Page 29 of Bella and Her Beast
I take a towel and wrap it around my waist to prevent further distraction. “I guess, you are wondering what exactly happened last night?” I say sarcastically.
She places her hands on top of her head and shakes it from side to side. “Um, yeah.”
“You promise to listen?”
Bella lifts her head and looks to me. “Yes.” She flutters her eyelids like a helpless damsel.
“No questions until I finish telling you everything, okay?”
“Yes, Greyson, yes. Now what was all of that?” Her tone is full of frustration, and I understand how she feels. I was the same way when I came to an age where I had to face it.
“The men in my family are cursed. This is not a phony story. I mean you saw it for yourself last night.”
“I also passed out so not sure if it was just smoke and mirrors or... I don’t know.”
“What you witnessed was very real. I’ve been going through that every full moon since I was born. As a child, it was easy for my mother to conceal me on those nights I would transform. My teen years were a bitch. Hormones of both the human and animal kind surging through my veins kept me in a lot of trouble. By the time I graduated high school, I was getting out of control. That’s when my mother passed like I told you previously. It was then I vowed to find a way to remove this affliction, no matter the cost.”
“Oh, no. That had to be devastating for you.”
“Yeah, it was, or rather is.” I look and her eyes are filled with sorrow. Like she’s seeing my situation for what it truly is.
“Why do you think I hold the key to cure you?”
“I’m not sure exactly. Our research led me to you... well, your family anyway.”
“Yeah, right. My family doesn’t even know you or your family. So I’m not sure how you figure that.”
Russ enters with a tray of breakfast goodies and juice. “I thought some refreshments would be good.” He sits it on the table and unlocks the door so Bella can leave her confines.
She grabs a glass of juice and downs it in a few gulps before grabbing a croissant and sausage.
“I know last night was a bit much for you to handle, miss, but please listen to Greyson. He’s telling you the truth.”
“So, what you are saying is that you’re a wolf and my family has something to do with it, somehow. It’s kinda far-fetched, don’t you think?”
“We can ask Zelda. She’s your grandmother, right?” Russ asks.
I look between her and him as they are in a standstill.
“How did you know that’s what we call my great-grandmother? Have you two been spying on me? Oh, that makes perfect sense. All the nights you were at the library just hanging around, you were getting stuff on me, weren’t you?” She grabs her purse from inside the enclosure and takes out her phone. I'm sure to request a ride. “I don’t know what kind of circus act you have going on here, but I don’t want to be any part of it.” She darts around me, and toward the entrance that leads to the outside.
I gently grab her by her arm, breaking her forward motion. "Why do you think you've been able to feel for me, when you could never with anyone else?" I ask, hoping to acknowledge our deep connection.
"What does that have to do with anything?" She tries again to leave.
"It's because we’re fated, Isabella. We're supposed to be together.Youare the key to breaking my curse." I cusp her face between the palms of my hands, tenderly stroking her cheeks.
She thinks for a second, holding my gaze with hers. Her hand embraces my cheek, and a single tear falls from her eye. “Sorry, Greyson, but this is too much. I gotta go.” With tears in her eyes, she storms away.
I follow her out to see her climb into a waiting car.
Russ joins me at my side. “What do you want to do, sir?”
“It’s so fucking complicated, this curse. On the one hand, I feel deeply for her. Maybe even love her, but this curse makes it seem like I just want to use her to ensure my freedom from its hold. Somehow, we have to make her understand and I have to let her know, curse or not, she’s the one for me.”
“Easier said than done. And how do you propose we do that?”
“There’s only one-person that can help in this matter. Her great-grandmother.”
