Page 33 of Cursed Beasts

There were three levels on each side of the long library and throughout the first-floor, rows and rows of bookshelves lined either side of the small walkway. Chills ran through my body at the beauty of it all, making me long for a whole day to look through everything.

It looked like a million lives had occupied this space and I desperately wanted to experience every one of them.

I walked up to the nearest bookshelf and ran my hand along the spines, closing my eyes, savoring the feel of the books underneath my fingers. For the first time since I had arrived, I felt calm and centered. As much as I wanted to stay and explore, I knew I had to go check out the gate and the rest of the perimeter.

Pulling myself away, I walked to the glass doors that led to the outside. I glanced at my watch seeing it was already past three, there was no need to be quiet anymore. My body let go of some of the tension I had been harboring as I stepped out into the beautiful night. There were a few clouds in the sky giving the moon an ominous half-hidden feel to it.

I walked towards the front of the manor, hoping for some good news today or something, anything that would help me get the fuck out of here. I rounded the corner walking to the gate, feeling confident that the men were in the house doing whatever they did for the hour.

Like fucking each other’s brains out while I was a peeping Tom who almost stuffed her hands into her pants to get off.

Breathing harshly, I was getting annoyed that I thought of them again, wishing I could see them again. What if Zev was in—

“Did you think we wouldn’t notice you sneaking around?”

My head snapped up seeing all three of them standing where I saw them for the first time at the top of the stairs. All of them had their arms crossed against their chests, looking intimidating as hell. I was annoyed at myself even more that I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings and their sexual escapades had distracted me again.

I guess I wasn’t being as stealthy as I thought I was, and I had just been caught. My heart started to pound a little quickly, wondering what they were going to do and why was excitement strumming through my body?

16

AEON

The first thing I thought about, when I woke up, was the Belladonna watching Lucien and I together. It’s been the first thing I had thought about these past three days, making me hard instantly from the rampant thoughts of her joining us.

I sat up to see all of us close to each other. While Lucien and I were a mess of limbs, Zev was an arms-length away from us. He had his own space, but he was close enough. It had been a while since we had all woken up together like this.

In the beginning, we always woke up together, the need for a pack was strong. It drove us together but the longer we stayed cursed, it seemed it drove us further apart. Zev had pulled away more and more, the longer we were like this. I really think he missed pack life; he was starting to really feel the isolation.

“I think we need to release some energy with a little chase.”

I looked over at Zev, on his back, looking up at the night sky.

“She has been looking around the property,” I said, smirking, feeling excited.

“I miss hunts,” Lucien's voice sounded muffled.

“It seems like she is trying to find an exit,” Zev said, sitting up.

“Probably. She wouldn’t be the first one either.” I grinned.

I felt Lucien get up right behind me, expecting him to scoot away, but he stayed close, making me feel more stable in my emotions. We were somewhat back to normal, we had had a few conversations lately that felt like we were going in the right direction.

“I need a good run.” Lucien got up from behind me, walking to the bin closest to us to grab us all a pair of pants. “I doubt we will need our shirts, plus it might distract her.”

He grinned at me, like he couldn’t wait to catch her. I looked at Zev as he finished putting on his pants. He looked at me with his yellow eyes, still very serious but I could see and feel his excitement.

We walked together to the front of the house when I heard her walking near us. I stopped, and we all listened to her on the steps of the entrance.

“Looks like she is coming right to us,” I said, not even hiding my excitement.

Lucien stood on the other side of Zev, so we looked like a united front, much like on the day she arrived. She walked around the corner of the house, her scent blowing at us from the subtle breeze in the air.

“Did you think we wouldn’t notice you sneaking around?” Zev said, making her head snap towards us.

She stared at us with a shocked expression, but she pursed her lips together like she was keeping a secret from us, or was she keeping a laugh to herself?

“I’m surprised it took you this long,” she taunted. “I guess you aren’t as good as you thought you were. I was expecting you on the first night I found my way out here.”

---