ONE
Maurice
Heat spikes through my body, sharpening my claws and making my fangs drip with saliva. It's fucking mission impossible retaining my human shape at this time of the month, but this full moon seems worse than last. And that one was worse than the one before.
It's been too long.
Been too long since I did anything but try to cage the beast that lives inside me. He needs to run. Needs to stalk something tasty through the dim light of the forest, howl to the moon and push her into the damp leaves and rut her until she screams for mercy.
That's not me, though. That's the beast.
Human me is appalled at the thought.
Human me would much rather be pushed into the soft leaves myself. Mounted and ridden hard until all I see are the stars in the night sky framing her perfect face and the curves I'll beg to touch.
But who can tame a werewolf? Especially at this time of month.
Another flash of heat takes me to my feet. I stumble through my apartment, crashing into the coffee table, knocking a cup from the kitchen counter as I catch my balance with a hand on the cool granite. The outsides of my vision blur red and black. My spine cracks as the wolf rises to the surface and my body shifts. Claws lengthen. Teeth sharpen. Fur sprouts over my body and my body swells and bulges and aches for release. I burst onto the balcony and the night air caresses me, a phantom tease instead of real hands on me. Stroking me. Soothing me. Calming my racing heart.
The howl tears from me. I throw my head back and let it go, unable to stop it. My pain, my frustration. My loneliness. The moon hears it all and regards me impassively.
My body grows larger still. My shirt rips. Another good shirt destroyed because I'm too useless to undress myself once it takes hold.
You'd think I'd be used to it by now. After four years of being cursed. Every damn time it creeps up on me, hitting me harder, socking me in the balls with raw hunger.
How did I forget how bad this feels?
I'm wrenched forward onto my hands and knees until the transformation is complete. My muzzle stretches, long teeth filling my jaw, my senses sharpened further. Fur covers my body and my tail twitches against the seam of my trousers. I pull at them with clawed hands until it's free.
I draw a burning breath as another convulsion seizes me and then I freeze.
A scent--luscious, rich, smokey and delicious--takes me by the snout and points my face in the direction of the city below.
Who is she?
My God, she smells like running through the woods naked. She smells like candlewax and witchcraft and enchantment.
Where is she?
I dash back through the apartment, burst out the door and I'm on the street in moments. I part my mouth, taste the air.
There!
The street is busy. People are everywhere. Their muddy, flat scents buffet my nose. A woman with a pale face and cloying perfume scrambles out of my way as I run toward her. My vision is blurry again.
A car beeps as I dart into the road.I slam my fist into the bonnet and vault over the roof of another going in the other direction.
A scream from behind makes the fur bristle on the back of my neck. It feels good to move, but it strengthens the beast. My fangs drip with saliva. My feet fly over the pavement.
A kid on a skateboard darts out of my way and I'm tempted to chase him. Run him down and sink my fangs into young flesh. I don't want to hurt him. Not really. Just catch him. Why is he running from me?
Then I get her scent again.
My head snaps forward. I forget the kid.
I'm running. I build speed. I push past a man who shouts after me.
I ignore him.
I'm gaining on her. The scent is stronger. Its flavor on my tongue makes the red recede from the corners of my vision. Her scent in my nostrils has me on all fours. My shape is not fully wolf. It's a distorted blending of wolf and man. Much bigger than either animal. Much more ferocious. Wilder.
My tongue lolls from my lips as I bound around a corner and my vision narrows on a woman on the street ahead. She wears all black. A tight dress that hugs a slender yet curvy figure. Long sleeves of pretty tattoos cover each arm. High black heeled boots give her walk a strut that shakes her ass in a way that mesmerizes me.
God that ass!
I need to sink my fangs into it.
She's walking away from me. I can't see her face. All I can see is the long black hair which cascades over her shoulders and trails down her back and makes my claws itch to grab it.
A low growl rumbles through my chest.
Mine!
I hardly notice the other people in my way. They quickly get out of it anyway. Not stupid enough to think twice about messing with a werewolf in heat.
My paws carry me to her in a few short bounds. She doesn't even turn. Doesn't flinch. I rear onto my hind legs. I part my jaws ready to bite the succulent flesh of her bare shoulder. Claws reach to grab her.
"Don't." Her cool voice cuts through the heat and freezes me in my tracks.
My ears prick up. My tail does too.
Her scent already has my cock at half-mast and all my nerves on fire.
She turns and I drop to my haunches in front of her. Lush red lips are pursed in disapproval. Black lined eyes bore into mine and her nose ring glints in the streetlights. "Don't even think about biting me."
I growl. My fur fluffs. I couldn't look away from her steely blue gaze if I tried.
She lifts a brow. "You wouldn't dare."
I huff. How does she know?
I've stalked her through the darkness like a beast, but she might as well have read my soul like a book.
"Heel." With that final word, she spins and gives me her back. She walks away! Not runs, walks. Struts!
I follow like she's leashed me.
My paws trot after her long strides and my nose lifts to draw her scent in deeper.
God she is alpha.
Fools might try to tell you that all wolves need an alpha male. Those fools never met a woman like this one.
She leads me around a corner onto a bigger street. I can tell by her scent she's backtracking. The fresh temptation of its richness overlaps something older, slightly less potent. I shake my head, trying to work out what she's about.
Instead of screaming and running, people are staring now. Can't blame 'em.
I'm a fucking monster. They might be used to supes being out after two years, but that doesn't mean your average human is prepared to see a changed werewolf roaming the streets.
I've a sneaking suspicion as many people are watching her as are watching me, though. Of course they are. She's fucking stunning.
The woman stops in front of the entry to a building. I scent people coming and going. Traffic in and out of the doors all day.