Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Hot. So hot.
For a woman who always felt chilly, even in LA’s desert like heat, Gabby was on fire. She felt the warmth all the way down to her bones. It wasn’t cozy or comfortable. Not at all. The burning pain was enough to sear the flesh right off her.
And did she mention the cramps in her muscles?
Holy cow!
Not cursing was an active lifestyle choice, but for once in her life, she didn’t think she’d make it without uttering one obscene word.
Was this normal?
Something had to be wrong.
She opened her eyes to find Ash bent over her, concern and patience in his black orbs. He’d brought her here, back to his home, placed her on the center of his bed. She’d asked him not to, afraid she’d damage the thing, but he wouldn’t hear of laying her anywhere else.
“You must let your Wolf in, little one,” he pleaded. “It will hurt far less if you accept her.”
“Burns,” she growled and grunted, rolling to her side as pain racked her frame.
“Please, Gabriella, I cannot bear to see you like this. What can I do to help?”
“Stay,” she whimpered, the only word that came to mind.
She closed her eyes, trying to breathe through the worst of it. She heard that same strange voice inside her head, pleading and begging to be let out. Only Gabby could not relinquish control of herself. Certainly not to some mythical being. Heck. She didn’t even know how.
“Boss?” Ernie’s voice penetrated through her haze, and she vaguely heard Ash give the Imp some curt instructions.
“Shouldn’t be harsh on him,” she scolded, but it was hardly effective, as her whisper was fragile.
“This is not going how it should, Gabriella. I sent Ernie for help.”
“I’m sorry I—”
“No! I didn’t mean it to sound as if it is your fault—”
Footsteps brought her head up, and she saw Eve and someone else next to her, a strange woman.
Not a woman, her inner voice said.
Wolf.
“Hello, Ash,” the woman said, walking into the room. “Eve tells me your name is Gabby, is it? I’m Chloe, and I think I can help.”
Gabby tried to smile, but it came out a snarl. Oops. The lovely woman simply raised her eyebrow before stealing a glance at Ash, whose sole focus remained on her. Thank goodness. It was the only thing keeping her from freaking the heck out.
“Alright, listen up, Gabby. Your Wolf was dormant for quite some time, but with the new changes in the supernatural world after the fall of the Curse, she is looking to be freed from that metaphysical plane where she dwells until you call. Now, that’s the supernatural science of it.
Anyone could’ve told you that. What I am going to tell you is more personal. Listening?”
Gabby growled, nodding her head. Beads of sweat rolled down the sides of her face, and she arched as another wave of staggering pain struck.
“It’s like my insides are being squeezed with vices,” she grunted.
“I know,” Chloe frowned, turning to Ash. Gabby was unsure what they were whispering, but she heard a few phrases about something between mates and bonds and giving her strength.
“I would give her everything,” Ash replied with a Demonic hiss.
“Good,” Chloe said, turning back to Gabby. “She might need it.”
“Gabriella, look at me,” Ash instructed, and she turned her head, gaze landing on his.
“Good, Gabby. I want you to use Ash as your focal point,” Chloe said, her voice had an oddly calming effect that Gabby really, really liked.
“Keep looking at him, Gabby. See him there. He will protect you with his life. Not let anything bad happen. Now close your eyes, see your Wolf? She is part of you. She will protect you too. Trust her. Let her out, Gabby. Your Wolf is part of who you are and, like Ash, she will never lead you astray.”
The woman’s words were like magic. Or maybe that was the steady assurance she felt flowing from Ash.
Either way, Gabby felt the heat inside of her flame to volcanic temperatures, her body arched and a scream tore from her throat.
The sound changing midway through to something she’d heard only in nature documentaries.
“Agggghhhhhwwwwooooooooooo!”
Some remnants of cloth stuck to her as she panted in place, but most were torn in the process.
Hysteria gone, Gabby glanced around, noting her slightly askew vision.
Everything seemed more in focus, and she could see more than just who was there and the room.
It was like she could see smells and heat signatures.
Her new Wolf’s eyes searched for Ash and found him, looking grim but relieved when she walked over to where he stood and nudged him with her lupine nose.
“Gabriella?” he murmured, dropping to his knees, his black eyes glowing obsidian as he raised a hand tentatively.
Warmth rushed through her as his fingertips skimmed her fur. Looking down, she realized her fur was brown with golden tips, and her paws were massive, with huge claws that clicked on the stone flooring of Ash’s home. Oh no, her head snapped, and she saw the damage she’d done to his bed.
“Don’t worry, Gabby, Ernie is already on it,” Chloe said, smiling down at her. “And I apologize for barging in since we weren’t properly introduced, but it is nice to meet you. Take care.”
With that, the woman left, and Gabriella’s focus was back on Ash. Feelings she’d been too afraid to acknowledge as a human seemed so simple, now. It was as if her soul was laid bare, stark and naked for him to see, and for some reason, she wasn’t worried or embarrassed.
Mine.
Her Wolfish thoughts were clear and definite. The Demon Ash was hers, and she wanted him in every way. Gabby was too awestruck to be shocked by the carnal turn of her thoughts. Her Wolf seemed eager and ready to mark the male as hers. The animal knew without fail that they were destined.
“So beautiful,” Ash whispered as his long fingers wove their way through her fur.
The beast preened at his praise, wanting more, and yet she itched to run, to try out this new body. His eyes flashed and turned to the door. As if he’d read her mind, Ash stood gesturing with a wicked grin that made her bark playfully at the sexy Demon. She wanted a chase.
“Go on then, lady mine. There is a small path that leads to a courtyard directly behind my home. I will follow. You won’t get far,” he said, opening the door to the Underworld.
Gabby yipped and took off, running harder and harder. Gabriella pushed her suddenly very able body as fast as she could. She ignored the yell coming from behind her, glorying in the newfound strength and freedom she had in this form.
She wasn’t poor chubby Gabriella anymore.
Not in her fur. Oh no. This Gabby was sleek and cunning, fast and powerful.
She liked the feeling. A lot. Maybe that was why she ignored the call of her mate, yes, she recognized him for what he was now, and kept on going.
Running full steam until she could go no more.
Passing shops and the quaint little village-like atmosphere of the Underworld that she barely remembered from the night before, Gabby continued at breakneck speed.
She heard wings flap, claws skitter, smelled the faint scent of sulfur and fire beneath it all.
It was like her senses had magnified a hundredfold.
Illuminating, breathtaking, and incredible. So many new sensations, too many to name, and Gabby reveled in them. A wall of black thorns spread out before her and she skidded to a stop, panting heavily. Turning her lupine head, she waited for Ash, but she must’ve lost him somewhere along the way.
No worries.
He would find her.
He’d said as much, and the Wolf that was her had no reason to disbelieve him. So much to learn, she mused as she put her nose to the black, ashy covered ground and sniffed lightly. Weird. There was no scent. Like someone had cleaned the area, cleared it of any remnant or trace of existence.
The rest of the Underworld she’d seen zooming by on her wild journey was a thriving town, this was not. There was a dark and dangerous feel to the area just beyond the thorn forest.
Something lurked there.
Something wrong.
Gabby snarled. Her Wolfish lip pulled back to reveal enormous fangs. She could see her own reflection in one of the puddles that appeared just in front of her. Her enormous caramel brown Wolf looked fierce and proud, and she was careful not to step one paw in the black liquid.
“Gabriella!” Ash shouted from behind her, and she barked once to alert him of her location.
Ash rushed to her side. His spicy sandalwood scent filling her sensitized nostrils. Immediately, she calmed. As if simply being near him was enough to settle her nerves. But she was still aware of something not quite right about the place.
“Never do that again,” her Demon mate muttered, dropping to his knees and embracing her.
Nice, but could be better.
No sooner had the thought emerged then she felt an electrical hum wash over her limbs.
It was not painful. Not like before, but she recognized the magical sensation and this time, when her bones began to break and re-knit themselves, Gabriella allowed the sensations to wash over her as they were meant to.
“Ash,” she sighed, naked as the day she was born, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth to his.
Passion flared to life, though, in her case, it had never really waned. She moaned, opening her lips, and pressing her tongue into his mouth. She’d never been the aggressor, and yet, with him she couldn’t deny her feelings, her desires. Every fiber of her being pushed her closer into his arms.
“Gabriella,” he murmured her name, arms wrapped tightly around her followed by his large, black, leathery wings.
“Take me home,” she whispered, kissing his cheek, then his chin, and his neck.
His hands tightened on her flesh, and she loved the sting of his claws. He was losing control of his Demon, as if she was somehow testing his limits with her unpracticed kisses and words.
Yesss, she thought as his hardened manhood pressed into her soft belly. Knowing she’d done that to him made her proud, bold, and she ran her hands down his muscled chest and sleek abs to the long, hard length of him beneath his slacks. Need fueled her desire. It felt so good, so right to touch him.
Call her mad. Call her nuts. She didn’t care. She was meant to do this. It was as if she was seeing clearly for the first time, and her vision was full of him.
Her soul mate.
Yes, something inside her confirmed the sentiment.
She was born for this. Made to be with him, to touch and kiss this man, this Demon. She wanted to give herself to him freely and without hesitation.
Yes.
Now.
Gabby wanted to be with Ash more than anything.
To belong to him.
To be his and his alone.
It shocked her, those feelings of possession that burned within. Shocked and delighted her. So many people walked around oblivious to their true desires, and here she was, feeling every one of them for the truth they were.
Ash was her destiny. Even a timid Sunday school teacher could not deny that.
Why should she?
Especially when every fiber of her being was pressing her to seal the deal.
Claim.
Mate.
Mine.
“Now, Ash,” Gabby said firmly.
“Take me home, now.”