ho to turn us it.”

“And what have you been telling her?”

“Just what little I know, given I haven’t known myself for long.”

“I see. While you ladies talk, I’m going to go shower and clean up from work,” he said, finishing the chicken and tossing the bone on the plate before heading for the washroom.

“Oh, Baby, take it off,” Aurora hooted like she was front row for Magic Mike. Even Katelyn laughed. Darrell winked at them both as he removed his shirt and threw it at Aurora before closing the door removing him from their sight. With Cowboy home, Aurora stood up. “Well, I’m going to head home. Got to go feed my beast.”

“Aren’t you going to tie me back up?” Katelyn asked as Aurora made no effort to restrain her again. She had untied Katelyn’s hands completely this time.

Aurora looked at Katelyn. “Do I need to?” She asked with a trusting smile. “Give him a chance. He’s not a bad guy,” she said, heading for the back door. “I will see you tomorrow,” and with that, Aurora was gone.

Katelyn could hear the shower running. Darrell was occupied, and Aurora was gone. Katelyn bit her bottom lip as she considered using this time to run. She might have done so, too, if she had not spent so much time talking to Aurora. Katelyn still was not sure about this Lycan thing, but she had to admit she was curious. How could a man turn into an animal? She could not leave. She had to see this with her own eyes to believe it. Katelyn decided to stay.

Ten minutes later, the door opened, and Darrell came out just wearing his jeans. He looked surprised to see Katelyn sitting there alone, unbound and not trying to flee. “Where did Aurora go?”

“She said to feed the beast.”

“And she didn’t tie you up?” Katelyn shook her head no. “And you are still here?” He sounded amazed.

“I want to see it,” she said outright.’

Darrell looked at her funny. “You want to see it? You want to see what?”

“The wolf. Aurora said you could become a wolf. Not just a half-human monster but a full wolf. Is that true?”

He took a moment to think. “Yes,” he eventually confessed.

“I want to see. Can you change, or do you need a full moon?

Darrell chuckled at her comment. “No, I don’t need a full moon. I can change at will.”

“Will you show me? Let me see the wolf.”

“I don’t know if that is such a good idea. It is not a pretty sight.”

“I don’t care. If you want me to understand why you are holding me against my will, then I want to see the wolf.”

Darrell stared at her for a long time. “If I change, you are going to run.”

“I promise I won’t. Please. I want to understand, but I need to see what you are.”

want to see? Ok? But you need to remember no matter what you see. It is still me. I’m not going to

up. What are you

“Taking off my pants.”

“Why?”

I don’t ruin

to be naked

“Mortals are always such prudes. Lycan’s don’t care about nudity. I have seen everybody in this pack naked, and they have seen me naked… and nobody cares. It is

have

I have to be naked. Do you have any idea how much I would have to

don’t see why

want to see it or not?” He snapped, annoyed by this conversation.

with it. She would just keep her eyes on his

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

of her naked as the day he was born, and… oh God, she looked down. Holly hell, a heated grin curved her lips. Darrell was well equipped. She heard Darrell laugh

here a little while longer?” Katelyn looked up to see the spark of cocky mischief

all means, yes, change.”

when his amber eyes began to glow. Katelyn sat up a little straighter. Soon his eyes were so bright she could have been looking into the headlights of some sports car. Darrell let out an

and slid her chair back against the wall when she started to hear his bones crack and break as his body reconfigured itself. He hit the floor on all fours as his spine elongated, and he sprouted a tail. His arms and legs became animalistic. A tanned fur began to spread over his entire body. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched his jaw dislocate as his face extended, becoming wolfish. The whole horrifying transformation took only seconds, and now the most magnificent beast sat in front of her. It was the wolf

was soft. As she petted Darrell, he leaned into her rubbing his head against her arm just like a dog might. She ran her hand down his back, and the wolf laid down, squirmed a little and then rolled onto

belly, but he did not get up. He just looked at her. Katelyn sat on the floor with him, looking into those eyes. He had told her their eyes did not change. She understood now he meant more than physically. Looking into his eyes, Katelyn could see his soul. She

looked at her, and she knew his

her on the floor. They still held eye contact, and Katelyn was speechless. That had been the most

reached for the discarded jeans next to her and handed

off and stared at him with awe. “That was amazing… horrifying, but amazing. You are the most beautiful animal I have ever seen,” and she

said, smiling at her.

are the wolf, you understand me,

do, yes. The body changes, but the

“But you can’t talk?”

I was trying not to be threatening,”

you are hasn’t been known to the rest of the world? How

our numbers became fewer and fewer, mankind started to forget us. Soon we became a folktale, then a myth, then an invention of Hollywood. We decided that not existing was the best way to exist. So technically… we

existed, they would band together to eliminate them. She could not be a part of that.

“Thank you.”

“On one condition.”

surprised. “I’m

have a request. If you want my silence, you

“Like what?”

you to let me hang around you and the others. I want to study

can’t write a book about me.

a career off of watching it. You are the most remarkable animal I have ever seen, and I want… I need

pack is never going

can’t we lie to