Page 38 of The Beast's Baby
A note?
Jay furrowed his brows. Where had that come from? Angelica?
Isobel unfolded it and Jay’s eyes widened as he grabbed it from her, reading the scrawl that he knew so well: Olive. The note was written in their made-up language and would look like nonsense if anyone else had found it, but he could read it loud and clear.
It said:Get ready.
His eyes met Isobel, his excitement clear, and she smiled when he did. All he could do was nod since the room was bugged, but she nodded as well. A sign that she trusted he knew what was going on and that it was good news.
Fair enough, he didn’t know what was going on, but he did trust Olive.
Whatever was coming it was sure to mean that they would be set free, by whatever means; Olive was going to see to it.
“What should we do?” Isobel asked.
“Wait,” he replied, since it was all he could think to do.
“We’d better get up,” she said, another smile on.
Or there’d be hell to pay from Angelica, he was sure.
Chapter 11 - Isobel
Her wolf had been restless all day. It wanted to be released. It wanted to run across muddy fields, into the scent of pine and dewy moss. It wanted to hunt. But more than anything it wanted its presence known within the corridors of the facility. It wanted to stalk the spaces slowly, eyes glowing, growl in its throat. It wanted to make those who saw it tremble with fear, like they had made her tremble.
It was a strange thing to have a part of her feel so much like it was integrated into her and yet as though it also stood apart from her in fierce loyalty to her. It was a sense of unconditional love that had sprung from deep within her at the moment of her first shift and she leaned against it, urged patience.
Even with the woman now once more seated in an armchair opposite her, a different fur on but the same color lipstick, the same elaborate hairdo. The same toxically sweet smile.
“Please, ask your questions,” Eva said.
Isobel didn’t even know where to begin, but settled on, “How long will it take?”
“Seven months,” Eva replied. “Give or take.”
“Is it different to a human pregnancy?” Isobel asked.
“It can be a bit more painful if the pup is in wolf shape,” Eva said.
“That can happen?” Isobel inquired, rattled. She would have thought that it was impossible for a fetus to shift.
“When the baby is shaped both the wolf and the human are very much present and equal,” Eva said. “You’ll feel which one it is,” she added. “I had two of my children remain human throughout most of the pregnancy and two who didn’t.”
“Did I?” Isobel asked. Eva’s smile widened.
“No,” she replied. “You did not. It’s why I know you’re strong enough to get through this.”
“Why did you give me up?” Isobel demanded.
“Because you don’t have the same father as your brothers,” Eva sighed, looking unbothered by the truth though she must have been aware of how it would affect Isobel, or she wouldn’t have skirted it.
Isobel drew a slow, steadying breath.
“I’m glad you did,” Isobel said. “Imagine how I would’ve turned out if I’d been raised by you.”
Eva’s smile didn’t falter. She looked smug, at ease, like a queen on her throne. She knew she had the upper hand and that there was nothing Isobel could do to take it from her. But she wasn’t expecting the cavalry to show up. She wasn’t expecting the prisoners to be sitting with an ace up their sleeves.
Whatever that ace might be.
