*Many readers commented that they were confused because of a line in the last chapter, so I just want to clear this confusion up. At the end Drake said to Zach 'if you change Keelay' and some readers think that I meant it wrote it meaning if Zach changed Keelay. This wasn't what I meant. The 'you' wasn'taimed at a specific character, it was meant as a general you, that if ANYONE changed Keelay. I would like to appoligise for the confusion and hope you enjoy this next chapter.*
Chapter six
Keelay stood in the doorway of the cabin staring at the surrounding forest, lost in thought. It was late, almost midnight, but she couldn't sleep. Her and Jake had talked for over and hour and a half about everything from college and ancient history to food, but mostly about Duncan. Jake had enjoyed sharing his childhood memories of his cousin, everything from embarrassing toilet training experiences like peeing all over the family cat to awkward teenage experiences with girls. She had learnt that Duncan hadn't always been the hunk he was today. As a pre-pubescent teen he had been stick thin and needed braces. She had thought it cute. It seemed that Duncan hadn't always been as confident around the ladies as he was now; instead he had usually gotten tongue-tied and flustered. Keelay found that hard to imagine as he was so sure and confident when he was with her.
The night air was brisk and she was thankful that she had changed out of her tiny skirt and top into a pair of Duncan's gym clothes, even though they were so big the trousers hung low on her hips and the legs needed to be tucked into the thick socks she wore. The top too was far too big and hung loose around her neck. Thankfully it was baggy and covered her backside, as the trousers slipped down as she walked, threatening to pool at her ankles if she wasn't careful. Sighing, Keelay looked up at the sky. She loved seeing the stars so clearly. When she had first come out she had been shocked at how bright and clear they had looked. She would never have been able to see them as well if she had been at home.
Back home Keelay lived in a privately rented house with her two friends Annie and Jill, both of whom had been with her at the party. She had called both there mobiles as soon as she could to tell them she was ok but was forced to leave a voicemail as neither were available. She was slightly relieved as she didn't want to have to explain why she had left the city with a guy she had just met. She was sill trying to figure out the answer to that herself. The only answer she could come up with was that Duncan made her feel safe, a rare thing in today's world. She had looked at him and felt comfortable and protected. But that still didn't explain the ache she felt at his absence. The longer he was away from her, the more she worried about him, which was stupid because he was with his family. What could possibly happen to him?
A cold gust of air blew in her face causing her to shiver and wrap her arms more securely around her slender waist. She thanked her lucky stars once more that Duncan had a whole load of spare clothes left in the cabin. With one last look at the glowing quarter moon as it hung low in the night sky, she turned and entered the house, closing the door behind her. She had always loved the moon which to her had always looked beautiful, mysterious and even unreal at times. Tonight it seemed especially fantastic, almost like something out of a fairytale. As a child she had often whispered to the moon, telling it her stories and dreams. It seemed natural, as if the moon itself was alive and listening to her, keeping her secrets and watching her dreams fail.
Although Keelay was a happy, positive person, she hadn't always been so. As an only child to parents too busy to notice her, Keelay had been passed from nanny to nanny before finally being shipped off to boarding school. Her father, a busy pediatrician, was always working and she never saw much of him, while her mother was a doctor's trophy wife and preferred to spend her days at the spa or having lunch with her friends rather than with her daughter. As a result Keelay had learned at a young age to rely on herself. She didn't believe in love at first sight or destiny and that made her strange feelings towards Duncan even harder to understand.
Inside the cabin, Keelay curled up on the warm couch opposite Jake who was, much to her amusement, reading Pride and Prejudice. When she had first learned that it was his favorite book she had been surprised to say the least. It had always seemed to be a girly book to her. Not something the guys in her English Literacy class would read without being assigned to. But Jake had informed her that what he liked the most was how Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett had come together, despite the odds and forces against them. Their love had been just too strong to contain. This started a lengthy discussion about Austen and her various characters.
Jake was once again lost in his book and Keelay found her eyes wandering to the window which, due to the coal black night had turned into a mirror. She looked at her face and couldn't help groan at how crappy she looked. No make-up, tangled hair and pale, ghostly skin. Great, if Duncan did come back she'd scare him off again!
She couldn't help but wonder, for what seemed to be the hundredth time, where Duncan was, what he was doing and who he was with.
**********
Duncan ran straight through the dense forest, his muscles burning and his mind working overtime. It was taking all his control not to change and he was slowly losing the fight. His claws had pushed there way through the flesh at his fingertips and now dug deep into his palms as he squeezed his hands into fists. His teeth had elongated and filled his mouth, giving him a snarling, wild look. The hair on his body grew longer, thicker as it sprouted. His body mass had almost doubled in size, causing his t-shirt and jeans to strain at the seams. He needed to get to Keelay. He needed to get away from Keelay. His mind, spilt into two distinct personalities, was in turmoil. He needed Keelay to tame the beast inside him, but the beast would hurt Keelay when he got his claws into her. Could he risk Keelay that way? Should he? He didn't think he had a choice. She would never be safe with him as long as the creature inside him was untamed but to tame it, he could destroy her.
The various creatures in the woods fled and hid as he passed. It seemed to take forever to reach the small cabin but in actual fact it only took an hour or so. The closer he got, the more excited the wolf became. It hungered for its mate. But the man inside him also wanted to see Keelay, wanted to hear her voice, smell the sweet scent of her skin and feel her breath on his cheek when he hugged her. He missed her.
The thick forest thinned as the cabin got closer. Duncan slowed his pace as the soft glow of the cabin lights came into view and growled in anticipation.
He moved stealthily forward, half crouching as he prowled around the small house. He could see in the empty kitchen two plates and glasses. Duncan strained to hear inside trying to pick up some movement so he could pin-point where Keelay was. Moving to the left he circled quietly. He could hear the sound of the fire crackling, of two hearts pounding, of four lungs inflating with air.
They were in the sitting room. He could see them now, Keelay curled up on the couch and Jake lounging on the large chair. He couldn't see Jake completely but Keelay was watching him intently. Why? What was Jake doing that captivated her so? He growled low in his throat and took a step towards the door, his foot landing on a branch as he moved, breaking it in two. The noise was quiet, barely audible. But Jake heard it.
**********
Jake was pretending to read his book. He had been pretending for the last twenty minutes. Instead he watched Keelay. She seemed to be staring at him, except she hadn't blinked for several minutes. She was so lost in thought that she was daydreaming now. Her moss green eyes fixated on his book. He wondered briefly what she was thinking of before a sound outside set him on guard. It was a small sound, barely audible, but it sent his heart racing. What could have made it? None of his family was near enough that he would have heard their movement as they passed through the forest. None of the animals could move around quietly enough that he would not hear them before the sound was made. He dreaded to think of the only person who could come close enough to the cabin, quietly enough that he wouldn't hear him. Duncan. But Duncan should be safely tucked away at the other end of the vast wood. He was being guarded by his three large, powerful brothers who had been able to contain him last year when things had gone so terribly wrong.
Jake laid down his book and stood. The sudden movement awoke Keelay from her trance and she stumbled to her feet.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I'm not sure. Stay here ok." he answered as he left the room.
He walked into the dark kitchen and over to the large patio doors that led to the garden. Looking out he could see nothing and as he reached for the key to unlock the glass doors, he was pulled back to the sitting room by an ear piercing scream.
"KEELAY!!!" he shouted as he ran back to her.
**********
Keelay watched as Jake left the room and although the fire was burning hot, the look on his face gave her chills. He looked scared, worried and confused. She curled her feet beneath her and listened intently as Jake walked around the spacious kitchen.
The silence was deafening and just as she rose to follow, a movement caught her eye. Instinctively she looked towards the source and her breath left her in a rush. Looming by the large window was a shadow. The firelight that bathed the room did not cast its glow far enough to illuminate the dark shape, but Keelay guessed by its size that it was a person. Once she realized this, she thought it must be Duncan. She breathed his name in relief and ran to the window.
It was Duncan and Keelay's heart pounded and her legs grew weak at the sight of him. As she neared him the first thing she noticed was his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes were so pale they glowed eerily in the night. Frowning she stood before him and her green eyes grew large in fright. He looked like Duncan but at the same time, he didn't. He was bigger than before and it looked like he hadn't shaved in days. His fingers were curled tightly into fists and his muscles were bunched, giving him an aggressive stance.
"Duncan?" she questioned. His reply was a slow show of teeth in a fierce grin. His canines had grown longer and formed fangs in his mouth.
The sight of him standing aggressively by the window, with these changes deforming his beautiful face and body was too much for Keelay's nerves and instinctively she screamed. Her voice left her lungs in a loud, high pitch scream and the Duncan creature rushed from her sight. A few seconds later Jake ran into the room and found her rooted to the spot by the window and rushed to her side.
**********
Duncan peered in the sitting room window as Jake entered the hall. Keelay sat staring after him and Duncan's heart pounded at the sight of her in HIS oversized clothes. At the exact moment that Duncan moved closer Keelay stood and his movement caught her eye. She turned and her heart beat sped up in fright. Duncan, as both man and wolf, cringed at her reaction but were surprised as Keelay rushed to the window, whispering his name. Maybe she wouldn't be as freaked as he thought she would.
She stood in front of him, her beautiful eyes appraising him as his devoured her. She looked so much smaller in his large clothes, more fragile. He longed slid his hand under the baggy clothes, to feel her warm skin beneath. He just wanted to touch her and see if she was as real and as perfect as his mind was telling him. But of course she was. She was his mate. The most perfect creature in the world.
