The B*E*A*S*T* Within Read online

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  Champagne Books

  www.champagnebooks.com

  Copyright ©2006 by Rebecca Goings

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  Champagne Books Presents

  The B*E*A*S*T

  Within

  By

  Rebecca Goings

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Champagne Books www.champagnebooks.com

  Copyright © 2006 by Rebecca Goings

  ISBN 1897261276

  October 2006

  Cover Art © Chris Butts

  Produced in Canada

  Champagne Books

  #35069-4604 37 ST SW

  Calgary, AB T3E 7C7

  Canada

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my ‘extended family’ at Champagne Books, the publisher, editors, artists, and authors alike, for being so encouraging, loving, and supportive. I am truly privileged to be a part of it all.

  One

  Somewhere in the Colorado Rockies

  Blood covered the ground. The woman smelled its pungent tang on the air. It stained the snow red and steamed hot in the crisp breeze of the winter morning. But where did it come from? Another scent wafted to her, one of smoke and burned rubber. Opening her eyes, the woman squinted at the fuzzy shapes in front of her. The blurry outlines soon solidified into pine trees reaching for the steel-grey sky.

  She groaned at the sudden pain shooting through her skull when she turned her head. Lying on her back, she finally felt the chill of the snow beneath her jacket. Her arms lay useless at her side, and her legs trembled. Golden hair soaked with blood lay on the ground next to her face, hair that looked just like her own. Was it her hair? She couldn't tell. Twisting her head the other way, she winced in pain and gritted her teeth. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight that greeted her.

  A car lay there on its side, revealing its chassis and undercarriage. The front and back wheels spun in the air as if the car had just skidded to a halt. Without warning, the engine burst into orange flames, the sound of the swift-moving fire roaring in her ears.

  The woman panicked.

  Not too far away, a clear liquid pooled in the snow, mixing with the red blood and emitting a foul odor. She recognized that smell but couldn't think of what it could be. Her mind clouded from the intense desire to flee, yet her body refused to respond. Opening her mouth, she tried to call for help, but all that escaped was a soft moan. As the fire raged on, the woman realized the car must be hers. Did she have an accident? Had she been thrown from the vehicle?

  Oh, God ... it was her blood!

  Hot tears streamed down her face as she continued to shout, but it was useless. No more than a whimper came out. She finally recognized the smell permeating the air—gasoline! The engine's fire quickly consumed the car, raging perilously close to the pool of gas right next to her. She willed her body to stand, to run and not look back, but she could only lie there, unable to do more than stare in horror as her own death drew near. What a cruel irony to survive the crash only to die in the explosion that followed.

  But just as she had that thought, bright blue eyes looked down on her, regarding her curiously. White fur covered the enormous face they belonged to, along with a few black stripes here and there. Rounded ears pricked forward then lay back as the beast smelled her with its large pink nose before it grabbed the fluffy collar of her leather jacket in its massive jaws.

  Oh, God, it was dragging her! Dragging her away from the flames with a strength that any woodland creature couldn't possibly possess. But it was big. Whatever it was, the animal was immense as it continued to pull her further into the forest.

  At that moment, the car exploded, deafening her and rocking the surrounding trees. They bent and swayed at the colossal force of the blast as a column of fire licked hungrily at the sky. With tears in her eyes, she found her voice and finally screamed in terror. Thick plumes of black smoke now rose from where the shell of the car lay. Miraculously, no shrapnel hit her, even though bits and pieces of the vehicle rained down, lighting small fires here and there.

  Yet the creature continued to drag her.

  She could hear it growling, and she begged for her life. “Please! Please don't!"

  She knew it was futile to ask for mercy from a vicious, hungry beast. She was going to be eaten! It had probably been attracted to the smell of her blood. Crying pitifully, the woman surrendered to her fate and hoped for all she was worth that the creature killed her before it feasted on her flesh.

  * * * *

  Her mouth was dry, and she smacked her lips, groaning in pain. What she wouldn't give for a glass of water. Had she passed out again? Where was she? No longer cold, she snuggled in the warmth of a blanket that covered her. Shaking her head, she struggled to remember what had happened.

  The car. She remembered the car. And an explosion.

  Snapping open her eyes, she glanced around frantically and found herself in a small cave. Oh God, that ... that creature! Was it still nearby? And where had the blanket come from?

  "Thirsty?"

  The sound of a deep, male voice resonated through the cave. Letting out a small cry of fear, the woman scrambled to a sitting position, amazed that her body now heeded her commands. Not more than a few feet away sat a man regarding her as he held out a canteen and smiled gently. Long, sandy-blond hair framed his face and fell to just below his ears. Reaching up with one hand, he ran his fingers through it as if it were a habit to keep it out of his eyes.

  And his eyes—as icy blue as the winter sky. They glimmered as he looked at her, concern clearly evident on his handsome face. She sat mesmerized, just staring at him in his shirtless state that revealed his athletic build to her. He was wearing jeans, but they were ripped and torn, showing her glimpses of skin underneath.

  Glancing about, she once again remembered the animal that had dragged her away from the wreck, and she shuddered with panic. The woman quivered, clutching the ends of the blanket around her shoulders as if it could protect her from the creature.

  "Where is it?” she managed to say past her chattering teeth.

  "Where is what?"

  "That ... that thing. That monster! We have to get out of here!"

  The man's gaze softened as he broke eye contact. “He will not hurt you."

  "But ... but I heard him growling! He was sniffing me. He smelled my blood!"

  "Trust me. He is my ... friend. He will not hurt you."

  It was hard to calm her galloping heart, but as he caught her gaze again, she could see sincerity in his eyes.

  "Your friend? What is that thing?"

  "Are you thirsty?” he asked again, ignoring her query.

  Reaching out her hand, she gladly took the canteen and moaned as the cool liquid wet her mouth. Water had never tasted so good. After a few more gulps, she realized her head had been bandaged along with her right arm. Tentatively, she touched the dressings.

/>   "Nothing is broken,” he said, making her look at him once again. “Your bones, I mean. Nothing is broken. It's a miracle you survived at all."

  Leaning her head back on the wall of the cave, she tried to remember anything about what had happened. “I swerved to avoid hitting something. It just darted out in front of me. And the roads were already so icy that I ... crashed through the guardrail and ... there was a ravine..."

  Tears flooded her eyes as she covered her mouth, trying futilely to hold back the sobs that ripped from her chest. Before she knew his intent, she was wrapped in the man's arms as he hugged her. Even though a chill hung in the air, his skin was warm to the touch, and she clung to him with all her might.

  "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” he said, his voice muffled by her hair. He rocked her back and forth in his strong arms. “I'm just so glad you didn't ... you could have been..."

  He shuddered, still holding her close as his arms tightened around her. He held her like that for a long while, until her cries abated.

  "What's your name?” he finally asked, pulling back. Giving her a gentle grin, he wiped away her tears.

  She concentrated on controlling her breathing, taking a few deep breaths before she answered him. “My name is Lanie,” she told him after a few moments of thought. “Lanie Erickson. What's yours?"

  "Noah Carpenter. Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand to shake hers. Sitting next to her, he once again ran his fingers through his hair.

  She watched in fascination as the muscles played on his arms. “So that creature ... is a friend of yours?"

  He looked at her, making her shift uncomfortably under his heavy stare. “Yes,” he answered.

  "Is it a dog or something?” It had seemed bigger than a dog at the time, but she supposed it could have been a St. Bernard or a Great Dane.

  "No, it's not a dog."

  "Is he around?” Shivering, Lanie once again pulled the blanket close as she gazed out the mouth of the cave.

  "He's near, but he won't show himself. He will not hurt you. You have my word on that."

  Nodding, she bit her lip and wondered what it could possibly have been if it wasn't a dog. Maybe she didn't want to know.

  "Well, thank him for saving me. If he hadn't come to pull me out of there when he did, then I..."

  Noah lifted his hand to stop her. “I wouldn't have left you there. Not when I caused the accident."

  "Caused? What do you mean caused?"

  Sighing to himself, he looked as if he just regretted what he said. “My ... friend was up there on the roadway, Lanie. It was him you swerved to avoid."

  Two

  Noah held her gaze as she processed his words. He felt so damn guilty just looking at her that it was hard not to look away to hide it. Yet he schooled his features, keeping a straight face. What he'd told her was the truth. He was responsible for her accident, but it had nothing to do with a so-called friend. There was no “creature"—no one but the two of them for miles—yet he couldn't risk telling her the truth. She couldn't possibly understand. Not when he barely believed it himself.

  As understanding dawned on Lanie's features, Noah feared her reaction as if she could somehow deduce the awful truth on her own. He held his breath as she spoke.

  "Holy God,” she whispered in awe. “There was a white tiger in the road! That's what it was! A white friggin’ tiger!"

  Noah could only nod. Lying to her now would raise her suspicions. After she'd swerved to miss the “creature,” she'd plunged over the edge of a steep ravine, and Noah knew in that instant that he couldn't let her die. Without another thought, he'd leapt over the side of the ravine as well, practically killing himself to reach her car before it blew.

  But she'd seen him. She'd seen him in his shifted state. Noah had hoped somewhere in the corner of his mind that she'd be unconscious, but she'd been very much aware, and the horror on her face then had almost matched the horror he now saw in her eyes.

  "Your friend is a white tiger? What the hell are you, some kind of escaped circus performer or something?"

  "No,” he told her, finally looking away.

  "Well, is he a pet?"

  Slowly, Noah began pacing the cave, wondering how he should proceed with her. “Not ... exactly."

  "Is he friendly?"

  "I've already told you he wouldn't hurt you."

  Lanie glanced around the small cave, her gaze stopping on a small backpack. “Do you live here?"

  "I've been staying here for a couple of days, if that's what you mean."

  "Aren't you cold?"

  Glancing down at his chest, he realized for the first time that he'd only put on his jeans since he'd shifted back to his human form. He couldn't help but blush just a little. If Lanie had awakened just a few moments earlier than she had, she would have seen a lot more of him than his bare chest!

  "The cold doesn't bother me,” he told her. And that was the truth. Whatever those bastards had done to him in that horrid lab made him not feel the cold air like he used to.

  Lanie suddenly leaned her head against the wall of the cave and groaned.

  "Hurting?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I need to get to a hospital. Do you have a cell phone?"

  "No."

  "Walkie-talkie? One of those GPS locator thingies or whatever it is you hikers use?"

  She thought he was a hiker? Maybe that could work in his favor.

  "No, sorry. I don't bring much equipment with me."

  "Well, that's irresponsible of you,” she chastised softly, closing her eyes.

  "Why don't you sleep and get comfortable? We have to move in the morning."

  "What do you mean move?” Lanie cracked open an eye at him.

  Hunkering down next to the fire once more, he fed it a few more dry twigs. “We can't stay here. It's not safe."

  "Will you take me to a hospital?"

  "No."

  "Look, mister, I just tumbled end-over-end in my car, got ejected on the way down and was dragged away from it by your tiger friend right before the damn thing exploded. I'm thinking I need to go to a hospital!"

  "I can't risk it.” Staring at her once again, he saw the hardened lines of anger cross her beautiful face.

  Her hazel eyes darkened as she scowled at him. “What are you talking about?"

  "Trust me, it's better if you don't know. But I can't take you to a hospital. I'm sorry."

  "Oh, God."

  "What?"

  "You're not one of those creepy guys who rapes women in the wilderness, are you? Because I gotta warn you, I carry mace in my jacket."

  Noah had to smile at that. This woman sure was feisty, even after what she'd endured.

  "Don't worry,” he told her. “I'm not one of those guys."

  She seemed to relax somewhat, but he sensed her guard was still raised by the way her knuckles went white as she clutched onto the blanket. Her glorious scent gave away what else she was feeling.

  "And I've already told you nothing is broken,” he added.

  "Well, can you at least take me to the nearest road?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I can't. You're with me now. If I let you go, they'll find you. They'll know—they always know. I need to protect you."

  "Just what the hell are you talking about, Mr. Carpenter?"

  "I'm talking about one of the most ruthless secret agencies in the world, Lanie. They're after me. And now they'll be after you too."

  * * * *

  Lanie stared at him in shock. What the heck was going on here?

  "Secret agency? What are you, some kind of James Bond?"

  "Not quite,” he said as he sighed heavily. His fingers once again trailed through his hair. “Look, I can't tell you much. Just about all of it is classified, but there are some really bad guys out there, and I've got no doubt in my mind that they know about your car accident by now."

  "You're scaring me, Noah. What are you talking about?” Lanie looked out at the snow-covered trees beyond the cave and sh
ivered. “The tiger—are they after the tiger?"

  "In a manner of speaking."

  "Did ... did you steal him?” Her teeth chattered as she peered at him, watching his emotions play across his face. The man was handsome, there was no denying that, but there was something cold-blooded about him as well, and she didn't trust him completely.

  "No, I didn't. Just trust me. I know it's hard. You don't know me from Adam, but believe me when I say these men will stop at nothing to get to me, even if that means going through you. And I will not allow that to happen. You have nothing to do with any of this."

  "Any of what? Noah, why would these guys be after me? What did I do to them? And who are ‘they’ anyway? FBI? CIA? Homeland Security?"

  She could have sworn that he growled at her as she returned his gaze. There was something familiar in those blue eyes as she stared back at him, but she couldn't place it. He walked toward her and hunkered on his knees.

  "They aren't an American agency, Lanie. They have a secret base here in the states, but they aren't funded by our government. They're after you now, simply because of your contact with me. Anyone I come in contact with is suspect, which is why I needed to hide out here for a while. But if they know about your accident then they're close by, and I refuse to be caught again."

  "Again? You mean you escaped from them?"

  Noah broke her gaze and stared at the ground. He nodded and closed his eyes for several seconds. “I don't know how long I was with them. It's hard to remember my life ... before."

  "Wait, wait, wait,” Lanie said, holding up her bandaged arm. “Your ‘life before'? Before what?"

  "It's what we call who we used to be. The life we used to live before we were taken."

  "Who's ‘we'?"

  "There are others. But I am the only one who has managed to escape without being killed."

  "Good Lord! You need to go to the authorities about this!"

  "What this secret agency does, Lanie, is not something your average cop is going to understand, much less believe. Besides, if I went to the authorities, these men would find me within an hour, and it all would have been for nothing."