Page 7 of Monster's Obsession

By the time I was finished, the first hints of the approaching dawn warned I was running out of time to return to my hiding. Iwanted to linger, but already I could hear the livestock stirring, the canines guarding them waking from their dozes to pace around the herds.

I turned in time to spot one come around the back of a nearby house, the creature crouching and flattening its ears along its skull even as a ridge of hair rose down its spine. A low growl reached me moments before the stupid thing launched itself, its snarl full of menace.

A true monster would have killed the animal and been done with it, but it was only doing its job. With a huff, I played along, running for the trees. It was where I needed to be anyway.

My longer stride assured he couldn’t catch me, but he still chased me halfway across the clearing surrounding the village. I’d already reached the tree line when a sharp whistle split the air and brought the dog to a stop, though it continued its infernal barking. It took another shrill whistle for the dog to turn back, still letting out the occasional bark as it raced to its master.

Settling beneath the tree I’d been using as cover to watch my omega, I gathered a handful of moss from the ground to polish the scuffs carrying the wood had made on my horns as I waited for my prize to awaken and find her newest gift. I wanted to see her reaction, and this time I had a chance. It didn’t matter how tired I was from working through the night. There’d been many times when I’d been denied sleep, and if my omega would finally give into her coming cycle and spend the day resting, I’d have a chance to as well.

The village came to life beneath the slight rise my tree grew from, and eventually the female I was waiting on emerged from her home, coming around the side to walk to her line as she did each morning, but this time she froze. She stared at the stacked wood for a long time before spinning in a circle, looking around her.

Pride filled my chest as she went back to staring at the stacked wood, hands pressed to her cheeks. I was too far away to see her eyes, and a pang hit me out of nowhere.

I didn’t know what color they were.

I didn’t know her name, or how her sweet voice would caress mine as my hands explored her curves.

A growl escaped the back of my throat. I’d been patient, planning every step to make the transition as easy as possible, but it was growing harder to wait.

I wanted her.

Tossing the moss aside, I watched as she rushed to the line and hung her black dress from the prior day. Expecting her to return to the inside of her home and allow me to rest, I was forced to rise to my feet as she turned and headed down the walkway in front of her house instead of returning inside as she usually did.

Hand on the trunk to keep from leaving its protection, I followed my naughty omega with my eyes, watching as she strode through the village. She was searching for something, and it took a moment to realize she was looking for whoever left the wood.

For me.

She walked through the entire community, occasionally stopping to sniff the air. Smirking, I leaned against the bark, crossing my arms over my chest. I had no plans to move, a part of me hoping she could follow my scent and relieve me of the constant waiting, but when a second circuit brought her right back to her home empty handed, her head drooped.

Feet shuffling, she looked at the firewood before glancing around again. When she still didn’t spot anyone, she disappeared into her home, though the window covering twitched a moment later.

Smiling, I let myself sink to the dirt, legs stretched out before me. Her search meant she’d learned my scent, and the first part of my plan had worked. Now I just needed to pick the right time to take her so we could return to my caves as she entered the deepest part of her heat.

By then she wouldn’t care that I was a monster, only that I had a knot to satisfy her.

Chapter Six

Meaghan

Awhirlwind of emotions battered me. From so grateful I could cry, to infuriated that the alpha continued to hide from me, to excited anticipation.

I couldn’t settle.

Pacing the small space inside my home, I kept looking out the window toward the forest. I had food and wood, there was no reason to take my usual walk, yet something kept pulling me toward the green shadows beneath the leaves.

Him.

I still hadn’t seen him. No matter how many times I walked the village, there were no new alphas, and I only caught traces of his scent.

But out in the forest…

I could feel him there. Watching me. Cinnamon musk overlayed the damp smell of the greenery, leading me in fruitless circles.

It had been two days since I found the stacks of firewood. Enough to see me through the spring, summer, and possibly thefall. Enough to give me breathing room and relieve anxiety I hadn’t realized was there.

A cramp froze my pacing, my arms wrapping around my belly as I panted through it. They’d started when a fresh dose of the scent I had become addicted to hit me as I opened my door to look for the gift I knew would be waiting.

It had been truffles the day before. Something so rare and precious I’d stared at them long enough for my hair to dry from the washing I’d given it that morning. There had been enough that I could trade them for just about anything I wanted, assuring I’d no longer go hungry even if I chose to spend the day lingering in my nest.

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