Page 66 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Intwo giant steps, she was off the bed and onto the floor in front of the bed ina flash. Her feet were pounding against the hardwood as she ran through theopen bedroom door. Conflicting thoughts were fracturing her mind. She needed toget help. She needed to get away. Someone had to be able to help Zach, but shehad to run.
Thefrantic sound of claws scraping and clicking the floor behind her told her thewolf was giving rapid chase. Reaching the stairs, she placed one shaking handon the handrail as one foot landed on the first stair. It was the barking growlbehind her that sent another jolt of desperate energy through her body andtangled her movements. Sana felt her bare foot slip on the edge of the secondstep and her body pitch forward. Another sound came from the wolf, much closerthan it had been, a short high-pitched whine of a bark. Sana let out her owncry as she felt her world turn and her mind cruelly played scenes of herimpending death as she fell headfirst down the long wooden stairway.
Teethpainfully grazed the top of her backside just before she felt her body beingyanked back. With a painful thud, her back hit the unforgiving stairs. Thecorners of each stair pushing agonizingly into her legs, back, and one behindher neck. But Sana had no time to focus on the pain as a black shapescrabbled over and past her on the stairs before turning with a whine. Shockstill holding back her words within her throat, Sana watched with wide eyes asthe wolf settled on top of her letting out high, keening cries as he licked herface over and over again. She tried pushing at the wolf, but his heavy body wasdraped across hers and would not budge. He did not want her to move—Zach didnot want her to move, she reminded herself. The mental correction stilled her.This was Zach, her wolf who had visited since she moved back here was Zach. Amemory of that day by the quarry pond years ago came back to her, a skinnylong-legged wolf staring at her from the large rock as she swam with thosefamiliar golden eyes. It had always been Zach.
Turningher face away from the beast's constant licking, Sana lowered her stiff handsinto its thick fur. The wolf paused in its attempt to soothe her. Tentativelyshe looked back, staring up at the wolf's face.
"Zach?"she whispered, her pounding pulse striking against her skin with every breath.
Ashudder passed through the wolf's body and then another. She could feel hisflesh and fur ripple against her, and she heard the sounds of bones crackingonce again. Closing her eyes at the sound, she could not bring herself to watchthe painful-looking transformation again. The sounds on their own werefrightening enough, but the mutation of his body was enough to break her mind.After a minute, she felt the weight against her change and opened her eyes justas the last of the black fur disappeared, leaving the familiar sun-bronzed skin.Tossing back his long black hair, Zach leaned awkwardly on one knee against thestairs in an odd lunge-like pose as he scooped both of his strong handsunderneath her back. Sana watched the hard set of his worried but determinedface as he lifted her off the stairs. She sighed in relief as she came awayfrom the stairs. Holding her in his arms, Zach carried her back to the bedroom,kicking the door shut with an air of finality behind him. Setting her on theedge of the bed, Zach kneeled naked in front of her, taking her hands into his.Golden predatory eyes stared up at her with a desperation she had never seen onhim.
"Please,Sana. Please don't leave, let me explain. I just-" his soft pleading wordsonly accentuated the lines of worry in his face.
Itfelt wrong seeing his face filled with worry. That was the only thought in herhead as she gazed back at his waiting expression. Lifting her hand, she tracedthe furrow of his brows and felt herself sigh along with him as he let out adeep breath.
"Sana,"he breathed, the need in his voice crashing into her like a wave.
Reachingher other hand out, she cupped the sides of his face feeling the strong line ofhis jaw beneath her palm as she traced her fingers up to the scar that ranacross his brow and eye.
"Youcan change into a wolf." Though the words had a note of question in them,she meant them more as a statement of confirmation for her own mind. A verbaldeclaration more for herself and her own sanity.
Zachcupped her hand to his face, keeping her hand there as he nodded."Yes."
Takinga deep breath, she nodded. "Ok," she paused, looking down at her lapbefore meeting his searching gaze again. "Tell me everything."
Forhours they laid together on the bed, his arms wrapped around her pressing hertight against his chest as if he was afraid to let her go. His deep voicerumbled from his chest against her like a thunderstorm rolling down the mountainsas he explained that every male Waatese she had ever met and even Wyatt, themechanic, was a wolf. When she asked him about his sharp teeth and theirfamily's golden eyes, he ducked his head towards her and gave her a sharp grin.Even in the darkness of the room, she could see the gleam of his sharp teeth.It was a family trait, he explained. If she were to look closely, even Elijah'steeth were sharper than normal.
"Butyour teeth are way more pronounced, though. I always thought you looked,"she paused, thinking of her younger self being pinned against the tree as theolder boy had kissed her. Even now, the memory made her shudder with want, justas it did for all those years since. "I thought it made you look ratherpredatory," she admitted.
Zachstiffened against her. "I'm…a bit different from the rest of myclan."
Shelooked up at him from the cage of his arms. "How so?"
Anuncomfortable expression settled over his fine features. "I.."
Shewatched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. He was nervous, she realized."Tell me," she urged, pushing away from his hold just enough for herto prop herself onto her elbow and look down at him.
Turningonto his back, Zach let out a deep sigh as he averted his gaze from her,staring at the wall on his side of the bed for a lingering moment as hementally debated.
"Please,Zach, no more secrets."
"Evenif this secret will scare you more than it did before?" he said, givingher a sharp look.
Hergut tightened as her chill ran down her spine. "What do you mean?"
Sittingup, the covers fell to bunch around his waist as Zach grabbed both of her arms ashe brought her up to sit next to him, his grip securing her in place. Lookingfrom his wide bare chest and up the strong column of his neck, Sana met hisgaze and waited.
"I…fuck,"he cursed, hanging his head for a moment. "I don't even know where to begin."
"Iwon't run—I promise.”
Goldeneyes flashed with relief before narrowing with steely determination. "Iknow because I won't let you. I need you, Sana. I love you more than you couldever imagine. I won't let you leave me not again."
Thispiqued her pride. "And how exactly would you stop me?" she asked,raising a brow.
Zach'sfingers flexed against her upper arms, and she could see the muscle in his jawtick. "Sana," he warned.
"Fine,fine," she sighed, though she would table this conversation for later, shementally noted. "Tell me," she urged.
