Chapter 23
Sandra
I peer through the window, my eyes fixed on Mark's silhouette, which stands out imposingly outside. They are a little distant, but I strain my ears to hear the conversation.
A duel... with his half-brother.
The challenge has been issued, and my body tenses just thinking about it. I know what this means... Rumours speak of duels between wolves, and usually one of them doesn't come out alive.
But as I look at Mark, all imposing, strong and fierce, something stirs inside me.
I can't help it. He looks like a force of nature.
Even knowing the horror it will bring — duelling with his own brother — I can't help but feel a warmth invading my body.
It wouldn't be so bad if Mark wiped out that jerk's race.
Every time I crossed paths with the alpha, he and his wolves mistreated me. The alpha wolf is horrible.
And Mark...
A sigh escapes me, thinking about how well he treats me.
How he protects me.
How he moves, the way his posture exudes power...
Even when he transforms into his hybrid form, he's... sexy, in a wild way. His presence, so colossal and full of power, all muscle and strength, is so intense and...
I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to push these crazy thoughts away.
For heaven's sake, Sandra, this isn't right!
I watch the wolves disappear into the darkness of the forest. Mark resumes his human form and walks back into the cabin. I jump off the ledge and run down the stairs, rushing towards him. As soon as I cross his path, he takes me in his arms and presses me against his chest.
His breathing is heavy.
"Balthazar told me something bad was coming. It's not enough that I'm dealing with all this shit, now I have to deal with Liam too." He exhales slowly and closes his eyes. "I want to end this feud once and for all. I've been very patient until now, but no more."
I lightly touch his face with my paw, feeling his tension. He relaxes under my touch, the muscles in his face softening.
When it's time to sleep, he carefully places me on his chest. This gesture has become a ritual between us, and my animal instinct, which only grows stronger with time in this cat form, makes me press my paws against his muscles.
I purr contentedly, massaging his body as if kneading bread, just like cats do.
I take advantage of the moment to indulge in a veiled pleasure, without him noticing.
I feel every rise and fall of his warm skin under my paws, losing myself in the mesmerising texture. ..
Mark lets out a hoarse laugh and slides his fingers through my fur.
"Good evening, Kitten."
I purr in response, curl up and close my eyes, burying my face against his neck.
His scent envelops me, and I finally fall asleep.
***
I wake up with a start in the middle of the night.
A pressure hits my chest. My body vibrates, my bones tingle, my muscles contract in waves of scorching heat.
My essence pounds at the barrier, trying to break through.
I jump off Mark and run, through the door and down the stairs to the bathroom.
As soon as I cross the threshold, the transformation takes hold of me completely.
Pain tears through my limbs. Bones crack and reform, skin stretches, flesh moulds.
I swallow my moans and curl up on the cold floor, naked and panting.
Every breath burns my lungs. I force myself to stand and lean my hands on the sink.
The mirror reflects my image: feverish green eyes, black hair plastered to my face with sweat, pale skin.
And the collar is still there.
My hands hesitate before touching it. I pull on the ribbon, try to loosen it, but it remains tight against my throat. My heart races. It must be enchanted so that Mark can remove it. That means he'll know where I am at all times.
I let out a sigh; it's not like I want to run away now, I've decided to stay here as long as I can. I'm safe here. I'm being very well looked after.
I can't lose the only comfort I still have while I'm in this situation.
That doesn't mean I want to be trapped in this curse, or cut off from communication. I need to think of a plan...
I can't just go back to the room like this and wake Mark up, can I?
He'll probably attack me instinctively, before I even get a chance to explain who I am and what happened to me.
And even if I do, would he believe me? After all this chaos, he might well think I'm some kind of spy, conspiring against him.
I don't know how much longer I can stay in this form, and I urgently need to relieve the feverish burning in my body.
I turn the tap carefully, avoiding any sound that might give away my presence. The cold water against my face brings immediate relief, calming the turmoil inside me a little. I take the toothpaste, squeeze a little onto my finger, and rub it on my teeth, getting rid of the bitter taste in my mouth.
I think about what else I can do, but then the pain returns with a vengeance.
A shock runs through me, my spine freezes, my skin tingles.
The curse demands control.
This time I manage to remain in my human form for a few minutes, my thoughts flashing briefly before I am consumed by the transformation.
I bite my lower lip to stifle a scream and fall to my knees. My strength abandons me, cold spreads through me, and in a single breath, my human form dissolves.
Now I am a cat again.
The next day, Mark feeds me before going to work, leaving me alone.
I spend the entire morning trying to transform, feeling my essence gradually increase. I struggle, banging against that crack, trying to escape the barrier.
I need to regain control over my own body.
I think about how, even if I were to become completely human again, I wouldn't want to lose contact with Mark, not after getting to know him more intrinsically and growing fond of him.
.. Perhaps, if by some miracle I could completely free myself from both the curse and the collar, I could bump into him and strike up a conversation. ..
I laugh inside, shaking my head at the improbability.
I refocus on the transformation, until, a few hours later, I succeed.
The first thing I do is run to the bathroom and take a cold shower, washing my hair.
I dry myself with a towel, but I don't have much time.
Yesterday, by my calculations, I managed to stay in this form for five or six minutes.
I put the towel in the laundry basket, mixing it with one of his used towels.
If I could, I would wash and dry it to remove any traces. I know that in human form my smell is a little different from when I'm in animal form. Mark may notice, but it's a risk I have to take, at least until I can stay human longer.
And that's what I'm going to practise, every day: maintaining control.
I go naked to the kitchen. I don't know if I have seconds or minutes left, but I want to eat a little more. I grab a banana, peel it completely, and throw the peel in the bin before eating. I'm finishing chewing when I feel the need to transform again.
Damn...
But a small smile stretches my lips, because according to the clock on the kitchen wall, this time I stayed human for fifteen minutes.
"Tomorrow I'll try again and..." I glance at the computer. "I have a plan."
It's the last thing I say before turning back into a cat.
Mark comes home a few hours early, sighs as he closes the door and looks for me. He's holding a bag in one hand, and I'm curious to know what's inside, but my attention returns to him when he starts talking.
"You must be starving." He crouches down and runs his hand through my fur.
He walks to the kitchen, places the bag on the counter before taking out the food he left prepared. Then he puts it in the pet bowl in front of me. The smell of juicy chicken and vegetables makes me forget any plans for a moment.
I eat, savouring every bite, while he goes to his home office, sits down in front of the computer and massages his temples.
I dash over there, leaving the rest of the food for later.
This is more important...
I jump onto his lap, purring, and he smiles, completely oblivious to my plan.
He turns on the computer and I jump onto the desk, next to the keyboard, peeking as he types the password to unlock the monitor.
I repeat the numbers in my mind. At first, they seem very difficult, until I realise that the first numbers are the same as the gate code, I just need to memorise the rest:
251122819961
I go back to the floor and finish eating, repeating the password silently. I keep repeating the sequence in my head until I feel sure I won't forget it.
Later, before bed, Mark surprises me with something unexpected. He enters the room with the bag he brought when he returned from work and, seeing my curiosity, begins to take out some items that immediately catch my attention.
"I've prepared a spa night for you. What do you think?" He says with a smile, as he takes a special brush out of the bag, which begins to release a soft, fragrant vapour. "I saw this today and thought you'd like it."
He sits on the floor and, with a gentle gesture, settles me more comfortably on the bed, strokes my muzzle with his fingertip before leaning over and kissing my head.
I can't help but purr, a little surprised by the delicacy of the moment.
With firm but careful hands, he begins to brush my fur patiently.
The warm steam from the brush dissolves any tension I've built up during the day, and a deep relaxation takes over me.
"I don't think I've ever cared for anyone like this before..." He murmurs softly, his words laden with genuine affection. "But you deserve all the care in the world, you know?"
With each movement, he makes me feel more relaxed, while the warmth on my skin and the delicacy of his touch make the moment even more special. The tension in my shoulders disappears, and little by little, I melt under his care.
He smiles gently and then picks up a small jar and opens the lid. The sweet aroma of coconut oil spreads through the air as he spreads the product between his fingers.
"Let's take care of those little paws, my dear," he says affectionately, massaging the pads of my paws with a warm and gentle touch. The oil glides over my skin, moisturising every part with precision, and I can't help but purr with pleasure again, my eyes closing.
With the same tenderness, he slides a little oil onto my snout, gently rubbing it on my nose so it doesn't dry out. I melt, my eyes closing in pure delight, his touch making me feel safe and cared for like never before.
"All done, clean and moisturised paws. Now... I'm going to return the massage you gave me last night." His voice is cheerful, and his fingers move in gentle circles at the base of my neck.
The delicate pressure and movements make me relax even more, my purrs continuing low and steady. He now massages my back, and the feeling of his hands there is incredibly comforting.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he asks, his voice low and full of complicity, as his hand moves back up, caressing the back of my neck with a gentleness that leaves me surrendered. "I take good care of what's mine."
I let myself be enveloped by that affection, my eyes still closed, feeling each touch as if it were a gift.
A kitten could get used to this.
And so can a human...