Page 74 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“It’s not your concern.” He looked away, avoiding my eyes, and I knew something had made him so upset that he felt this was the only way to keep us safe. Royce’s death, the attacks . . .

“I won’t let you go out there.”

Hands on his hips, Gil closed his eyes and licked his lips. “Cale,” he started, his voice deep and calm. “Leave.”

The tears spilled down my cheeks. I gritted my teeth, angry at him, and bent down to tug my boots on. After, I turned for the door, but then I looked back at Dyna on the bed and grabbed her up.

“I’m taking the cat,” I said, my voice harsh now.

That got me a glance from him, one that, despite the painful situation at hand, seemed to amuse him.

Leaving the room with Dyna in my arms, I closed the door behind me and let out a breath, and the tears collected in my eyes again and ran down into her gray fur.

Dyna purred then meowed and licked my face. Smiling at her, I made my way down the stairs and to my room. I poured some water in the dish I kept on the floor for her and sat in the chair near the cold hearth.

I put my face in my hands and cried, trying to make sense of what he’d told me, but the pain in my heart was too great.

The day went by so slowly. I walked by Gil’s door often, even going so far as to go up to his room. He was still in there, possibly preparing to leave.

When I wasn’t passing by his door, I was constantly looking out my window at the tree line to make sure I didn’t see him there. And when I was outside with the animals, I constantly looked around or asked Eugenia if he’d left.

As I picked up a bucket to fill at the well, I heard something howling in the distance. My heart quickened, and I looked at Edgar, who froze, and then over at Eugenia, who placed an arrow against her bow.

The howl came closer, this time accompanied by several more, and then I heard the rough grunts of animals from outside the manor walls. Something snarled, and I jerked around, gasping.

When the door of the manor opened and Mary stepped out, I shook my head.

“Go back inside!” Edgar yelled. “Tell lord Gil we’re under attack!”

Just as he’d said it, several four-legged beasts that looked like wild dogs stormed into the manor grounds, hounds on a quest to rip us apart. Edgar brought up his ax and fought a few of them off, and Eugenia fired arrow after arrow.

I was about to run back to the manor to get Gil myself when a huge weight slammed into me, pinning me to the ground. I heard the monster growl above me, its hot breath scalding my neck, and I felt thick, viscous saliva dripping onto my back.

I struggled to move under it, letting out a scream as I felt the monster’s breath and teeth against my skin.

Is this it?The world seemed to move in slow motion as I felt tears stinging my eyes. I closed them, not wanting to see what this monster would do to me.Gil . . . Gil!

I felt the weight of the monster being torn away from my back, and I saw Gil there, shielding me as he tore the monster apart with his bare hands.

More beasts sprang forward, winding around the manor towards the animals, towards us. I kicked one as it neared me, and then Gil snatched it up and ripped it apart. Something black slowly grew up his arms, and I realized it was fur. Sharp black nails grew from his fingertips, and he sliced the beasts in half with them.

His body seemed to transform before my eyes, his back hunching over and dark fur growing all over his body until he was nothing more than a beast himself, still standing like a man, but looking like a strange almost demonic-looking wolf with red eyes.

The Wolfman!

Edgar grabbed my arm and pulled me away, and my heart hammered. Would Gil kill me in this state?

The bloodbath ensued before me as he took out beast after beast, and before long, the remaining dogs fled the manor.

When the wolf beast started forward, I let out a breath and yelled, “Gil!”

The beast stopped and turned around, looking at me for a moment and growling, his sharp teeth baring, before he continued forward, out of the manor and into the woods.

Instantly, I bolted after him, and Edgar was soon on my heels, pulling me back before I had a chance to run out as well.

“You can’t go after him!” Edgar cried.

“He’s going into the woods and leaving us all here!” I said. “He told me this morning. He won’t come back!”

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