Chapter 19

Tucked beneath a puffy star quilt, Alise struggled to sleep.  Outside, the wind howled, and she could hear trees creaking as they swayed in the sudden blizzard that had struck the mountains.  She tried to concentrate on the sounds of the storm raging, but her thoughts kept going to Beast.  Was the floor hard?  Was he cold?  Was Chief present when Beast had his skin?  What did Beast look like?  She tried to envision his fur color and decided it’d be black like Chief’s hair.  The color perfectly suited his mood.

With a sigh, she rolled onto her side and blinked in the dark.  Straining to hear, she concentrated on the door trying to hear Beast’s breathing.

She heard nothing and wondered if he was even there.

I could go look. 

She desperately wanted to.  It’d be the only chance she got because tomorrow she and Chief were exchanging marks and going their separate ways.  She’d never see him again, and this would be her only chance to see Beast.

Ignoring the pang of sadness that struck at the thought, she pulled the quilt off her legs and settled her bare feet on the cold floor.  Inching off the bed, she winced when it creaked.  Holding a moment to make sure there was no movement outside, she slid off the bed when she heard none. 

Tip-toeing to the door, she grabbed the knob and wondered what happened if she startled Beast.  Would Chief’s scared wolf attack her?  She doubted it, but just to make sure, she lifted a finger and tapped it on the door a few times, just to get Beasts attention.  Outside the door, there was a rustling sound.  Taking a deep breath, Alise turned the knob and pulled the door open a mere fraction.

Peering out into the darkened hall, she didn’t see anything at first as her eyes struggled to adjust.  When they finally did, she jerked back with a quiet gasp.

Standing there, staring right at her, was the largest wolf she’d ever seen.  He was eye level with her, and he was just what she’d expected.  He had pitch black fur and glowing amber eyes.  He was magnificent.

Opening the door wider, Alise stepped into the hall.  “Oh, wow!” she breathed in awe.  Reaching out a shaky hand, she made sure to go super slow as she stretched her fingers toward Beast’s head. 

The animal blinked those big amber eyes at her once before surging forward and pressing his head into her palm.

“Whoa!” Alise giggled and then buried both hands in his coarse fur.  Beast rubbed against her arms, legs, chest, and all the while Alise giggled quietly until she was pressed up against the wall and her arms went around Beast’s neck.

***

Having Alise petting and rubbing on Beast the way she was had Chief releasing a contented sigh.  She wasn’t afraid of him!  It had been a serious concern. 

Damn this feels good.  Alise was giggling too, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.  It spurred him to rub his snout against her as he backed her against the wall.  Still giggling, Alise wrapped her arms around his neck, and he delighted in the way her body shook as her giggles continued.  Only…  Something suddenly changed.  One second, the air was tinged with Alise’s merriment and the next it was thick with grief.  It took Chief a second to realize her shoulders were no longer shaking with her laughter, but with her sobs. Alise was clinging to Beast like he was a lifeline as she cried quietly into his fur.

Chief was seconds away from shifting when Alise whispered by his ear.  “Beast, you’re beautiful.  Just like I knew you’d be.”  Sniffling, she breathed out a barely audible, “I…I wish you were mine.  But he doesn’t want me.”  Pulling back abruptly, she wiped at her eyes with the back of one hand while the other remained on Beast’s head.  Chuffing a watery laugh, she sniffed again.  “Don’t tell Chief I was crying okay.  I don’t think he likes women’s tears.” 

Backing up, she pulled her hand from his fur with a whispered, “I really do think you’re beautiful.”

Alise sealed herself back in her room and Beast stood there dumbfounded.  She thought only one of them—either the man or the beast—could be present at a time.  She thought she’d just bared her soul to his animal without his knowledge.  She was wrong.  And she was wrong about tomorrow too.  Tonight and her reaction to Beast cemented it.  Chief wasn’t letting Alise go, not without a fight, and if there was one thing he did exceptionally fucking well, it was fight!