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Inner Animal Ch. 01

By: RavenMoon



Hey guys! Well I have been promising a werewolf story for a while so here you go! Enjoy! 

*

I guess most people can call themselves normal. People can go day by day comforted that their lives are average: steady. That they can go home, watch the telly and then go to sleep. Some people complain that their lives are mundane but when they are presented with the opportunity to change their lives- they either shy away and return to their comforting routine or take a chance and regret it.

That's what I've learnt anyway. Some people may call me a pessimist, I prefer the term realist. Don't get me wrong, I had dreams once but let's just say life knocked the sense back into me. You have to earn every penny you get in this world and trust me, when you're in my profession, they make you earn it.

***

Midnight walked out of the room, fanning herself with her recently earned notes. A layer of sweat had started to gather over her skin, making her hands slick with perspiration. The music of the club pulsed through the floor and the walls around her making the air thick with vibration. She saw the customer re-enter the main floor his face alight with excitement as he eagerly met his friends. Usual exaggerated tales met her ears of 'a sexual conquest' but what had once annoyed her merely amused her now.

Reaching the bar, she gazed around at the moody lights that highlighted the various strippers and lustful men. The counter was smooth marble and cool to the touch as she rested her weight against it. She could feel the various gazes on her as the customers eyed her up and down, ignoring them she waited for the bartender. Mark walked over with a smile on his face. "How was it?"

"Not too bad." She replied as she handed him the money. "He didn't try it on."

Mark flicked through the notes and raised his eyebrows. "At least that's something." Placing it beneath the bar, he pulled out her cigarettes and handed them to her along with her lighter.

She smiled in gratitude. "Anyone else out there?"

"Nope, the others are working." As a balding man walked up to the bar, he gave her a quick grin and walked over to take the guy's order.

She gave a quick wave to Roxxii in the cage. At her questioning gaze she quickly nodded before retreating from the bar to head outside. She weaved in and out of the people in the dim lit room and stepped out of the reach of groping hands. As she walked out into the cool air, she took a refreshing breath and savoured the clean oxygen that entered her lungs. Opening the packet, she pulled out a cigarette and placed it between her lips. Stuffing the pack under her arm, she lit the end and watched it glow to life. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes as the nicotine worked through her bloodstream and blew out the smoke that filled her mouth.

Her shaking hand stilled as the cigarette soothed her and she placed her wrist against her forehead. She didn't enjoy her job. It was a living but not worth living for. The men that watched her always managed to repulse her and the way in which their eyes undressed her made bile crawl up her throat.

She took another drag. As a breeze streaked a piece of hair across her face she brushed the black strand aside. She heard a whoop from inside and footsteps approach. The shift's nearly over, it's nearly over...

Vixen approached her with a friendly face. "It's time for the group dance."

Midnight nodded gently as she stumped the cigarette out on top of the bin and threw it away. "...Okay."

***

Jason entered the club with the others in tow. Aaron walked in behind him and groaned loudly as he took in his surroundings. "A strip club? You've got to be kidding me! Abbie's going to kill me!"

Harry put him in a headlock and ruffled his light hair. "Well we certainly know who wears the trousers in that relationship."

"Well we know who's not going to be wearing the trousers tonight." Jason smirked earning equal sniggers from his companions.

Looking towards the stage his eyes swept over the scantily clad women and he nodded in approval.

They'd just moved towards the bar when a song began to fill the room and the crowd began to cheer. 

'It's been a while...'

Two women ran past them and one of them knocked him. With a hurried apology she sped onto the stage.

"What's going on?" Dean frowned just as the women met a third on a raised platform at one end of the club and each stood next to a pole. 

'I know I kept you waiting, but I'm here now...'

As the beat began the women began to move around the poles. Several wolf whistles pierced the air. Lights illuminated their suggestive movements as they span.

Jason's heart hammered as he saw their bodies gyrate against the metal. The dancer in the middle seemed to be attracting the most attention but he couldn't take his eyes off the dark haired beauty on the left. Electricity still ran up and down his shoulder from the contact with her and everything else seemed to melt away apart from the music pulsing in his ears and her graceful movements. Even though her erotic dance made his throat dry, he could appreciate her skill.

A halter neck cropped waist coast seemed to tell the spectators that her work was strictly business and knee high black leather heeled boots gave her a military presence with their laced front. Her black shorts however, showed her true profession.

Jason glanced over his shoulder at the bartender who was also watching the show. "What's the dancer on the left called?"

The bartender appeared tired as he looked at him. "Midnight." 

An arrogant smile came across his face. He would be fucking that later.

***

Midnight finished the dance and carefully stepped down the steps, avoiding the greedy hands that reached for her. She walked towards the bar and the waiting Mark.

His face was covered in a smile. "You've got an admirer..."

She held out her hand and waited for Mark to give her the cigarettes. "Oh yeah, who's that then?"

"A guy from the stag do. He seemed interested- he wants a private dance."

She exhaled. "Perv?"

He laughed. "No. He was quite good looking actually- you could almost smell the money..."

It was Midnight's turn to laugh. "I doubt that."

As they were speaking she could feel gazes on her. Mark, who knew her so well, grinned. "Yep, that's the stag group." He breathed.

She hid behind her curtain of hair. "Which one?"

"The one on the far left."

She glanced in their direction and let her eyes sweep over a tall man with dark brown hair. He was doing exactly the same thing to her before meeting her eyes. Their gaze held for a moment before she turned her head back. "Arrogant as hell."

"How can you tell?"

"Trust me, after you've been doing this a while you learn what to look out for..." Dropping her hand down, she accepted the water that he passed and sipped it. "When does he want it?"

"He had me organise it for as soon as you were finished. Dom's getting him now."

Midnight nodded before sighing. "May as well get it over with. Track 5 please." Finishing the water, she strolled over to the outside of the private rooms. Dim lights hid them from the rest of the floor giving the area a darker, more seductive edge. She nodded her head at the man who stood guard outside the rooms. His purpose was to both give the pair privacy and to listen out for the dancer in case help was needed.

"Hey Dom."

He smiled. "You're popular tonight."

"Tell me about it."

"Which song are you having?"

"Track 5"

His smile grew. "That's the third time tonight. Good luck."

They grasped hands tightly before releasing their grip. It wasn't much but such small gestures of support meant a lot.

Entering the room, she slowly stepped towards the pole in time with the music. He was sat in a chair opposite, watching her every movement. She hated to admit it but he was good looking- but sometimes they were.

What really caught her attention though were his eyes. They were a dark shade of amber.

Forcing herself to switch off, she focused on the dance.

Ever since she had first been introduced to pole dancing she'd been hooked. The cold metal of the pole was secure and safe as she span, the excited pant of her breath whenever she was performing a difficult move and the wave of triumph when she did it perfectly was addictive.

It was a safe haven, a place where she could be herself. It had taken a while to shut out the cat calls and the pants of aroused men at first but after a while it had become second nature to her. This time, however, was different. Usually guys would sit there with their dicks out moaning and groaning as they pumped away but this guy wasn't. He was just sat there. Watching.

She wanted to look into his eyes again. Not a good idea. It was always best to create detachment when dancing- otherwise you could drive yourself mad. But the temptation was there...

Glancing up, a shock of electricity went through her when their eyes met again. His smouldered as he looked at her: so many emotions swirling behind his fiery irises.

Bad move.

Shutting off all connection with him, she finished. It wasn't usually wise to break away any bond with the person watching- it tended to result in low tips but she felt as if there had been no other alternative.

The man stood up and took a few steps towards her. She remained perfectly still. Their eyes met once more before he nodded his head and left. She exhaled in relief. She hadn't gotten a tip but at least it was over: the sexual tension had been driving her crazy. She was about to leave when she noticed some notes on the table by the chair. He'd left her a tip? Walking over she picked it up and counted. Her eyes widened. She was going to be able to pay the rent this month.

Slipping the money into her bra, she left.

***

Jason met the others with a smile on his face. Aaron was doing his best to keep his attention on his drink while Dean casually chatted to the bartender. Harry was the first to notice his return. "And how was that then?"

His smile grew. "Good."

Harry punched his shoulder. Midnight walked past them and pulled some notes out of her top and passed them to the bartender who had just finished his conversation with Dean. His eyebrows rose as he counted them but didn't say anything. He put the notes away. Jason frowned. He wondered why she didn't put them in the dressing room that she must use.

He watched as she ran her hand over her face and the bar tender whisper something in her ear. To his surprise jealousy surged through him but before he had time to understand his reaction she was walking over to the dark stage. The bartender pressed some switches behind the counter and guitars started to blast out through the floor. A load of cheers erupted from the audience.

"It looks like they all have solo performances." Dean muttered.

The stage lit up and Midnight sauntered on. Then she began to move. Her moves were edgy and fast-paced. She winked at the bartender as she spun. Anger worked its way through him. Was he her boyfriend? Surely no man would be able to watch his partner work in a place like this. He shook it off as he watched her. It wouldn't matter- he was still determined to have her.

Compared to the other dancers, she was more aggressive in the way she controlled the audience. A chuckle escaped his lips as he listened to the lyrics.

'You better watch where you're putting those hands, you better stop if you're making more plans cause everything you do makes you look like a fool.'

She really did consider it as just business. As the song finished it looked as if she was gunning the audience for a fight before she marched off the stage. 

Reaching the bar again, she held out her hand and cigarettes were quickly pressed into her palm. Disappointment filled him. He'd smelt the smoke before but had hoped that it had been passed on to her by one of the other dancers. His eyes followed her as she walked out of the exit. He frowned.

Another song began to play and a red head walked onto the stage and started to wind up the crowd. She teased the audience by slowly removing her shirt. Disinterested, Jason turned around to look towards the exit to see Midnight watching the stage. She held the cigarettes between her fingers so the smoke danced in the opposite direction of the building. A smile was on her face. He had never seen such a smile.

As the night drew on, he couldn't seem to take his eyes of the most interesting pole dancer he had ever met: Midnight. He was going to have fun later...

***

As the shift ended, Danielle unzipped her boots and placed them in her locker. The dressing room wasn't huge but was a lot bigger than previous ones she had been forced to work at. She remembered one particular club where she had been made to get changed in the toilets. Sally strolled in singing to herself. Danielle jumped when she saw her but quickly relaxed, all of them had been on edge ever since Becky had been cornered in here two weeks ago. She had been a right mess after.

Sally grinned when she saw her. "Nice dancing."

She smirked. "Nice stripping." She pulled off her shorts and stuffed them into her bag before pulling out a pair of jeans. "Did you really have to kiss the guy's forehead?"

"Well how else am I meant to follow your routine? I mean could you dance any faster?" She walked over to the mirror and brushed her hair. "Right Becky?"

She turned to see Becky nod mutely as her head remained buried in her law book. Her glasses moved quickly as she scanned the page.

Danielle rolled her eyes. "I like to challenge myself."

Rachel looked up from her shuffling to raise her eyebrows at her. "Well then why don't you challenge yourself and go on a date?" Various people voiced their agreement.

Sally frowned. "When was the last date you went on? Five years ago? And you still won't tell us why that is!"

Danielle's eyes snapped to the door as Carley came in shimmying. "Who wants to go parrrrttttteeeeeey?" She was met with multiple sighs.

Rachel shook her head. "Where do you get the energy?" 

Carley blew her a kiss. "It must be my name I guess! What did I miss?"

"We're trying to get Danielle to go on a date." Sally answered and Carley immediately locked eyes onto Danielle who was shoving her hair up.

"Girl, you need to get laid!"

"Hey!"

"It's true!" Carley turned around to face the mirror and checked her appearance. "I don't know how much brown sugar I can give to make up for the two of us..."

Justine laughed. "Like you ever needed the excuse!"

Carley threw a box of tissues at her which she easily caught.

"That guy from the stag do was nice and he certainly had his eyes on you..." Olivia injected. She shuffled on the cold floor next to Becky.

"Which one?" Danielle asked.

"Don't give me that bull- you know who I'm talking about. Mr. Tall, Dark and Totally Hot."

"Hell yeah..." Carley winked at her as Danielle slipped on her uggs.

"Yeah because I'm really going to be into a guy who goes into strip clubs in his spare time."

"It was a stag do!" Sally urged.

"Oh please, I can tell you for free that guy's been in a few. Arrogant as hell..."

Gina walked into the room with packets of cigarettes. "What's going on?"

"They're trying to get me to go on a date."

"Again?"

"Yep." Danielle took two of the packs and threw one to the waiting Olivia.

Gina shook her head and walked over to her locker. "You guys need a new hobby. Who've you got in mind this time?"

"The guy from the stag do." Rachel replied.

"A guy from tonight? Well that's a new. Which one?"

"Mr. Tall Dark Hotness!" Carley squealed.

"Oh him..."

Danielle looked at Gina in disbelief. "I thought you were meant to be on my side!"

"I am but you have got to admit he wasn't bad."

Rachel won the game against Justine who turned around to watch the discussion. "Did he tip you?"

"Yeah."

"How much?"

"Justine!" Olivia chastised.

She shrugged. "I'm willing to make a deal. If she tells me that it was low then we'll back off. If it's high than we'll keep on bugging her."

Even Becky was looking up now as they all stared at Danielle. Danielle turned her attention to her locker as she shut it.

"So," Justine crossed her legs as she stared her down. "How much?"

"Does it really matter?"

"So it's obviously high then. Come on, if it was any one of us we'd be singing it from the rooftops!"

"...360."

A shocked silence filled the room before it erupted into noise.

"Seriously?"

"No freakin way!"

"Hubba hubba- someone's got themselves some honey..."

"Yes I'm serious and no I haven't!" Danielle groaned. "He's an arrogant asshole who thinks that he can impress me by throwing the money around."

"He's impressed me..." Justine murmured. The others agreed.

Gina looked at her watch. "We've got to go- the babysitter needs to get home."

Grabbing her bag, Danielle swung it over her shoulder and left the room of gossiping women. Gina nudged her with her elbow. "Just ignore them."

She grinned back. "I plan on doing."

They met Mark outside. The air was cool and only the dim streetlamps guided their way. Gina told Mark of the girl's discussion and, much to Danielle's exasperation, agreed with them.

"Let me get this straight, he's good looking and rich- what is the problem here?"

"Why does everyone seem to be forgetting the fact that the guy is clearly full of himself! Look can we just drop it? We're either never going to see him again or he's going to be a regular who ends up being either a perv or married."

"Alright, alright..."

We had just reached the car when she realised she'd left her cigarettes on the side. "Shit! Look, I'll be back in a min."

"We'll come with you." Gina stated.

"Don't be daft- it's freezing! You two wait in the car I won't be long." They looked as if they might protest. "I'll be fine! I've got my phone with me and if I'm not back in ten minutes then you start to worry." She gave a humorous smile which Gina glared at.

"Just be careful!"

"I will!" Turning around, she headed out of the car park and back to the club. She hadn't been kidding about the cold. The air was difficult to breathe as icy winds bit at her coat. It was only autumn!

Danielle reached the door just as Owen, the other security guy, was about to lock up. "Hey, I've just left something."

"OK, but hurry up- I'm gagging for a fag!"

Quickly hurrying through, she grabbed the packet on the side and met Owen. She offered him one and he smiled gratefully before placing it between his lips. She lit the end for him and he inhaled before pulling it out of his mouth. "You, Danielle are a godsend..."

She laughed. "No problem- anyway I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Sure- I'm playing against Rachel remember?"

She pulled a face. "Good luck!"

He shut and locked the door behind them before heading in the opposite direction. Danielle headed back down the street feeling oddly calm as she walked. Overall, tonight hadn't been that bad. There had been some moments she could have done without but-

A noise caught her attention. The car park was deserted on this floor and she looked around and frowned. She had begun to quicken her pace just as a man stepped out from around a car and forced her to a stop. He seemed familiar.

He was balding and middle aged and as he looked at her kept on licking his lips. "Midnight."

Fear crept up her spine. Just the single mention of her stage name filled her with warning.

"Do you remember me?" He continued, running his sweaty, meaty hands on his trousers.

She had learnt from past experience not to anger them. She nodded.

He smiled shyly and looked down. "I remember you too. I've been thinking a lot about you actually. About us really..." She saw a blush colour his cheeks.

He waited for her to respond but when she didn't he looked up at her. When he took a step forward, she took a step back. They did the same again.


Inner Animal Ch. 01



He face fell before lighting up in understanding. "You don't have to play hard to get." He leant forward and started to whisper as though he was sharing a secret. "I saw how you were looking at me. I know you like me as much as I like you. I was thinking we could name our first daughter that- you know: Midnight..."

He walked up to her and grabbed her arms before she had time to react. Danielle struggled in his arms before finally managing to push him off her. Anger filled his features. He threw her against the pillar behind her making her fall to the floor. Pain echoed in her head as his excited hands eagerly started to undo his belt.

She thought you heard a sound like a roar but her mind was too foggy to be certain. A tall figure yanked the man away and proceeded to beat him repeatedly. Using the pillar behind her, Danielle slowly forced herself up.

The figure stopped, leaving the man with a split lip and clutching his stomach. "Get out of here!"

The man hauled himself into a nearby car before screeching out of the exit. The figure came closer and her eyes met his. They were amber. He held out his hand. "Come with me." 

She looked at his face and reached forwards only the slap his hand away and glare at him. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

***

"I'm sorry?" Jason frowned at the pole dancer as she unsteadily stood on her feet.

"Yeah, so you should be!"

He felt his anger flare. "I've just saved you from being raped!"

"Oh please- I had the situation under control and then you had to go and mess it up by beating the guy to a pulp! Now I'm going to have to deal with all of the crap that he's going to bring!"

"What are you talking about?" 

"Do you think he's just going to let this go? No he's going to kick up a shit-storm and it won't be aimed at you- it'll be aimed at me!"

She touched the back of her head and looked at her fingers. Red covered her skin. She swore. Alarm coursed through him. "Let me look..."

"Don't touch me!" She snapped. Pressing her hand against the back of her head, she continued to glower at him. "And what was that before? 'Come with me.'? Who do you think you are: my master or something?"

"I was trying to help you- you've clearly made it obvious that you're not worth helping!"

"Was that your plan? Playing the bloody hero so I'll automatically run into your arms and beg you to fuck me? Well news flash: it's the twenty first century! I'm no damsel in distress!" 

"Are you always this difficult? I only meant to help you and you're treating me like I'm the one who attacked you!"

"All you men are the fucking same! You see a woman and you automatically think she needs help or that she's easy!" Her face was flushed in anger as she shouted.

Was she for real? He'd never met such an argumentative, proud or self-righteous woman in his entire existence!

"Oh so I suppose you see your boyfriend as the same? You women have been complaining for centuries about how us men always stereotype you yet you're so willing to do the same?"

Confusion crossed her face. "Boyfriend? Now what are you on about?"

"The bartender! Or do you despise us men so much that you can't even remember?"

"Are you kidding me? He's gay!"

Jason found himself lost for words.

"I've got to go." She stated before walking past him.

As he saw her still clutch the back of her head, he caught up with her. "I'll walk you to your car."

"I'm fine!"

Before he could say otherwise she'd rounded the corner and he heard her speak with some people before a car door slammed shut.

Still fuming, he marched over to the black car waiting for him and ripped open the back door. Sitting down, he pulled the door closed behind him and ignored the curious glances of the rest of the group. Wisely, they remained silent.

On the way back to the base, irritation still plagued him but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't stop thinking about Midnight: the fiery tempered pole dancer.

*

OK, well there it is! Let me know what you think! Love, love!

Raven Moon x

Songs:

Group dance= Britney Spears- Break the ice

Private Dance= Sarah Vaughn- Whatever Lola Wants

Midnight's Solo= Pussycat Dolls- Flirt

Lulu/Sally's Solo= Christina Aguilara- Dirrty 



Inner Animal Ch. 02



Part 2! Sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoy! 

*

The bastard pressed charges. She knew as soon as she walked into 'Club Tease' and saw the coppers waiting, handcuffs at the ready.

They had arrested her and took her down to the station, resurrecting so many memories it was suffocating.

Danielle was sat in a holding cell, with her arms wrapped around her legs. The small space was freezing and she couldn't suppress the shivers that were running up and down her form. Hunched on the mattress with her back to the wall, she stared at the barrier to her freedom.

The silence was deafening and she relished the sound of swearing chavs being forced into the cells next to her. She'd never felt more alone.

She cursed 'amber eyes' once more. When she'd gotten in the night before, Gina had cleaned to blood from the back of her head before she'd aimed her frustration at the waiting punch bag as Gina and Mark checked on Charlie, Gina's son, before going to bed. 

She'd be lying if she said she hadn't been expecting this. She'd learnt from experience that when a woman was scorned it was bad but when a man was scorned he liked to lash out whether it be verbally, physically or indirectly.

Danielle knew how it worked. They kept you in until they had their orders and then deposited you where you were meant to be. The thing was, was this better or worse than last time...?

***

After being dropped off at the club, Jason made his way to the door and knocked on. He not only wanted to check on her but was determined to set her straight. Her logic was so warped it eluded him and he was eager to decipher her thought processes so her could determine whether she was simply argumentative or seriously believed her own rubbish. He had been unable to sleep the night before due to his annoyance but also because of his attraction to her bold temperament. What was it about this woman that got him fired up so much? A man opened the doorway and blocked the entrance with his wide shoulders.

"I'm here to see Midnight."

The man's face remained impassive. "You're going to have to come back later."

Jason was about to speak again when he heard a female voice come from behind the man barring his entry.

"Is it the guy?" Blue eyes peered around the man's shoulder before widening. "Let him in."

The guy barricading the way reluctantly stepped out of the way and Jason entered a room full of anxious women. "Where is she?"

The woman with blue eyes shook her head grimly. "She's been arrested."

His own eyes widened in alarm. "Why?"

"The man that you beat up last night went to the police and reported her." Her eyes were desperate as they looked at him. She gestured to one of the lingering men. "Keith's called some of his old friend's in the police force but they're not telling him anything and Dave's been calling people around the estate but they haven't heard anything."

Swearing, Jason pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket and began to dial.

"What are you doing?"

He glanced at her face before placing the phone by his ear. "You're not the only one with connections."

***

Danielle was about to give up all hope when the cell door opened and a stern policewoman stood in the entrance. "You're free to go."

She frowned up at her, unable to comprehend what she was saying. "Excuse me?"

The woman gritted her teeth. "The charges have been dropped."

Blinking in shock, she slowly pulled myself off the mattress and walked towards her. Her eyes watched her with clear distain but Danielle couldn't blame her for the woman's judgement- be angry at her for it: yes but not blame her. After all what did she expect? All that the police officer would have seen on her records was that she was a pole dancer and that she'd been in a cell before. Lifting her head, she left the confined space.

On the drive back in the police car she felt light. She'd been so sure of being put on trial that she was preparing herself for a magistrate and to hopefully get bail. How was it that she had been released? Had the guy seen sense? She snorted. Of COURSE the guy hadn't seen sense! It was more likely he couldn't prove it was her that had harmed him. Bastard.

As the car pulled up in front of the club, she leapt out and hurried through the door. Everyone's eyes widened and the tension left their shoulders as they saw her enter before enveloping her in embraces.

Gina stared into her face. "What happened?"

She faked nonchalance. "It was fine; they just put me in a cell for a bit then told me I was free to go. I just don't understand how..."

She grinned. "Maybe he can answer that."

Danielle frowned in confusion before Gina gestured over Danielle's shoulder. She turned to see 'amber eyes' sat on a sofa, watching the whole scene in interest.

"You..."

"Good afternoon."

She gaped at him. "How did you...?"

He chuckled. "I made a few calls."

"Did you, now?" She heard the others leave the room as the tension in the room started to build.

"You know most normal people would say thank you at this point."

"Why should I? All you did was fix your own mess." 

He gave her a dark look. "Please, I saved you and you know it."

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"

"Yes, Danielle, you do."

A heavy silence filled the space between them as they stared each other down. "How the do you know my name?"

"I've learnt quite a bit about you in the past few hours."

"Like what?"

"Danielle Macintyre aged 23, born in Winchester and daughter to Katherine Macintyre and Dr. Sam Macintyre. Went to private schooling all her life before going missing at the age of sixteen..."

"Enough." She interrupted, feeling the colour drain out of her face. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. "Seeing as though you know all of this about me, you could at least tell me your name."

He held out his hand. "Jason Evans." He grinned as she shook it. An electric current ran over her skin as their hands connected. Looking up in shock, she saw his eyes were alight in amusement before she hastily pulled her hand away.

"Well Mr. Evan's, you've proven your point. Now what is it you want?"

"You believe I want something?"

Danielle smiled at him sweetly. "Well you clearly have some motive or else you wouldn't be here in the first place."

"True." He conceded. "I did originally want to check to make sure you were alright."

"Well as you can see I'm fine thank you." Danielle gestured towards the door in a clear dismissal. One he promptly ignored.

"I said 'originally'." She folded her arms and waited for him to continue. "Now, my curiosity has gotten the better of me and I was wondering if you cared to have dinner with me tonight?"

As she heard a squealing behind her, she turned to see the girls with their heads poked around the corner, watching their conversation.

"Oh for the love of God say yes!"

"You better..."

"Do it! Do it!"

Gasping in disbelief, she redirected her attention back to him. "I can assure you Mr. Evans that I am not in the least bit interesting and that we would have nothing to talk about."

His smile turned flirtatious. "I very much doubt that you could ever be boring, Danielle."

She had to fight back shivers of excitement that ran up her spine as he said her name. The girls were enthusiastically egging her on as she looked him over, considering her options. There were so many reasons why she shouldn't go out with him yet she failed to recall any as those bright amber eyes wrapped her in a blanket of warmth and sent a tingling of desire to her thighs.

Setting back her shoulders, she lifted her head. "Fine. I'm assuming you know where I live."

He grinned wider. "I look forward to it- I'll pick you up at seven." He lifted her hand to place a kiss on the back of it sending an electric shock through her body before he left.

Groaning, Danielle turned around to glare at the women who were now screeching happily and running towards her.

She held up a threatening finger. "You lot..."

"Oh come ON!" Olivia began. "You've been out of the saddle for far too long."

"I'll second that!" Carley injected and the others nodded.

"No I have not!"

"Fine then," Justine retaliated and I inwardly cringed at the upcoming challenge. "When was the last time that you were in the saddle?"

Everyone's eyes turned to look at her. Danielle felt her cheeks burn. "That's none of your business!"

"Oh for the love of God, please do not tell us you're a virgin..."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because I would really be able to have the confidence to do this job if I was a virgin." When she saw the others continue to stare at her, she stared right back. "No! I am not a virgin!"

"OK, well then when was the last time?" Justine persisted.

Danielle dropped her gaze to the floor. "If you MUST know, just under five years ago."

Her eyes widened. "God, how can you stand it?"

She shook her head. "I really don't want to go there." Making her way to the changing room, she was stopped by Justine's voice calling after her. "So private schooling, huh?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Justine!" She yelled over her shoulder before turning the corner and entering the changing rooms.

Becky was already there, highlighting her text book. She looked up as Danielle entered. "Hi- congrats on the date."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"What's wrong?" Her head peered over the large book.

Danielle sighed. "It's... complicated..."

"You're not looking forward to it are you?" 

"I don't know. I am but at the same time..."

"You're worried about it." Taking her glasses off her face, she folded them and paid Danielle her full attention.

"Yeah." She glanced at the young woman's face.

"Well he asked you, right?" She continued when Danielle nodded. "Well then he's already interested, if anything he's going to be trying to impress you."

Danielle bit her lip before groaning loudly. "This is ridiculous! I can dance in front of slimy old guys most nights and yet this is just... different..."

"Because you're not going to be 'Midnight', you're going to be Danielle."

Danielle nodded once more before laughing and gently flicking the cover of Becky's book. "Aren't I meant to be the one giving YOU advice- what with me be older and wiser?"

She grinned. "It's amazing what you pick up when you just sit and listen." Winking at her, she placed her glasses back on her face and continued highlighting.

Getting her key out, Danielle opened her locker and grabbed her rucksack. The entire day had been wasted at the police station and she had lost all valuable practice time. Rubbing a hand over her face, she swung it over her shoulder before closing the door and relocking it. She would just catch the bus back.

***

"Mark, have you seen my shoes?" Danielle asked as she walked out of her bedroom while slipping on her earrings.

He shook his head as he lay on the sofa. "Nope, sorry."

"Great! Just great!" She vented as she stormed around the flat searching for her plain black heels.

Gina suddenly entered the living room and waved a small box in the air. "I've got the patches!"

"Thank God!" Mark sighed. "She was just about ready to rip the apartment apart." Gina laughed before passing Danielle the packet.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Danielle eagerly opened it and undid her blouse to put one on her arm. Quickly buttoning it back up, she forced herself to take a deep breath and think logically. Scanning her surroundings her eyes zeroed in on some black heels sticking out under the table. Slipping them on, she addressed Mark. "Do you think I should keep on the silk blue blouse or go back to the cream and change my shoes?" He shrugged.

Gina rolled her eyes. "I thought gay men were meant to be good at helping women with clothes!"

He threw up his hands. "Hey just because I'm gay doesn't automatically make me Gok Wan!"

"Blue blouse it is..."

Gina turned her attention to Danielle. "Why are you so worked up over this? It's just a date."

"I just want to get it out of the way."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you so bothered over how you look?"

Lost for words she floundered for a minute before the flat was filled with the sound of buzzing. Eager for the excuse to escape, she made her way over to the receiver and picked it up. "Hello?"

"It's Jason, I'm outside."

Her stomach flipped. "I'll be right down." Hanging up, she turned to face the other two. "That's him- I'd better go."

"Yeah OK," Mark smirked. "Don't have TOO much fun..."

Shooting him a teasing glare, she hugged Gina goodbye and made her way down.

***

Jason hadn't believed it when his driver had told him that they had arrived. The grubby, dark grey building looked as if it would keel over at any second and his vision allowed him to see various different cracks in the glass windows. He had been able to hear the angry barks of dogs inside and the shouts of the despairing. Shaking his head, he'd gotten out from the back of the car towards the entrance and pressed the button on the intercom. After some crackling, he'd finally been able to contact her and was impatiently waiting for her to meet him so he could take her away from this god- forsaken place.

When the door had finally opened, he had stopped his pacing to turn to face her. Her pale face had a slight flush in her cheeks and her dark hair fell around her in gentle waves. He plump lips broke into a gentle smile. "Hi."

His own mouth tilted at the corners. Gesturing to the car idling behind him, he saw her eyes widen as it took in the sleek Mercedes. "Shall we?"

He saw her throat bob before she grasped his waiting outstretched hand and let him guide her towards the vehicle. As the driver got out and opened the door for her, she paused and glanced at Jason's face before gingerly sliding in. When they were both settled, the car started and they were on their way.

She seemed to sink back in the seat next to him and absently ran her hands over the cream leather. "Where are we going?"

"A small restaurant I know not that far away."

"That sounds great."

He was elevated by her compliment before his face became marred in a frown. "How long have you been living in that apartment?"

Her eyes shifted to her face and she blinked a few times. "Sorry?"

"How long have you been living where you are?"

"Oh," She bit the inside of her lip before replying. "About three or four years."

To be living in that catastrophe for that long? He nodded slowly, being careful to keep his face impassive. "I see." How was it that someone who had grown up with everything she could have ever wanted end up in a place like that?

"Can I ask you a question?" Her calm voice pulled him out of his musings and he turned to face her.

"Yes?"

"Why did you get involved last night?"

"It was what any half decent person would have done."

"You'd be surprised." She glanced out of the window. "But you did take it too far."

He shrugged. "You over-reacted."

She faced him again and her eyes narrowed slightly. "I didn't."

"I think you'll find you did."

She sighed. "Why do I have a feeling we're never going to agree on this?"

"Are you saying that because you know I'm right?"

He could tell she was about to argue when the car pulled to a stop in front of the restaurant. Leaving the car, he waited for her to be let out before he had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen at the top ranking venue in front of them. Offering her his arm, he saw her glare at him before reluctantly taking it. Chuckling, lightly to himself he lead her inside to the waiting maitre d.

***

She couldn't believe her eyes. The high ceiling boasting large golden chandeliers which set the wide open space in a warm glow and large red curtains framed giant windows. Small tables hosted many elaborately dressed couples leaning towards into each other whispering intimate words. Danielle leant closer towards Jason to whisper in his ear, the warm smell coming off him made her subconsciously press closer. "You call this small?"

The sound of his chuckle sent a thrill up her spine. "I don't do anything small."

Warmth churned in her stomach at his words and she gulped.

The maitre d looked up from his black leather clipboard as they approached. "Good evening Sir, Madam. This way if you please."

We followed him through the main floor of the restaurant before stepping up onto a platform which contained a lone booth. The maitre d pulled out her chair and she carefully sat down before he did the same for Jason. Picking up a wine menu, Danielle looked it over and gaped at the prices.

"Can I get you anything to drink, Sir?"

"My usual please, James."

"Of course." The whole situation left her dumbfounded and she watched in shock as Jason slipped him a note before he sauntered away.

"Your 'usual'?"

His face lit up in a mischievous smile. "Trust me."

Picking up a menu, she looked it over. Some of the dishes sounded absolutely divine. Feeling his gaze on her, she glanced over the top at his questioning eyes. "What?"

"Why 'Midnight'?"

Licking her lower lip, she lowered the menu and met his amber irises. "I didn't choose it- Gina did- but I'm told it's to do with the fact I'm always wearing black and my hair." Flicking it's long length over a shoulder, she noticed how he seemed absorbed in the gesture and the warmth in her stomach grew.

"Why did Gina choose it?"

"Tradition: any time a new girl joins the group gives her a stage name. Seeing as though I was the second one to join, she had to choose."

"So who chose hers?"

A small smile came over Danielle's face. "She got to pick her own." When she saw him waiting, she rolled her eyes. "Roxxii."

"How did you get into pole dancing?"

"What is with all the questions?" She countered. When she saw his eyebrows rise, she grinned. "You know so much about me don't you think I deserve to learn a little about you?"

On that note the wine arrived, and Jason poured it into her glass. She took a testing sip and moaned at the rich flavours that consumed her senses. "That's really good."

Jason laughed quietly before addressing the dawdling waiter. "Can I have the steak- medium rare, please."

Realising she hadn't chosen what to eat; she hastily scanned the elaborate writing and gave him her order. As he walked away, she took another sip of wine.

"I hope you don't mind that I didn't order a starter, it's just it's better to save the room for the dessert."

She laughed gently. "Great minds think alike."

He smirked. "So what is it you want to ask?"

Tilting her head, she thought it through. "Where do you live?"

"I live in a neighbourhood not that far from here."

"And what is it you do for a living?"

"I'm a business consultant."

Her eyebrows rose. "Wow." A cheeky smile came over her face. "Did you enjoy the stag do?"

His eyes began to smoulder. "Definitely." A rush of heat ran through her.

After some more banter, the food arrived and was, unsurprisingly, delicious.

"So what about your family?" Danielle asked as she savoured another mouthful of decadent pastry.

"My mother lives close to me and my father died quite a while ago."

"I'm sorry."

He nodded his head in acknowledgement of her sentiments. "It happened a long time ago."

Unsure of what to say after learning such a personal piece of information, she remained silent as she finished- barely glancing up at him. When the bill arrived and he got out his wallet, she fumbled for her purse. He frowned at her movements. "What are you doing?"

Danielle's head turned to face him as she continued to search her bag. "I'm trying to find my purse."

His frown deepened. "Why?"

"Well it's usually customary to pay for a meal..."

He gave her a dry look. "I mean why are you getting your purse out to pay?" Pulling out a card, he placed it on the waiting bill where a waiter swooped in to take it away. "When I take a woman out to eat, I pay for her."




Inner Animal Ch. 02



Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you're really into the 'me Tarzan, you Jane' thing aren't you?"

He gave a light chuckle before the waiter came back and returned his card. Rising, he slipped on his coat and she quickly followed his lead. Offering her his hand, she looked up at his face in shock before gingerly taking it.

The air was cool as they left and the icy wind bit at her skin. Unable to suppress a shiver, she wrapped her arms around herself to give herself some warmth. It wasn't until she felt the heavy weight of a coat draped over her shoulders that she realised that Jason had taken it off. She began to pull it off. "No, you'll get cold."

He placed a warm hand over hers and she absorbed the heat that ran throughout her body and set her heart racing. "I'm fine."

Leading her back to the waiting car, he opened the door for her and she slipped inside. The drive back was quiet but not uncomfortable. The atmosphere in the car was almost...cosy and for the first time in a long time Danielle felt content in her surroundings. And of course she was highly aware of the man sitting next to her. The body heat emitting from him, how his knee was nearly touching hers, how his hair was slightly rustled. How was it humanly possible to be that good looking?

When they finally arrived back at the drooping apartment, she turned to face him. "Well... thank you for a really nice night..." Once again he was frowning. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "OK, what now?"

"I walk the women I take out to their door."

As he left the car, she sighed. "Of course you do..." Getting out, she walked around to where he stood waiting before they continued on to the entrance of the building.

Making her way up the dirty stairs, he followed close behind until she reached the outside of her door. "Here we are."

His face seemed to have dimmed with each step. Breathing deeply, a smile came over his face. "I'm glad you've enjoyed tonight."

Danielle grinned. "Yep, I can honestly say it was nowhere near as painful as I thought it was going to be."

"Not so painful that you wouldn't want to hear off me again I hope."

She looked into his face from his bright amber eyes to his strong jaw and flirtatious smile. "No, not that painful..." As the silence built between them, she cleared her throat and tried to focus. "Anyway, erm, goodnight Jason."

Turning, she struggled to get the keys in the lock and let herself.

"Danielle." Turning around to see what he wanted, she was surprised when his hand came up to grasp the back of her neck and let his lips capture hers. Heat consumed her in fiery brands. Her heart galloped and warmth in the pit of her stomach spread throughout her as his lips moved against hers, the feel of his skin against hers intoxicating. As he pulled away, she gasped. He gently kissed her again before walking away. "Goodnight."

For several moments she was paralysed to the spot. Her lips tingled from the contact and her brain was blank from the shock. She blinked slowly before managed to close her mouth and return her breathing to normal. Holy crap.

Gulping, she turned to let herself in- the kiss still overwhelming all other thought. The way he'd just taken control- he's known what he'd wanted and he'd just gone for it. The thought made the flush on her cheeks fade and her grit her teeth. Yeah, he'd just taken what he'd wanted without even asking a 'do you mind?'

"Arrogant as hell..." she muttered before shutting the door behind her.

*

Tadah! Please let me know what you think!

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 03



I really can't apologise enough for the delay but life has been a bit of a stressful rollercoaster lately and I've only just got off and found my feet again. I hope you enjoy, what will probably be, this short extract and I will try and update as soon as I can. Once again sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoy. 

*

Jason strolled leisurely around the large office admiring the large canvases that decorated the walls. His fingers brushed over the top of a chess piece just as the door behind him opened. Turning to face the tall man who had entered the room, he felt tension enter his shoulders and nodded in a brief greeting. "William."

William's hair was tied in a loose ponytail and he offered his hand. "Alpha Evans."

Jason shook it quickly. "Please call me Jason."

William smiled. "Jason." Gesturing towards the desk, he made his way over. "Please, take a seat."

Rolling his shoulders in an attempt to release some of the anxiety that was tightening his muscles, he placed himself in the waiting chair. William linked his fingers on the desk in front of him. "May I get you a drink?"

"No thank you." 

William smiled gently to himself as if enjoying some hidden humour. "How is the pack?"

Jason rubbed the back of his neck. "They're fine, some disputes between the females but nothing that can't be handled."

He nodded his head. "I am glad to hear it. So how may I be of assistance?"

"There are some vampires hanging around the edge of our land which are causing fights to break out. I need some sort of restriction put in place."

"And so you were hoping that I would play mediator between the council and yourself."

The corner of Jason's mouth curved slightly. "You are the vampire I feel most comfortable around."

He laughed lightly. "I do try to be as accommodating as possible." Pulling out a piece of paper and a fountain pen, he began to write. "I will contact them as soon as I am able to and inform them of the risks."

"Thank you." Jason leaned back in his chair slightly. "So now that..." His voice trailed off as a scent came to his attention. His head turned towards the door just as the sound of gentle knocking filled the room.

William's deep voice answered. "Come in, Mia."

The door opened to reveal a grimacing brunette. Her green eyes ran over Jason and she tilted her head slightly. Blinking a few times, she seemed to shake it off before looking at William. Her face fell into a smile. He couldn't help but notice how young she appeared.

"I was wondering if I could have a word with you when you're free...?"

"Of course, I will come and find you when I am available." Nodding slightly, her eyes flickered over Jason again. "Oh: Mia this is the Alpha of the pack in central Manchester, Jason this is Mia."

Offering his hand she daintily shook it.

Her voice was quiet. "It's nice to meet you." As she continued to stare, she dropped her head and a blush coloured her cheeks. "I'm sorry; I've just never met a werewolf before."

He chuckled gently. "Don't worry about it."

She smiled gently before glancing at William once more. "OK, I'll speak to you in a bit..." Hesitating on the spot for a minute, she nodded before leaving the room. As she left, Jason turned to look at William's face to see his eyes lingering on the doorway.

"You love her, don't you?"

William sat back in his chair and exhaled heavily. "She is my mate; I cannot help but to love her."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "I was about to ask how the love life was going..."

"I only wish that you yourself should find such happiness one day." Jason felt a small smile come over his face. "Or is there someone already?"

Thoughts of Danielle drifted through his mind. "There is someone at the minute, I'll admit."

William grinned before walking over to a drink set and pulling out two glasses. "And what is this young lady's name?"

He waited until a glass had been filled before gratefully taking it. "Danielle and I think she's a little older than yours."

He placed himself back in his chair and focused his attention on Jason. "And where did you meet?"

Remembering their first stormy encounter, a wry smile came over Jason's face. "At her work."

"And what is her occupation?"

"She's a dancer."

"Ah." William's joy grew. "Mia herself dances, may I ask what kind?"

He thought of her sultry dance and the fluidity of her movements as she moved. Jason gulped. "Pole."

"Ah..." His smile faltered slightly. "I see... And what is she like?"

"Stubborn, argumentative and sarcastic as well as other things..."

"Right." He shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot quite see the attraction."

Jason laughed lightly. "She challenges me constantly... but she is by far one of the most fascinating women I've ever met." He shrugged. "There's just something about her."

A knowing smile came over William's face. "Have you considered the possibility that maybe she is your mate?"

"She can't be."

"Why not?"

Jason took a long sip of his drink, savouring the flavour that teased his tongue. "She's human."

William's face fell. "I am sorry to hear that."

"To be honest, I'm just enjoying spending time with her. Usually, I'm in control of what happens and the boundaries that are set but she's fighting me for every bit of it."

A deep chuckle resonated from William's throat. "From what I gather, she is not your usual kind of female."

"No," He admitted.

A small frown marred his face which William seemed to pick up on. "There is something bothering you."

Taking a sip of his drink, he mulled over his words before placing the glass back on the desk. "I don't know how to explain it. There's just something about her scent."

"Go on..."

"There's just something unusual about her, it's as if something's tugging at my senses but I can't quite figure out what it is."

William sat back in his chair and seemed to ponder over this for a moment. "Have you learnt anything of her family? Her heritage?"

"Her father's a doctor and her mother's a lawyer, from what I gather the rest of her family has similar careers."

His eyebrows rose. "And she is a pole dancer?"

Jason smirked lightly. "I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that what before you ask- it's a bit of a mystery."

"And perhaps this is why she is captivating your attention...?"

Jason considered the idea. "Maybe." He sighed deeply. "I'll figure it out."

"I'm sure you will, my friend." Lifting up the decanter, he poised it over Jason's empty glass. At Jason's approval, he refilled it before placing it back in his cabinet. Lifting his own glass he held it up in a toast. "To the complexity of women, may they always continue to be unfathomable."

Lifting his glass, Jason chinked it against the one waiting in the air.

***

Walking into 'Club Tease', Danielle blinked in surprise. The girls were already stood there in the main space of the club, opposite the doorway. When they noticed her arrival, they rushed over to greet her.

"How was it?"

"Where did you go?"

"PLEASE tell me you got a piece of that."

Shaking her head, she held her hands up in surrender. "It was fine, we went to a restaurant and Olivia- seriously? I'm not a hooker."

Shouldering past them, she headed towards Dom who was stood to the side with his arms crossed. Seeing his face lit up in a grin, Danielle rolled her eyes at his clear amusement. "Hey Dom, how're you doing?"

"Good thanks, it looks like you had fun..."

"Don't you start..."He chuckled and she playfully punched his shoulder. "Knock it off! Listen," Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at a woman who was hanging about nervously in the middle of the group as they tried to make conversation. "Who's the new girl?"

"Dana."

"How old?"

"Twenty."

She nodded before, glancing back at Dom's face. "Dana?"

"American."

"Naturally." Hitching her rucksack up higher on her shoulder, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

"Dan?"

"Hm?" Looking up at his face, she saw his face was serious.

"Be nice- it's her first job."

Sighing, she answered him honestly. "As long as she doesn't bother me, I won't bother her."

We ended up naming her Lily after the discovery of the large blue flower on the top of her shoulder which matched the vivid blue of her eyes. She seemed happy with the nickname and even seemed to relax more after Carley, who was known to be the socialite of the group, began to gossip with her.

"And that's Danielle- I'll warn you now, she's not going to share."

"I can hear you you know." Danielle threw over her shoulder as she rummaged through her locker. As Carley went off to answer her phone, the pole dancers began to change for practice while the strippers checked their costumes for later.

Danielle removed her jumper and stashed it in her bag before pulling on a tank top. She felt gazes on her but knew that they would soon vanish as people respectfully looked away. When she continued to feel someone staring, whispers began behind her.

"Stop it!"

"But,"

"Just stop," Another voice chipped in.

"How did she...?"

Ignoring the quiet murmuring but feeling her patience slipping, she pulled off her jeans and slipped on her shorts to hear a quiet gasp. Angered, she slipped on her heels and turned her irritation to the staring new girl.

"What? Can I help you with something?"

She quickly dropped her head. "Nothing it's just..."

"Nothing? Well then stop fucking staring- I get enough off perverts so I really don't need your eyes on me as well."

"It's just how did you...?"

Danielle could see the tension in all of the others, could see that they were aware of what this stupid American was starting.

"It's none of your fucking business. Now you listen to me, if you want to last five minutes in this place, you keep your eyes to yourself, you don't ask questions and you stay out of my fucking way- you got me?"

Storming out of the changing rooms, she left the group of uncomfortable women.

Gina sighed. "Lesson number one, kid: let sleeping lions lie."

The morning dragged out courtesy of the rough atmosphere and the feeling of words being left unsaid. Danielle was in no mood to rectify the situation; her mood was foul and when Dom gave her a condescending look she slowly shook her head and walked away. It seemed that the group was struggling with itself, unsure where to gather in the clearly hostile environment that Danielle was creating with her mere presence. Dana just looked regretful as she occasionally looked at Danielle before quickly shifting her focus.

As Danielle leaned against the wall glowering, Gina casually sidled up to her and rested her back against the cement. "Don't you think you were a bit harsh?"

Danielle grunted deep in her throat causing Gina to exhale noisily.

"Not even a little?"

"It's her first day and already she's trying to pry into my business."

"Can you really blame her for being curious?" When Danielle looked away she continued. "I mean even we are and we've known you for years."

"I don't want to talk about it Gina."

"Fine," Pushing herself up off the wall, she glanced over her shoulder. "But at least think about giving her a chance, if need-be try to remember how nervous you when you started out."

Danielle grunted once more as Gina walked away to the group of talking women. Dana looked over at her before quickly diverting her gaze. Good.

Fed up of the intangible feeling of anxiety, she made her way over to the toilets and took a deep breath. She caught sight of herself out of the corner of her eye and turned to face her reflection. Staring at the face looking back at her, she noted the weariness in the eyes and the constant under-layer of pain. Splashing her face with cold water, she took a minute to compose herself before sweeping back her hair which was falling out of her pony tail. She could tell already it was going to be a long day... 

Later on, Danielle lay down on her bed: feeling the full weight of the day's events press down on her. She exhaled and closed her eyes trying to block out the uneasy looks and quiet whispers that had seemed to accompany her every time she had walked past. As she felt herself sink into the lumpy mattress she felt herself begin to drift off when her phone buzzed on the dresser next to her. Groaning, she felt for it before flipping it open and placing it against her ear. Her voice was rough as she answered. "Hello."

"Good evening to you too." The voice on the other end was deep and seductive.

She frowned, feeling a sense of reluctant unease stir in the pit of her stomach. "Who is this?"

"It's Jason."

She exhaled in relief before lifting herself up to rest her back against the wall against her bed. "Oh... hi, what's up?"

"I just thought I would check up on you."

"Well I'm... wait a minute: how did you get my number?"

The sound of deep laughter came from the other side of the line. "I'm surprised you didn't notice before..."

"How did you get my number?" She insisted.

"I found it when I learned some information about you."

"Wow, can you make that sound any less stalker-ish?" She began to rub her forehead as she felt the approaching headache, unable to help the weary sigh that escaped her.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just been a very long day..."

He sounded genuinely concerned. "Why, what's happened?"

Resting her head against the wall, she bit her lip. "There's just this new girl- we didn't exactly get off to the best start."

"Have you tried talking to her, trying to make her feel welcome?"

"Not really..."

"Let me guess, you were your usual frosty self."

"Hey, I can be very nice- thank you very much! You didn't seem to find me 'frosty' when you stuck your tongue down my throat..."

She could hear the smile in his voice. "You didn't seem to mind..." When she snorted, he continued. "Talk to her, try and find some common ground."

A memory of Dana's wounded look flitted through her mind at his words. Swallowing back her pride she answered. "Fine, I'll be... civil... but you could have at least asked before you jumped on me."

"If I had asked: would you have said no?"

She gritted her teeth. "Well I'll guess we'll never know now."

He laughed again. Arrogant bastard. "Is there anything else you wanted or did you just call me with the purpose of pissing me off?"

"What are you doing on Wednesday?"

She paused. "Why do you ask?"

He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if you wanted to watch a film with me." Was that a hint of nervousness she detected?

She bit her lip as she thought on how she should respond. Admittedly, she had enjoyed their date. There had been chemistry between them and she hadn't been able to stop herself gravitating towards him, unable to resist the pull of attraction between them. 

"Danielle...?" Jason's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"On one condition: I get to choose the film."

She struggled not to laugh at the relief in his voice. "Of course." Maybe he wasn't as confident as he made himself appear... "I'll pick you up on Wednesday."

*

OK, so I hope that wasn't TOO disappointing. Don't worry about the slight lull in the story or the unexplained mysteries as I swear things are going to get a lot more interesting and you WILL find out what happened to Danielle.

Thank you for all the amazing feedback I've been getting, it's so heartwarming (especially when I've been feeling shitty recently) and appreciated.

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 04



Hey, I'm so sorry for the delay. After I got my (now liquid free) laptop back I just kept on writing and writing and realised that I hadn't updated in ages! I guess I got a little carried away! Anyway, I hope you enjoy!



Time spent at the club was beginning to become... uncomfortable. Danielle was finding it more and more unsettling each day, with the atmosphere of silence and unease becoming thicker and thicker to the point where it was almost palpable enough to snap with your hands. Contrary to popular belief she wasn't enjoying the distress of Dana- far from it- but she was finding it more and more difficult to find the words to say to her to rectify their relationship.

By the time Wednesday has arrived, Danielle had almost lost all intention of speaking to Dana when the tables were turned. Dana approached her.

Having, once again, had enough of the building tension in the place, Danielle stepped out of the fire exit to have a cigarette. The air was cold, adding to her gloomy mood. She had taught herself years ago not to indulge in self pity but recent events were dragging her down. As the end of the paper flared, she inhaled the nicotine in an attempt to calm her nerves.

As Danielle heard the door slam, she turned to see who had joined her. Dana was shuffling on the spot by the doorway, with her arms wrapped around herself. She looked young- vulnerable. Danielle's gaze swept over her before taking another drag. "You smoke?" She shook her head. "You're lucky."

She crept forward like a timid animal, scared of the predator. "Why?"

"Once you start it's a bitch to try and quit."

Dana smiled gently. "My mom used to smoke when I was little; I remember she went crazy when I cut up all her cigarettes. I was grounded for the next six months."

Danielle laughed lightly. "I can imagine." Leaning her weight back against the brick wall, she continued. "So where in America are you from?"

"Beverly Hills."

The surprise must have been clear on Danielle's face because Dana smirked. "Yeah, I know. When I was growing up I always wanted to travel. Everyone else thought I was crazy wanting to leave but I wanted to see the world. So, I came to England. It was great at first; I spent some time in London- shopping naturally..." She laughed before a frown came over her face. "But, my parents lost all their money after the stock market crumbled and so I needed to find work. I was completely broke so my friend in Manchester sent me some money so I could live with her. And, well after a lot of job searching, here I am."

Danielle remained silent; taking a thoughtful inhalation of her cigarette she made sure her face remained impassive. "You didn't have to tell me that."

"I know."

"Look, if you're expecting me to do the same-"

"I'm not. I remember how I shouldn't 'expect you to share'..."

Danielle tilted her head and looked at the girl thoughtfully. "Then why are you telling me this? What do you have to gain?"

A secretive smile came over her face. "You're not very trusting are you?"

"I've learnt not to be."

She held her palms up in surrender. "I want you to trust me because I'm hoping that you'll help me if you do." When Danielle remained silent, she continued. "I want to learn to pole dance and I've heard that you're the best."

Danielle took a long drag of her cigarette. "Why?"

Dana seemed swept away in her thoughts as a look of sadness passed over her features. "I always wanted to dance. That's all I wanted to do." Blinking, she looked up at Danielle's face. "For what it's worth I'm sorry that I upset you- I should have kept my mouth shut."

A small smile curved the corners of Danielle's mouth. "Alright don't start being a kiss ass."

Her face lit up in hope. "So you'll teach me?"

"Yeah I'll teach you. And for what it's worth sorry I was such a bitch." When she saw Dana's grin she lifted an eyebrow. "Savour it, I hate apologising." Snubbing her cigarette, she walked towards the door. "Come on."

She blinked in shock. "What now?"

"Yeah- before I change my mind!"

Hurrying past, Dana went back into the building leaving behind a distracted Danielle. Was she ever that naive?

***

As the car pulled up outside the club, Jason looked at the building and its large sign, unable to help but reflect on the moment he first met Danielle. He wasn't a big believer in destiny and fate but he couldn't help but admit that if it wasn't for the stag night he would never have met her. Or if he did, he would have never looked twice.

Shaking his head at his soppy attitude, he stepped out of the vehicle and through the club's door. He was greeted by a nod from one of the men in the room but he hardly registered this as the movements on the stage captivated his attention. Danielle was stood next to a woman he had not seen before who had a hand rested gingerly on one of the poles. She seemed to be nodding as Danielle spoke, absorbing the information that she was offering. Walking around the rod, she hooked her leg around and span before landing on her feet. 

A grin broke out against Danielle's face. "Good, now that's a pretty basic spin but from there you can go into more advanced moves." When her companion smiled and her eyes lit up, she laughed."We need to have a bit more practice before we go onto anything like that..." As she spoke her eyes wandered around the room and met his. Their gazes held each others for a while before a small smile came over her face and she glanced down. The chemistry that had flown between them in those few seconds sent the air sizzling around them. The woman who was stood next to her, looked at Danielle before diverting her gaze to where he stood; her face alight in curiosity.

As the pair of them made their way off the stage, Danielle came over to greet him. "Hi." 

A smile broke out across his face. "Good morning." He glanced over at the dancer she had just been with. "That was some impressive teaching."

"Thanks."

"So, it looks like you worked it out with the new girl then."

She frowned. "How did you know it was her?"

Shit. He was so comfortable around her he had dropped his guard. He quickly lied. "I haven't seen her before, so I'm assuming it's her?"

She nodded, seeing to be satisfied by his response. "That's Dana."

"Dana?"

"American."

"Ah..." So that's what American smelled like... "So are you ready to go?"

"Sure." Looking about the room, she grinned. "I'll see you guys later." A chorus of goodbyes filled the space before they left.

Getting into the waiting car, they sank back into the seats as the car moved. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Jason prompted another conversation. "So what film do you have in mind?"

"There's an action film I've been meaning to watch, is that OK?"

"Yeah, that's... well to be honest I'm thankful that it's not a romantic comedy."

She laughed and he listened to the sound in fascination. "I'm not that mean."

The warmth that spread through him after hearing her laugh caused him to smile. "I'm glad to hear it."

As their eyes met a heated moment passed between them before Danielle quickly diverted her gaze. "So what have you been up to today?"

A small smile touched his lips. "Paperwork mostly."

She pulled a face. "Sounds fun."

"Granted, it's not my favourite part of the job."

She looked at him in sudden interest. "What is?"

He tried to be as honest as possible. "I'd have to say working with people, helping them out with their problems just makes it all worthwhile."

She looked at him in fascination. "So what made you become a business consultant?"

"My family."

"Did you want to?"

Jason took a minute to consider her words. If he was being truthful with himself, he'd never really considered any other future for himself. The responsibility of being an alpha had been drilled into him for a young age. "I think so."

The rest of the journey was spent laughing about life before they arrived at the cinema. The car drew numerous stares as they left its confines and Danielle looked down shyly. "Did we have to ride in the Mercedes?"

Jason shrugged. "It's a good car."

As they made their way inside, Danielle ran up to the desk and stated which film they were going to see. Jason couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

A blush coloured her cheeks at his expression. "What? I like films with a bit of gore." Chuckling quietly, he paid the woman who had just announced the price. Danielle frowned. "At least let me pay half."

"When I take a woman out I pay for her, remember?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "You do know that we're in the 21st century, right? I can vote and everything..."

"Will you please let someone take care of you for a change?" She visibly bristled at his words but didn't argue. He couldn't help but muse at how ridiculously stubborn she was.

After they received their tickets, she hurried over to the food was displayed while he struggled to comprehend her enthusiasm. Ordering sweet popcorn, she quickly paid for it: much to his disapproval. At the expression that must have been apparent on his face, she shrugged. "Like I said: 21st century..."

They made their way to the screen room before placing themselves in seats near the back. Danielle tilted the box in his direction and he grabbed a handful of the content. "Thanks, I'll give you the money for it after."

She rolled her eyes. "We're even."

As the room began to fill, Jason lowered his voice. "Do you have a favourite part to your job?"

He seemed to have pulled her out of her thoughts as she frowned at him. "Sorry?"

"Is there a part of your job you enjoy?"

***

Danielle tilted her head at him in speculation. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say. When he continued to meet her eyes levelly, she decided to trust him. "I like choreographing, me and the girls come up with our own routines but I tend to plan the group dances."

A smile came over his lips. "And I'm also guessing that you enjoy teaching..."

"How did...?"

"It was written all over your face earlier."

She looked forward towards the large screen. "Yeah, I do."

As people seated themselves and the film began to start, she snuggled down into her seat. She felt Jason settle next to her and heard his gentle breathing. As the opening titles began to appear, she could not help but feel the electric charge that seemed to build between them. Her eyes drifted away from the changing scenes to the man next to her. Danielle's eyes ran over the straightness of his nose, the slight curve of his mouth.

As if seeming to feel her gaze on the side of his face, he turned to look at her and their eyes met. Feeling the pull between them, she focused back on the wall in front of her and heard his quiet chuckle.

Danielle hated to admit it to anyone but she didn't get out much. Usually her, Mark and Gina would be too exhausted to do anything even if they did have the money to spare, not to mention little Charlie. In a way she was frustrated with herself, she had been looking forward to seeing the film since he had asked her but now she was unable to concentrate on anything other than the presence of Jason next to her. Scratching the back of her neck, she tried to catch up on the plot of the film to no avail.

She slipped off her jacket as the atmosphere became stifling. Feeling Jason's eyes follow her movements a flash of heat brushed across her exposed skin causing her to gulp. Her eyes flickered to his face to meet his amber irises. There was something so transfixing about them as if there was a hidden energy in their depths. She could feel his breath on her face as she leant towards him, the smell of him wrapping around her like a warm embrace and she could almost feel his lips...

A sudden screech from the movie yanked her back to reality and she readjusted herself in her seat fully aware that her breathing was ragged and her body burned. Danielle's thoughts tumbled into a mess as she frowned at her actions. An undeniable sense of panic was threatening to grip her as she tightened her grip on the arm rest between them. How was it she was so fascinated with him? So attracted to the man despite his arrogance and stubbornness? Despite...

As the anxiety began to truly threaten any resemblance of calm she was managing to cling on to, she felt a light pressure on her hand. Turning to look, she saw Jason's hand on top of hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Shocked, she looked at him to find him looking straight forward. Had he somehow noticed her distress?

Taking a calming breath, she tried to relax her tense muscles. So what if she was attracted to him? It was no big deal right? He was a nice enough guy despite all of the bravado and he wanted her to be looked after, even if her pride wouldn't allow it. Giving in, she allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his warm skin touching hers; even going so far as to turn her hand over so that their fingers could link.

As the rest of the film began to come to a close, she realised that for the first time in a long time she felt happy to be held. Jason had even begun rubbing circles into the back of her hand in a soothing gesture. It felt like it was just the two of them, in their own private little bubble. It seemed like barely any time had passed before the credits began to roll across the screen and the room was illuminated once more. Looking up at his face she was encouraged by the smile that lit up his eyes. "Are you ready to go?"

Nodding, she grabbed her jacket and her bag before allowing him to steer her towards the foyer. It was fairly quiet in comparison to the earlier rush and Danielle gratefully took a moment to take a deep breath and enjoy the stillness. It wasn't until her eyes wondered over to the exit that she noticed the small coffee shop that she had missed on the way in. Jason seemed to follow her gaze. When he spoke, she could feel his warm breath on her ear and she fought the urge to shiver. "Do you want to go in?"

Glancing at his face, she grinned. "Sure."

Not many people were inside and those who were huddled in the corners and murmured to each other softly. He continued to hold her hand over to the counter but she didn't object. "What are you having?"

Knowing that arguing would be fruitless, she sighed. "A cappuccino, please."

While they waited for her cappuccino and his black coffee, she watched the barista's movements in interest. She smiled at them shyly as she added milk to her glass. "You know some people say that you can tell a lot about a person from their coffee."

Jason lifted an eyebrow. "Seriously?" When she nodded, he continued. "What does ours say about us?"

A light blush coloured her cheeks. "Well, erm, the cappuccino only means good things..." Danielle smiled triumphantly. "And the black coffee means that you're kind of... blunt..."

Danielle was unable to hold back her laughter as Jason looked dumbstruck.

"Mona!"

At the sharp tone, the woman passed them their drinks and excused herself. Making their way over to a table they settled in their seats before Danielle took a sip from her drink.

"So," Jason tilted his head slightly. "How was the film for you?"

She struggled not to smirk at his forced conversation. "Good."

"Hm."

As he took a sip of his coffee, she frowned at him. "You seem surprised."

"Well it seemed to me that you were too distracted to really have paid that much attention to it..."

She shook her head at his cockiness. "You really are an arrogant bastard."

He chuckled. "Well I'm blunt, remember?" She couldn't help but join in with his laughter. He pulled a face. "I hope I didn't get her into trouble."

"I'm sure you didn't." Placing a comforting hand on his forearm, he turned to look at her and squeezed her hand. Her eyes glanced at his lips again before she took an unsteady breath and picked up her glass. His hand brushed her fingers and she took a large gulp.

"Danielle," Her green eyes darted to his face at his voice. "You told me the last time that I kissed you that 'I could have at least asked'." She gulped at the sincerity in his gaze. "So I'm asking now, can I kiss you?"

Mutely, she nodded. Slowly, he closed the distance between them; his eyes remaining connected with hers as he approached. When his lips gently brushed against hers, her eyes fluttered closed and she tenderly kissed him back. Her hand reached up to gently cup his neck as his mouth caressed hers until he reluctantly pulled back. Hazily opening her eyes, she licked her tingling lips. He noted the motion with a heated gaze before seeming to force himself to face forward. Taking a rather large drink, he seemed to try and compose himself.

"Wow..." Clearing her throat, she tried to regain some coherent thought.

A small smirk came over his face. "Yeah..."

"That was... interesting..."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest at her words. She didn't know what to say to him, she had never had that kind of response to someone before and had rattled her confidence. When the corner of her eye caught the fact that he was looking at her, she met his look and he smiled gently.

She returned the gesture but her mind was reeling. Biting the inside of her lip, she fought back a frown. The first time she had met Jason he was a douche- she knew without a shadow of doubt that all he wanted was to have sex with her but since then things had started to change. He seemed to be more interested in her the person- not the pole dancer- and she sensed that he wanted more from her. What that was though, she had no clue and that was the problem. How could she trust him when she didn't know his goal?



So there you go! A little warning the next chapter will probably be shorter as I was going to end this part at a certain point but realised it may make this chapter even longer! I hope you enjoyed this and please let me know what you thought.

Love love!

Raven Moon xx



Inner Animal Ch. 05



Here is Chapter 5! I'm exhausted as I post this but I hope you enjoy the (hopefully longer) chapter! 

*

Jason once again walked her to her door after the date. She hovered at her door unsure of how to act. Glancing up at his face, she saw his warm eyes gaze into her face and gulped. Feeling as though she was on the edge of something major, she refused to look away. As he reached down and stroked the hair out of her face, her skin tingled at the touch. Reaching forward she tentatively pressed her lips against his to which he gently responded. His warm fingers on her neck sent pleasant tingles down her spine as she allowed herself to be wrapped in his presence and earthy scent. Pulling away, she dabbed her lips with her tongue and saw his eyes smoulder.

Her voice was unintentionally husky. "Thank you for tonight."

He smiled gently. "It was my pleasure."

"Goodnight then."

He swept the hair out of her face once more before brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek. "Goodnight Danielle."

As he walked away, she watched him: the way in which he carried himself- how there was an ease to his stride and yet an undeniable confidence. Turning around, she put her key in the door and entered the flat. Noticing Mark stretched out on the sofa bed, she quietly locked the door and slipped off her shoes.

"Hi..." The groggy voice from the sofa caught her attention.

"Hey, sorry did I wake you?"

Sitting up underneath the duvet, his messy hair stuck up at different angles and he rubbed at his eyes. "No, I couldn't sleep. How did it go?"

"Good, can I get you anything?"

"A hot chocolate would be amazing."

She smiled at him before carrying herself over to the kitchen. Turning on the kettle, she grabbed two cups. "So have I missed anything?"

She saw him check his phone before running a hand through his hazardous hair. "Not really."

"Any word from the landlord?" The sink in the bathroom had been broken for the past couple of days and had yet to be fixed.

He pulled a face at her. "Nope."

Grimacing along with him, she finished making the drinks before carrying them over to the sofa. He shifted his position so she could sit down before covering her with part of the duvet. Passing him the cup, he took a grateful sip. Danielle snuggled down and began to savour the creamy flavour.

"So are you seeing him again?" She nodded. "So he left a good impression."

Unable to help laughing, she nudged him with her foot. "Yes," She shrugged. "He's a good kisser."

They both laughed quietly to avoid waking Gina and Charlie in the next room. When Mark was unable to suppress a yawn, she frowned. "Is there any particular reason why you couldn't sleep?"

He sighed. "I've just something on my mind."

"Something or someone?" She teased.

He rolled his eyes. "Alright, someone." He snuggled deeper into the comfort of the mattress. "It's just this guy I met the other day..."

"And...?"

A shy smile tugged at his lips. "It sounds stupid but I can't stop thinking about him."

"Did you get his number?"

He seemed to lose focus for a moment. "No. I would have asked for it but I got the feeling that he didn't want to give it- like he was uncomfortable or something. Don't get me wrong he's definitely gay but it was like he was worried that people might figure it out..." Danielle snuggled up to him and gave him a hug. He rested his chin on the top of her head. "Thanks."

"No problem. What are we like, hey?"

He laughed shortly before giving her a quick squeeze and releasing her. "So this Jason, is it starting to get serious or...?"

She held up a hand. "Don't even go there- I don't even want to think about it."

"What do you mean?"

Danielle seemed to ponder over her words for a moment. "If I start thinking about it in terms of us having 'a relationship' I may have to run for the hills."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it meant to be the guy who reacts to commitment like he would a circumcision without anaesthesia?"

"You always did have a way with words." Picking at the duvet, she felt Mark's curious gaze on the side of her face. "I don't want to feel trapped into something- and there'd be so much pressure and..."

"Dan, he's already interested- he's made that much clear by asking you out in the first place. You don't have to prove yourself to him." He smiled slightly. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen this side to you before."

"What side?"

"The vulnerable side." When she rolled her eyes, he persisted. "No, seriously- I've seen you upset once or twice but never like this."

"Well trust me you won't be seeing it often." When she grabbed both of the mugs, she stood up and rinsed them. 

Mark lay back and rested his head on her hands while watching her move. "Why not?"

"Hm?" She blinked out of her thoughts before looking at him. "It's just the way I am."

"Sure it is..." She gave him a withering look which caused him to grin. "OK, OK, I get it: it's a no go."

Danielle rubbed the back of her neck in agitation. "It's just... things have happened and I don't like talking about them." She began to mumble. "I don't even like to think of them."

"Hey," Danielle looked up at him to see that his grin had faded into a gentle smile. "We love you exactly the way you are."

A feeling of warmth spread through her. "Thanks and right back at you." Sighing out a deep breath, I ran my hands over my face. "Anyway, I'd best head to bed- we've got a nice long shift tomorrow."

He grunted in agreement before lying back down. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Making her way over her room, she shut the door.

The beginning of the next day started out smoothly enough. Danielle spent her day looking after Charlie with Gina while Mark went out to get some food. The little boy seemed to love all of the attention and giggled as Danielle began to tickle him while Gina sorted out his dinner. It was later when the trouble began. It was Gina's night off so Mark drove himself and Danielle to the club. The conversation was light as they travelled, with Mark singing along to the CD playing.

Danielle pretended to wince. "Mark, please, this night is going to be long as it is..."

His eyes briefly left the road to pull a face at her. "I'm not that bad." Mark was a brilliant singer and guitar player but had little faith in his abilities.

"No, you're not. Seriously, why don't you do any gigs?" 

He shrugged as they pulled up before he turned off the ignition. "I've just never thought I was up to it."

As they made their way into the building, they swapped brief goodbyes before each going to their own areas.

Danielle walked into the changing room to be met with Lily, Justine, Becky, Olivia and Carley.

"How did it go?" Lily asked as she strolled over to lean against Danielle's locker as she began to change.

"Yeah, it was alright."

"What's this?" Justine interjected.

Lily looked back towards her. "Danielle went on a date with a guy."

Justine's eyes looked towards Danielle. "Was it that guy again?"

Shifting slightly, Danielle replied. "Yeah."

Carley bounced on over. "Go Danielle! I'm so proud of you- getting back on the saddle!"

She rolled her eyes at her. "It's not like that."

Justine frowned. "So what is it like?"

Danielle sighed. "I don't know- I'm trying not to over think it."

Becky gave a kind smile. "Just go with the flow."

After some more idle conversation and teasing, Danielle made her way out to the main room and wondered over to the bar where Mark was casually chatting to the other barman. As he saw her a smile came across his face and he kissed her cheek. "You look gorgeous as always."

As a coloured light came across the bar to illuminate the bar in the dark room, he began to sort out the bottles on the shelf behind him. Danielle rested her arms across the smooth surface of the counter. "How long until we open?"

"About ten minutes."

Nodding, she made her way over to the stage and began to stretch against the pole in the centre of the stage. Feeling the familiar pull and movement of muscle beneath her skin brought warmth and satisfaction to her soul. Beginning some basic spins she noticed the others approach the stage from the corner of her eyes.

It wasn't long before the doors opened and the trouble began. At first it wasn't so bad: some nights were worse than others. Guys gathered around the stage and began to wolf whistle and shout out. The place was particularly busy and a silent tension began to build. Danielle saw the bouncers become agitated and shuffle in their places, their eyes warily taking in the surroundings.

Trying desperately to separate herself from the crowd, Danielle tried to shut off the sound of name calling and crude language as a group of men began to jeer at the stage. She noticed one of the security approach the group and speak to them, he was met with swearing and shouts. As another member of the security came over, they began to haul the men out.

Finishing her performance, she made her way off the stage and towards the bar; on her way there she was blocked by a large man who staggered on the spot. "Alright, darling? Fancy a dance?"

Trying to sidestep him, she sighed when he blocked her movements. As he reached for her, she stepped back. "No thank you."

"Come on, don't be like that. I know you love it." He slurred and she gritted her teeth. When his hand stretched out towards her, she gripped his wrist and with a quick manoeuvre had him on his knees with his back towards her.

Dom walked over with a big smile on his face. "Is everything alright over here, Midnight?"

She smiled sweetly. "I said no."

He chuckled to himself before crouching down to face the guy. "You only get one warning here and I think that Midnight here has delivered it quite nicely. If we get any more trouble from you, you're out. Got it?"

When he remained silent, she tugged at his twisted arm and he yelled. "Well?"

"Yeah, I got it- I GOT IT!"

Slowly, she released him and he pulled himself up. Turning around he sneered. "Bitch." She barely had time to shut her eyes before he spat in her face. Wiping her face with the back of her face she watched as Dom dragged the guy to the entrance.

Grimacing, she made her way over to the bar where Mark passed her a napkin so that she could clean herself. "Thanks."

"Are you OK?"

"Oh, I'm wonderful." She remarked sarcastically. "I think I need a fag."

He quickly passed her cigarettes and lighter and she made her way outside. Ignoring the freezing air, she lit up and savoured the temporary peace. There seemed to be no one else around her as she huddled in on herself and she rested her head against the brick wall behind her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the sounds of nature around her and the gentle whisper of wind through bare trees. She hated nights like this.

The sound of muffled shouts and scuffling had her frowning. Quickly distinguishing her cigarette, she made her way back inside. An argument was brewing near the bar but the sound of pounding music drowned out the angry words. She was about to intercept when Carley came over. Even her energetic demeanour had been quashed by the events of the night. "You're up, sweetie."

Pulling a comforting smile across her features, she made her way over to the stage and stepped up. Her leather boots seemed to gleam in the dim lighting and she made her way over to the centre of the stage, ignoring the harsh remarks of the men close by, she tried to get into the rhythm of the song. As Nickleback's 'Something in your mouth' began to play, she focused on the sound of her breathing and movements while trying to keep an eye on the situation at the bar.

Finishing with some simple floor work and a steamy look, she steadily got up and quickly began to make her way to the bar. She was nearly there when a pair of arms wrapped around her and pulled her back. A loud laugh came from behind her as she attempted to pull herself out of the hold before a sweaty forehead was pressed against her neck.

"Get off me!" She demanded but he ignored her protests as he pulled her towards the crowd. Danielle saw some of the girls try and make their way over but were blocked by other men.

As panic began to set in, she elbowed behind her to hear a small cry before he tugged at her harder. "Stop moving, slut."

Dom came over and tugged his off, breaking the iron grip and dragging him away, at the same time Danielle saw a stocky man lash out and hit Mark knocking him to the ground. Running over, she desperately weaved through the people to get to him. The other bartender, Greg, was crouched down next to him. When he saw her approaching, he returned to tending the bar while she looked him over. Mark blinked slowly while he tried to drag himself up.

"Mark, are you OK? No- just stay still for a minute."

She saw him dab at his split lip with the back of his hand before looking up at her. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Carefully, she helped him up. He staggered slightly and she steadied him before beginning to lead him towards the back rooms. Walking into the women's toilets, she ignored Olivia who was reapplying lipstick to get some tissue. Mark carefully leant against the sinks while Olivia looked between the pair wide eyed. "What happened?"

"It's nothing." Mark sighed.

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"It's just the usual: a guy had too much to drink."

Danielle soaked the tissue in warm water before carefully wiping the blood off Mark's lip. He rolled his eyes before taking it off her and doing it himself. "It's fine."

Sighing, she leaned against a stall and turned to the caramel haired girl. "How's your night going?"

She grimaced. "I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing Becky."

"Is she staying over at yours again, tonight?"

Her eyes seemed to light up when Danielle mentioned the girl's partner. "Yeah."

Danielle couldn't suppress her smile as she chirpily put her make-up away and headed towards the door. She wasn't gone long before she popped her head around the door. "Hey, Mark? Dom's just told me that the manager is coming in and that he's said you can go early."

Mark tried to smile but winced when his lip stretched. "I'm fine to work till the end of my shift."

She seemed sheepish before scratching the back of her neck. "Erm, well I didn't really want to say this but he's kind of insisting that you go. He doesn't want you to sue."

When Danielle saw that he was about to argue again, she quickly interrupted. "Enjoy the break, go on go home and get some sleep."

"I'd need to wait for you anyway."

"No you don't, I can catch the bus back."

"But,"

"No buts! Go on! I'm not taking no for an answer."

He frowned before giving her a quick hug. "Alright, but you call me as soon as you leave and when the bus arrives."

"Ok," She pulled out of his embrace and gently pushed him towards Olivia. "Now go."

As the pair left, Danielle took a moment to compose herself before walking out.

***

Leaning back into the comfort of his seat, Jason frowned. The pressure was mounting to write up a contract which would be agreeable to both parties and the alpha from the other pack was getting impatient. Gazing out of the window, he frowned at the downpour which tapped relentlessly at the pane. How was it that the day had once again passed so quickly?

A lone figure in the rain caught his attention. The woman shivered by a bus stop and as the vehicle passed she looked up.

"Stop the car." At Jason's swift order, the car slowed to a stop and he opened the door. "Danielle?"

Her wide green eyes focused on his face and he noticed how her lower lip trembled. "Jason?"

"Get in."

As she hurried over, he made room for her and she gratefully slid in. Her hair hung limply around her pale face and she shivered.

"How long have you been stood there?"

"About half an hour, I think." Noting the slight purple tint to her lips, he slipped off his coat and placed it over her shoulders. As she snuggled deeper into its warmth, he signalled the driver to continue.

"Any better?" He asked as he pulled the material tighter around her.

"A little," She sighed. "It looks like my luck is improving."

"What do you mean?"

When her eyes met his he noted a tinge of sadness which she quickly covered. "It's just been a long night."

Sensing that she was withholding information his brow creased. "Why, what happened?"

He face fell into a frown. "Just the usual: some guys felt the need to call us every name under the son." When he gave her a stern look, she seemed to give in. "A guy spat in my face, another grabbed me and a drunk decided to kick off at Mark."

Jason took a deep breath to try and smother the inferno of rage that was burning through his veins. "Are you alright? And Mark?"

"I'm fine but Mark got a split lip." He shoulders dropped and he saw a glimpse of vulnerability in her. "It's more tiring than anything."

Cut deeply by her despair, he pulled her to him so he could rest her head on his chest. Rubbing a hand up and down her arm, he tried to provide extra warmth. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's not your fault."

Resting his head on top of hers, he inhaled her sweet scent. A warmth in his chest blossomed at the aroma. "How about you have a bath and something to eat at mine before you go back? That way you can relax a little before having to face tomorrow?"

She moaned into his chest and the sound sent a shot of lust to his groin. "That sounds AMAZING." He quickly asked the driver to take them to his cabin and Danielle looked up at him; her brow wrinkled in confusion. "Cabin?"

"It's where I stay when I want to get away from it all."

She settled once more before reaching inside her pocket and trying to dial with numb fingers. He watched her try for a few more moments before speaking up. "Do you need a hand?"

Glancing up at him, she briefly bit her lip before giving a quick nod of her head. "Can you phone Mark, please? He wanted me to let him know when I was travelling back."

Carefully taking the mobile from her icy fingers, Jason looked through her contacts before he found Mark's number and dialled.

The voice on the other end was sleepy and gruff. Quickly, looking at his watch he noticed the time. "Hello?"

"Hello Mark, it's Jason Evans."

"Oh hi," He heard him yawn. "Is Danielle OK?"

"Yeah, she's right here with me. I heard about what happened, how's the lip?"

"It's fine- I've had worse."

"I'm glad to hear it. I'm taking Danielle to mine so she can have a break before tomorrow."

"Right, thanks it'll do her some good. Can I have a quick word with her, please?"

"Sure." Passing the phone to Danielle, he smiled.

"Hello? Hi Mark, no it's fine. Honestly. OK, yep, I'll see you in a bit. OK- try and get some sleep. Ok, bye."

Clumsily, she ended the call before slipping the phone back into her pocket. Resting against him once more, the rest of the trip took place in a comfortable silence. As the car began to pull up beside a forest, he saw Danielle quickly lift herself up to peer out of the window. He head her breathing accelerate along with her heartbeat as she looked, her hand reached up to gingerly hover near the door handle. As her scent seemed to become stronger with her excitement, he became amazed at how well tuned her was to her. The pull towards her was undeniable and he couldn't seem to bring himself to put space between them or to break contact. What was this woman doing to him?

She looked over her shoulder with wide eyes. "Is this yours?"

He smiled. "Yes."

A glow seemed to light up her face and as the car stopped, she quickly opened the door and jumped out. Following her out, he followed her past the few trees that provided a small amount of privacy before coming across the front door. Pulling out a set of keys from his pocket, he unlocked it and opened it for her.




Inner Animal Ch. 05



***

Danielle had seen a lot of things in her life but nothing seemed to really measure up to the cosiness and warmth offered by Jason's cabin. The living room displayed warm browns and comfy furniture. A stone fireplace took pride of place on the far wall and as Jason went to start a fire, Danielle did a slow circle on the spot. The ceiling was high with a simple light that seemed to illuminate the room in a warm glow. On a raised platform in a partitioned room was a large double bed with a thick white duvet and chocolate brown pillows and comforter. Danielle walked over to a wall to run her hands down the visible logs.

"So what do you think?"

Jason's deep voice made her jump as it came from behind her and she turned to smile at him. "It's incredible."

Pride seemed to fill his features. "Thank you,"

As their gazes locked, Danielle cleared her throat and looked around the room. "Erm, is it OK if I have that bath?"

Rubbing the back of his neck he looked towards the fire for a moment. "Sure," Seeming to shake himself out of his thoughts he pointed to the door behind her. "The bathroom's through there."

"Thanks."

Slipping through the door and locking it behind her, she placed her forehead against the door and took a shaky breath. She was getting way too attached to this guy.

Turning, she was unable to stop her eyebrows from rising at the sight of the almost elegant bathroom. The room was a mixture of white and gold and the soft lighting gave the room a soothing atmosphere. As she began to walk towards the large white bathtub by the way, a yawn escaped her and she paused. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders and she absentmindedly rolled them. Not wanting to risk falling asleep in the tub, she went towards the huge shower in the corner.

Water cascaded down as she turned it on and as she stuck her hand under the flow, she sighed at the warmth. Quickly grabbing a couple of towels from a heated rail, she stripped off and hopped in. Danielle moaned loudly, much to her embarrassment, as the water ran over her tired limbs and cold skin. It was as if all the tension from her body was being washed away with all the grime and dirt that seemed to have been imprinted into her body.

A small knock broke through her blissful trance and she wiped away a small section of the condensation from the panel to peer through. "Hello?"

Jason opened the door, with his head turned to the side to avoid looking in her direction. "I was just going to ask whether you wanted me to put your clothes in the dryer."

"Oh," Feeling self- conscious, she covered herself with her arms. "Erm, that was be great thanks."

He nodded. "Right," He seemed to notice the pile on the floor close by and picked them up. When her pants dropped, he bent to scoop them up and held them uncertainly in his hand. Danielle's cheeks grew luminous as she saw his throat bob. After a tense moment he added the underwear to the pile in his arms before continuing. "I'm making us some food as well- you're not allergic to anything are you?"

"No."

"... Good." He cleared his throat. "I'll see you in a minute."

After he left, Danielle took a deep breath and tried to cool her cheeks. Hurrying, she finished washing herself and stepped out. As she wrapped a towel around her and began rubbing one through her wet hair, she realised her predicament. Danielle didn't really want to walk out covered in a just a towel- especially after the incredibly awkward situation that had just occurred. Biting her lip, her eyes were drawn to the fluffy, large, navy blue robe that was hung on the back of the door. After drying herself off, she slipped into it and was enveloped in a warm earthy scent. Inhaling deeply, she savoured Jason's smell before stepping out of the bathroom.

Jason was stood in front of the oven as she entered and smiled. She returned the gesture as she ran fingers through her damp locks. Walking towards the bedroom, he began to rummage around the drawers and she went to lean against the doorframe; watching him as he did so. He seemed to have found what he was looking for when he pulled out a pair of boxers, tracksuit bottoms before opening another and pulling out a large t-shirt and baggy hoodie. "Here- I know they're not great but they'll keep you warm until your clothes are done."

As he passed her the bundle, she tried to suppress a shiver as their skin made contact and her hand began to tingle. Her eyes lifted to meet his to see the amber in his eyes positively glow before flicking to her lips and back. His own lips were looking rather appealing as she looked at his face and strong features.

Pulling out of her trance-like state, she looked down at the loose clothing in her arms. "Thanks."

He also seemed to gather himself before he gestured towards the kitchen. "I'd better get back to cooking. There's a hairdryer in the cupboard over there if you want it." After standing awkwardly for a moment, he left.

Trying to calm herself, she dried off and slipped into Jason's clothes, pulling back the long sleeves over her hands. Once again the heady scent of him filled her nose and she tried to suppress the desire to just bury herself in it. Finding the hairdryer in the cupboard he had signalled, she found a comb on his dresser and began to pull it through her knotted hair. As she began to use the hairdryer, she tried to focus her mind. Danielle hated to admit it but the chemistry that was brewing between her and Jason was addictive. Rubbing her thumb over her finger that had brushed against him, she remembered the electricity that had seemed to run through her at the contact.

Quietening her mind, she finished drying her hair before carefully replacing the items. She resisted the temptation to search his room in respect of his privacy even though her fingers itched to do so. Danielle still wasn't sure whether she could completely trust him or not yet.

Hearing the sound of plates and cutlery in the main room, she made her way through before hovering in the doorway. Jason was pulling a lasagne out of the oven and looked up to smile at her. "Take a seat, I'll serve you some."

Walking over to the table and chairs, she sat down in a solid wooden chair. As Jason placed a plate in front of her, she smiled at the gorgeous smell of lasagne drifted to her senses. He soon joined her at the table before offering her a bottle of red wine. Nodding, she carefully took a bite of the food while he poured her a glass and sighed in contentment. "This is really good!"

He grinned as he took a sip of his wine. "Good."

As she savoured another sample, she made a confession. "I'm a terrible cook."

"What about Gina and Mark?"

"Mark's pretty bad but not as bad as me. I honestly don't know what we'd do without Gina- she wanted to be a chef, once. If it wasn't for her we'd probably live off takeaways and ready meals."

Jason began to eat the lasagne before nodding in approval. "My Mum insisted that I learnt when I grew up. If I remember correctly her words were, 'I'm not letting you sit on your arse all day while your poor wife does all the work'." His face seemed to light up with respect when he spoke of his mother.

Danielle grinned. "She sounds like a great woman."

"She is."

"Does she live close by?"

"Yeah actually, she lives in the estate on the other side of the forest."

Danielle paused mid- sip. Surprise overwhelmed her at the news. "I didn't realise there was one. Does she live on her own, or...?"

Jason seemed to consider her for a minute before replying. "I come from a big family. She lives with them." He tapped his finger against the table for a moment before continuing. "I usually stay there myself but I like to get away every now and then."

"Wow, don't you ever get sick of being in such a busy house? I mean, no disrespect, but I've never heard of any other family that is all under one household..."

He scratched the back of his neck. "The estate is rather fragmented. We all have our own quarters in the house and we're fairly close so there aren't too many arguements."

"Did someone inherit it or did you buy it...?"

His shoulders slumped as he appeared to relax. "It's been passed on through the family- it was originally designed and built by one of our founders."

By this point, Danielle had finished her food and had her chin rested in her palm listening to him in interest as he spoke about its open space and warm atmosphere. She was absorbed in the clear love in his voice for his family.

"It sounds amazing." She smiled.

"If you want I can show you some day."

"I'd like that."

Jason picked up their plates and placed them in the dishwasher before addressing her. "Can I get you anything else? Coffee?"

Tucking her hair behind her ear shyly, she answered. "Can I have a tea, please?"

He flicked the switch on the kettle before grabbing a couple of mugs. "How did you end up living in the flat with Mark and Gina?"

Danielle bit her lip before divulging the information. "... I was lucky really. I had just starting working at the club and had heard that Gina and Mark were looking for another tenant so that they could afford the rent. Gina took a chance and gave me a trial run and it just stuck."

Jason made the drinks before bringing them over. Danielle took a thoughtful sip before shifting in her seat. "Thank you, for helping me."

"No problem."

They finished their drinks in silence before Jason got her clothes from the dryer and giving them to her to put on. As Danielle gathered the rest of her things, she made her way to the doorway and hovered. Jason walked over to her, holding his mobile limp in his hand.

Unable to resist, she her eyes ran over his tanned skin and toned body. The light jumper and dark jeans he was wearing clung to his frame showing his broad shoulders and lean hips. Looking down to rearrange her rucksack and cool the heat that had begun to build within her, she resisted the urge to lick her lips.

"I'll get my driver to take you back."

"Thank you," After she had calmed down, she gazed up into his face. "Goodnight Jason."

Reaching forward, she pressed her lips against his cheek. The warmth of his skin and earthy smell caused her to linger. Their breaths mingled as their eyes met before Jason turned his head to capture her lips. A steady burn began in her core as his soft lips teased hers, his taste making her crave more. Pressing closer against him, she was vaguely aware of Jason tossing his phone onto the sofa before wrapping a strong arm around her waist and drawing her in. Tongues duelled for dominance as a moan was drawn from her lips. Her arms secured themselves around his neck as he sucked at her bottom lip before drifting his own over her closed eyelids and throat. Each caress felt like he was worshipping her.

It was as if something inside her snapped. Grabbing a handful of his hair she pulled his head back so she could ravish his mouth. Clawing at his top, she slipped a hand underneath to feel his scorching skin under her palm and heat spread through her fingers. Jason ran his hands across her shoulders to release the rucksack before gripping the back of her neck. Insistent, she pushed up the material and he quickly complied, ripping the top off. Their eyes met briefly to reveal a burning desire before they reconnected.

Clothes soon came off as a desperate need took over them. As soon as their skin touched they both groaned. It was like an electric shock had run across their bodies at the contact leaving licks of awareness across their overheated limbs. With a growl, Jason began to suck at the juncture between her neck and her shoulder, marking her in a gesture so possessive it made her shiver.

Lifting her up, he carried them towards his bed before depositing her in the middle of it. The way he looked at her was as if he wanted to consume her. All she saw was him: the rise and fall of his chest, the swelling of his lips and most of all the way in which his eyes seemed to glow in arousal- flecks of light almost appearing to dance in the irises.

He devoured her as his hands brushed against her hardening nipples; teasing them determined strokes. His tongue and lips tasted every part of her skin while her fingernails raked his back. There was no time to think, she could feel herself on the edge of something and the animalistic need to get there almost brought her to tears. With a cry, she wrapped her legs around him to drag his down so that there was no space between them before biting his earlobe. She felt him shiver in her arms before kissing her once again. The kiss was long and passionate- full of promise of things to come.

Danielle watched as one of Jason's hands trailed down her body. Her hurried breathing caused it to rise and fall as it travelled lower and lower before running thorough her wetness. She balked before her pressed his lips to hers again to calm her. Their eyes never left each other as he stroked her, both of them searching each other's faces as if unwilling to leave the moment. Biting her lip, she felt a coil inside of her tighten as his gifted hands teased her before coming apart. A tidal wave of pleasure overcame her as her toes curled and Jason pressed his lips against her forehead.

As she slowly came down, she noticed that he was gritting his teeth. She tried to regain her breath. "What's wrong?"

"I haven't got anything." He muttered bitterly. The tension rolled off his in waves as she could feel his erection pressed against her thigh.

"I'm on the pill."

"Why are you-?"

She groaned loudly. "Do you SERIOUSLY want to have this discussion now?!" Yanking his lips back to hers she kissed him for all she was worth.

An inferno raged within her and caused a hot flush across her skin as he entered her. A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to adjust to his size. He stopped his movements and buried his head in the crook of her necks as his arms visibly shook from the strain. Slowing her breaths, she relaxed and kissed at his neck to let him know she was alright. Looking over her face, he seemed to confirm this before beginning to rock into her. She ached with how much she needed him. Kissing him hard, she tugged him with her legs to spur him. The speed picked up as he began to slam into her and a breathless whisper of pleasure escaped from her lips. Danielle felt him began to nibble of her throat and moaned loudly at the sensation before he seemed to turn his head away with a curse. Their gazes locked once more as a thousand silent words passed between them: their lips hovering a hairbreadth away as they both cried out. Danielle screamed out as another tsunami of ecstasy made her fall apart and her nails dig deeper into Jason's back. Pain flitted across his features before he was also dragged under with a call of her name.

The silence settled over them as they tried to recover their breaths- the sound of their ragged breathing the only thing to break the peace. Danielle stroked hand over Jason's cheek as he swept one through her hair: amber irises continuing to meet green.

***

It was in the morning when Jason looked down on Danielle's sleeping form that he noticed what he had missed before when he had been swept up in his passion. Danielle's body was covered in scars.

*

Congratulations to anyone who guessed right- the scars will be explained in the next chapter. I hope you enjoy reading this and a special thank you for having patience with me and for following the story!

Love love!

Raven Moon x 



Inner Animal Ch. 06



Hey! Raven Moon here, (obviously) I ended up realising how much I'd written and thought that I'd put some of it up. I hope that you enjoy and please leave me a review or a rating to let me know what you think!



*****

It was in the morning when Jason looked down on Danielle's sleeping form that he noticed what he had missed before when he had been swept up in his passion. Danielle's body was covered in scars.

*****

His eyes swept over each mark as the back of his fingers ran down her spine. They each varied in shape and size and some appeared darker than others. A particular prominent one rested low on her hip and disappeared out of sight. Kissing the back of her right shoulder, his fingers stroked her waist causing her to begin to stir.

Her eyes slowly blinked open before a small smile came over her face. "...morning."

He grinned back. "Good morning." As he lowered his lips back to her skin, she sighed contently and cuddled the pillow.

A temporary silence came over them as Jason began to caress the scar where he had just kissed her. She shifted, seeming to struggle with an internal debate, before sighing. "You want to know how I got them don't you?"

"Yes," He admitted, moving his hand away. "But I'm not going to force you to tell me."

Danielle seemed to register this for a moment before glancing over her shoulder at him. Their eyes met before she redirected her attention to his headboard. "...Growing up I never really had anyone to talk to. My dad was always being called to the hospital and my mum was always working on a case- they never really had time for me. I was placed in boarding schools so I didn't see them much as it was. I hated them for it." She ran a shaky hand through her hair before continuing. "I didn't have any real friends: the thing is with places like that is everyone is obsessed with status and who can give the best connections. I mostly just kept myself to myself- I didn't want to play those games. The only way I could ever get my parents to give me any attention was to cause trouble so that they were called in. It's pretty pathetic really." A harsh laugh broke through her lips. Hearing the pain in her voice, he rested his head on the side of hers. She leant into the contact slightly. "When I was sixteen I met Jake. He seemed nice- he liked me for me. He never seemed to care about the other girls. I ended up sneaking out to meet him most nights. Jake was the first guy that I ever loved. He showed me what it felt like to have someone care about you, what it was like to have people like you for YOU.

"I ran way. I thought that it would be me and him against the world. I packed nothing but the essentials and climbed down the drainpipe to him. God, I really thought that everything was working itself out. I'd planned it so that my parents had been called in the day before so that I could steal my Mum's credit card so that we had something to live on for a bit. We ended up getting a cheap council flat but I didn't care. I tried to throw myself into the new culture and lose all traces of my background- I didn't want to be associated with that lifestyle anymore. I'd never felt so free." Her tremors had begun to worsen and Jason rubbed his hands up and down her shoulders to calm her. Exhaling noisily, she persevered. "That's when everything changed. I'd noticed that a large amount of money had gone from the bank account and so asked him about it. We got into a huge argument and... he hit me.

"I was so shocked. He just kept on apologising and I forgave him. He'd never gotten angry with me before and I thought that it was a one off. When he bought me flowers the next day, we moved past it. I found out later that he'd used the money to buy drugs. Things steadily got worse. At first, it was just odd comments that would put me down or he would humiliate me in front of his mates but then things got more extreme. He was drinking a lot more and he wasn't even hiding it when he took drugs anymore." A tear slipped from her closed eyes. "I used to lean against the doorframe and watch him just to make sure he didn't die.

"It was during another argument that he hit me again. He didn't apologise that time, he just left the room. He lost his temper more and the beatings started. I used to think it was my fault- he'd made me believe that I deserved everything I got. I used to wonder how he put up with me.

"When the money ran out, I worked as a cleaner at a strip club. I was about seventeen at this point- I guess that my parents had worked out that I took the card and kept it working so that I had something to live off. He'd spend the day getting pissed with his mates or high as a kite... that scar there," She nodded her head in the direction of where Jason was lazily tracing the scar on her shoulder. "Was when he threw me down and the glass from the coffee table smashed." She lifted a hand and rested it on a spot on the crown of her head. "I've also got one here from when he slammed me against the wall."

Jason ran his fingers down to her elbow where his advanced eye sight had noticed a white line. Brushing his finger over it, she laughed gently. "I did that when I was a kid- fell off a branch." He smiled softly before his fingers found a light pink mark on the back of the top of her left thigh. "That was when he pushed me down the stairs after I'd tried to get him to give up the drugs."

Almost hesitantly, Jason moved his hand over to the large scar on the right side of her hip. As he followed the line across her body, she rolled over and he was unable to suppress the gasp that came with the blow to the gut. It nearly reached all the way across to her belly button. He struggled to suppress the rage that was beginning to build in him at the sight of the mark.

She watched his face warily. "He was drunk and accused me of cheating. Unluckily for me, we were in the kitchen next to the knives. Luckily for me, he missed." At Jason's perplexed expression, she elaborated. "He was aiming lower."

Swallowing back bile, he placed his hand on the top of her left shoulder where another pink line marred her creamy skin. "He threw a glass at me." He ran his hand down her arm before gently twisting her forearm to expose various circular burns. "Cigarette burns," She clarified. "I guess I wasn't the only one who thought I was worthless." Ignoring her failed attempt at humour, he placed a chaste kiss on the marks before hesitantly moving to her abdomen.

Danielle shifted uncomfortably underneath him as he stroked his thumb over the scar. Her voice came out a whisper. "Kidney transplant." Another tear ran down her face and he moved to face her before kissing it away. Her voice remained husky. "The last beating I got from Jake was the worst. It was like he was possessed; he just wouldn't stop. I begged him to stop, I BEGGED him- but you could see it on his face, he didn't hear me. He just kept on punching me and when I fell to the floor he started kicked me. I thought I was going to die.

"I must have blacked out because the next thing I know, I was in hospital- I honestly don't know I got there. They told me that I'd been out for a while- that my kidney had started failing and that I needed a transplant..." When she paused, Jason placed a comforting kiss on her trembling lips. She sighed before clearing her throat. "The first thing I asked was where Jake was. One of the nurses: Karen, told me that she'd call him for me. It turns out that he didn't even know I'd left.

"I was lucky, I got a kidney pretty quickly but it was during my time in hospital that Karen noticed all of my scars and after a lot of persuasion I admitted to her what had been happening. Jake never visited so I didn't have to worry about getting hurt or shouted at but at the same time I was desperate to see him.

"I found out why later on. Apparently I'd flat-lined briefly and Jake must have seen it. When he'd asked Karen if I was dead she didn't deny it and he ran. When I found out what she had done I was furious, I couldn't believe that she'd done it. But, honestly, I don't think that I can ever repay her. She showed me what he had brought me to and told me that she had gone through something similar. She took care of me."

Jason was stunned. He ran his fingers through her hair as her breathing began to slow and her racing heart began to steady. "Do you still keep in touch with her?"

She shook her head. "Briefly, she used to call sometimes- just to see how I was doing. The last I heard she'd moved to Ireland." A look of wonder came over her face. "She risked her career for me- for someone she barely knew. I just... I don't think that I'll ever be able to thank her enough."

Vulnerability seemed to enter her eyes as he looked into them. She exhaled in an attempt to cover it. "I've never told anyone that before."

His hand paused. Shock overwhelmed him. "How long ago did it happen?"

"Nearly five years ago."

"Why did you never tell anyone?"

"It's not exactly something I'm proud of." She confessed.

"None of it was your fault, Danielle, what he did was inexcusable."

Her voice was quiet. "I'm the one who got involved with him. I'm the one who trusted him. I should have known better."

Jason gently gripped her chin and lifted it. "Now you listen to me Miss. Macintyre. You are the most beautiful, gorgeous- soul shatteringly sexy woman I have ever met. You know how to hold your own and won't hesitate to defend those around you. You couldn't have known better- how could anyone have known that he would hurt you like that?"

Silence came over them again until she hesitantly spoke. "Do you still see me as all of those things?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well you've seen them now- I wouldn't blame you if you weren't interested anymore. Just please don't tell people what I told you, I don't want..."

He cut her off with a passionate kiss that left her gasping for air before proceeding to run kisses all the way down her body. "I meant every word."

Fisting a hand in his hair, she pulled him back to her lips. "Thank you." Their kisses deepened as Jason ran a hand down Danielle's body to wrap a leg around his waist. His lips had just begun to follow a trail down her neck when his mobile began to ring from where he'd thrown it onto the sofa. As it continued to pierce the serenity, he dropped his head and groaned.

"Leave it," Danielle mumbled.

//...Alpha Evans... Brother dear, please answer the phone...//

Jason fought to ignore the insistent call in his mind as he was enveloped once more in Danielle's warmth.

//Jase!! Answer the god damn phone!!//

Giving in, he reluctantly pulled himself away and snatched up the phone with a barely concealed growl. "What?"

"Good morning to you too!" The feminine voice huffed. "Kyle told me that you brought a lady friend over last night- is it safe for me to come round?"

Raking a hand through his hair, he fought to keep his tone polite. "Not really."

"Well that's a shame because I'm outside."

"What?" Walking over to the window, he peered behind the curtain to see his sister at the end of the drive. She gave a small wave. "You've got be kidding me."

"Yeah, I love you too. Give me a break- it's the first girl that you've ever brought back to this place. I was curious."

Sighing, he glanced back towards Danielle who was watching his movements with a raised eyebrow. The flush on her cheeks and the way that the duvet was wrapped around her made him gulp and try to refocus on the conversation. "Fine just- just give us half an hour, OK?"

"Alright, I'll get the breakfast while I wait- does your lady friend want anything in particular?"

Grimacing at the surreal situation, Jason rested the phone against his chest while shyly looking towards Danielle. "Erm, is there anything that you want for breakfast? My sister wants to know."

The look of disbelief on her face was almost comical. "Seriously?" When he nodded, she looked puzzled before answering. "I guess a cappuccino, if there's one going and some toast, please." He relayed the information to his sister.

"OK, good. I'll be back in half an hour- oh and Jase please be decent." With that she hung up.

Rubbing at his brow, Jason addressed Danielle. "We've got half an hour before she gets here." He noticed her heavy frown. "What?"

"I thought you said that you only had a Mum."

Ah. Exhaling, Jason walked over before sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about Hollie. I'm quite protective of her and until I get to really know a person I don't introduce them to her."

She seemed to take this in silently before sighing. "...OK. I'm not thrilled but I get it. But, I need to know, if she hadn't turned up would you have told me about her?"

He smiled before brushing the hair out of her face. "Yes, if I wasn't otherwise... preoccupied..." He watched her face flush at the huskiness of his voice. "I would have told you more about my family." His hand rested on her cheek and she leant into his touch. "After everything that you've just shared with me... I'm not going to hide anything from you."

He couldn't- not anymore. He would have to find a way to tell her the truth somehow. After the night before, he had been forced to realise how important she was to him- there was no way he was willing to let her go. He would have to tell her he was a werewolf and pray to whatever deity was out there that she would accept him.

***

Danielle had to admit that she was looking at Jason in a whole new light. It had terrified her to reveal her past and for him to listen so attentively and accept her was overwhelming. Yeah, she was a little bit pissed that he hadn't told her about his sister but she could relate. She was protective of the other dancers and wouldn't willingly divulge information about them to just anyone.

Feeling heat begin to build in the gaze from Jason, she licked her lips. He groaned before standing up and beginning to repeat 'half an hour' like a mantra.

They had just both hastily, and separately, showered and gotten themselves presentable when a knocking came at the door. Jason looked at her before walking over and letting his sister in.

Hollie had dark hair and slightly tanned skin like her brother but the large grin on her face seemed to give off a bubblier personality. Her vivid amber eyes seemed to be looking her over thoughtfully. When she seemed to have finished her inspection, she lifted up a Costa bag in peace offering.

Jason rolled his eyes before shutting the door behind her. "Hollie this is Danielle. Danielle this is Hollie."

Danielle gave a small smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Hollie placed the bag down onto the counter besides Danielle. "It's nice to meet you too, Danielle." She fished out the cappuccino and passed it to her. "Sorry they didn't have any toast."

"It's alright!" Jason announced. "I'll make some now." Was he nervous?

Hollie raced an eyebrow with a barely suppressed smirk. "Wow, I'm impressed- Danielle how did you manage to do it?"

Taking a sip of her drink, Danielle frowned. "Do what?"

"I've never known my brother to make this much effort for a girl before."

Danielle raised an eyebrow before Jason quickly cut in. "It's just toast, Hollie."

"You've never made me toast before."

He sighed. "Would you like some toast?"

"No thanks, I've already eaten." As Jason opened his mouth to argue she drove on. "So Danielle what do you do?"

Danielle barely held back her laughter at the siblings banter before answering. "I'm a pole dancer."

If Hollie was surprised she hid it well. "How long have you been pole dancing?"

"About five years." She smiled gratefully at Jason as he passed her the toast. "What do you do?"

She was silent for a moment before smiling to herself and replying. "I'm a... life coach- I tend to help women keep their lives on track and sometimes to give them boundaries to stop chaos in their lives."

"Oh wow," Danielle grinned. "Maybe you can help me out one day- I could certainly do with losing the chaos."

Hollie looked at her carefully before taking a thoughtful sip. "Maybe."

Jason cleared his throat. "Hollie recently got married."

"Congratulations." Danielle grabbed Hollie's offered hand and tilted her hand to watch the light catch on the diamond on her ring finger. "It's gorgeous."

"Thank you..." Danielle noticed that her top had begun to ride up on her arm to reveal some of the burns on her pale skin. Hollie's eyes flickered over the marks caused shame to rush through her and she hastily yanked her sleeve down. Hollie continued her conversation as if nothing had happened which Danielle was extremely grateful for. "We didn't have anything too fancy just our... families."

Danielle gave a tentative smile. As if Jason felt her distress, he slipped an arm around her waist and placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. She immediately relaxed into his touch and closed her eyes in contentment. When she opened them again, she saw Hollie looking at her and Jason in speculation. A blush coloured her cheeks but he didn't let her go.

"How long have you two been seeing each other?"

Jason answered her question. "Nearly two weeks."

Nearly two weeks. It had only been 'nearly two weeks' and already she'd slept with him. She felt sick.

Hollie's eyes never left Danielle's face as she spoke. "Jason, can you give us a minute, please?" Her eyes flickered to Jason where the pair seemed to have a silent discussion before he moved away.

"I need to make some calls anyway." He placed another quick kiss to the Danielle's head before stepping outside.

Danielle stood nervously as Hollie once again analysed her. Seeming to find whatever she was looking for, Hollie leant back against the counter behind her. "I've never seen my brother this happy with a woman before. You're good for him, Danielle."

Surprise came over her at the sister's words. "You're not going to tell me to back off?"

Her laugh was light and automatically caused a smile come over Danielle's face. "Definitely not- in fact I want to apologise in advance for whatever stupid things my brother is likely to say. Seeing the two of you together makes it look like you've been together for two years not weeks."

"Aren't you worried that things are moving too fast between us?"

"Hey, when you know you know- don't give me that look, Danielle I can tell how you feel by how you look at him. He cares for you just as much." She frowned as if a sudden thought had come to her. "Look your relationship is none of my business but I do have one request: please don't hurt him. Yeah, he can be an absolute douchebag sometimes but beneath it all he's still my brother."

Danielle allowed herself a small smile. "You know before you turned up, I didn't even realise he had a sister. He said that he hadn't told me because he was protective of you. What I didn't realise was that it was mutual."

Hollie rubbed the back of her neck in what appeared to be discomfort. Danielle remembered Jason doing the same gesture not that long ago and wondered if she'd picked it up from him. "Did Jason happen to tell you why he's so overprotective?" When she shook her head, she dropped her hand. "Well he's my brother so as you can imagine he's protective enough but, about six months ago someone tried to kill me."

"What?!"

"It was an ex... employee of Jason's who didn't take being fired very lightly." The colour seemed to drain from her face. "If Jason hadn't shown up when he did..."

Suddenly overtaken by a bizarre impulse, Danielle stepped forward and wrapped Hollie in her arms. The woman clung onto Danielle for a few moments as she gathered comfort.

After a few moments, she calmed down and Danielle slowly released her. "I'm sorry; can I ask why was he fired?"

Hollie sniffed as she gathered herself. "Jason won't stand for violence against women. When he caught the guy hitting another... employee, he went ballistic."




Inner Animal Ch. 06



"Well at least you don't have to worry about him anymore, right? I mean I don't know Jason as well as you do but I know that he looks after those that he cares about."

"Yeah, yeah- you're right. Besides, I'm married now. I've got my husband and his... family to look after me as well."

"And me!"

Hollie laughed lightly. "Thanks! Hey, maybe you should pick up a career in therapy!"

Danielle grimaced. "Funnily enough, I don't think it's for me."

Both women laughed some more before Jason returned. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Hollie grinned. "We're just discussing all of your secrets."

He ruffled her hair causing her to swat at his hands before moving to stand by Danielle. He whispered in her ear causing an involuntary shiver to run through her. "Don't listen to her, it's all lies!"

Danielle failed to suppress a blush causing Hollie to smirk. "Anyway," Placing her empty cardboard cup in the bin, she gave Jason a sly smile. "I'd better leave you two to it."

Danielle opened her mouth to say goodbye when her phone's ringtone began to call out. Frowning, her eyes ran over the room before finding her bag on the floor by the doorway. Running over, she opened the rucksack and pulled out her mobile to see Mark's name on the screen. Barely managing to stop herself from swearing at her ignorance, she quickly answered.

"Mark, hey!"

"Danielle, hi-"

"I'm so sorry! I should have called!"

"Danielle- hey CALM DOWN! It's OK, Jason called me this morning to let me know that you're OK."

"Oh," She glanced over her shoulder to see Jason's smouldering eyes fixed on her, seeming to be only half listening to Hollie as she spoke. Her eyes flickered over to Danielle before a smirk came over her face and nudged Jason in the ribs.

Danielle was overcome by a blush before she made her way outside. She sighed deeply as she leant against the wooden gate by the entrance and looked over the gorgeous view of the forest around her. "I'm sorry I didn't- I was... distracted."

She heard him laugh and rolled her eyes. "I see. So how was the distraction...?"

Running a hand through her hair, she breathed in the fresh air. "It was good. Really REALLY good. Mark, we talked about the scars."

There was a silence on the other end before he spoke. "What did he say?"

"He was OK with them: Mark he said he still wanted me..." With the words, realisation finally began to sink in. He wasn't rejecting her: he wasn't pushing her away in disgust- he still desired her despite the ugly markings. Sobs broke through her chest as tears of relief escaped her at the revelation. Someone wanted her, Danielle Macintyre, as well as Midnight. Maybe she was worthy after all.

"Ssh, Dani, Ssh. Take a deep breath."

She followed his advice as she tried to come to terms with the thoughts running around her head. Hands shaking, she wiped away the moisture on her face despite the grin that was threatening to split her face in two. "I'm sorry!"

"Don't apologise- never apologise for crying Dan. Unless it's from laughing at me too hard, then yeah apologise." She laughed. "You OK?"

"Yeah, I'm better now thanks." Taking another deep breath, she closed her eyes. "Mark, I told him how I got them- before you say anything just hear me out." Choosing her words carefully, she continued. "Something in me just told me to tell him and he just listened- he wasn't judgemental, he didn't interrupt- he just took it all in and gave me the strength to go on. After I'd finished it made me realise that I should have told you and Gina years ago. I was just so scared that you'd be ashamed of me or judge me for it and I couldn't bring myself to tell you what I went through. Jason made me realise that what happened wasn't my fault and that I need to accept that and let people in." She exhaled shakily and, to Mark's credit, he stayed silent. "When I get back..." She cleared her throat. "When I get back, I'm going to tell you and Gina how I got them. I need to find a way to move on- it's long overdue."

"Dani?"

"Yeah?"

"Me and Gina love you, you know that right? No matter what you tell us we're going to stick by you. Hell, you could tell us that you were getting a sex change and we'd sit up all night with Ben and Jerry's trying to come up with your new name. Whatever you're going to tell us: it's going to be OK."

A small smile came across her face as she savoured a breeze that brushed past her cheek. "Thanks Mark."

"No problem- so... do you know when you'll be back? Or are you and Jason going to be getting distracted again?"

Danielle burst out laughing. "Well his sister's here at the minute so I doubt it."

"Meeting the family already? My my, he is serious..."

"She just turned up!" Danielle argued. "Speaking of which I'd best get back. I'll head back soon and then we can all talk."

"Alright, see you soon."

"Bye." Hanging up, she took a moment to try and wipe away any evidence of her tears before turning around and heading back inside.

She gave the pair a shy smile. "Sorry about that."

"Its fine," Danielle's eyes had drifted to Jason's where their gazes had locked. "ANYWAY," Danielle turned her attention back to the woman. "I'd best be going. Jase: call me later we have some things to talk about. Dani, come here." Wrapping her up in a hug, she gave her a quick squeeze. "We should meet up again; it's not very often that I get to meet Jason's girlfriends."

When Danielle raised an eyebrow at him, he shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"OK, Jase will give you my number and we'll chat soon. I've got a good feeling about you..." She winked at Jason before tottering towards the door. "See ya!"

Danielle shook her head slightly and snorted. Jason stepped towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist, looking down into her face. He seemed to search her features for a while, gazing deep into her eyes before lowering his head to press a gentle kiss to her lips. She sighed under his warmth before tenderly returning the contact. As he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. "So... that was Hollie."

Danielle gave a short laugh. "Yeah... she told me why you were so protective of her."

He stiffened before her hand came up to stroke his cheek and he relaxed. "If I'd gotten there any later..."

"But you didn't." Danielle argued. "You can't give me all of this crap about it not being my fault if you're not going to listen to it yourself."

He chuckled and she felt the vibration against her chest. "You really know how to put things into perspective don't you?"

"I try." Reaching up, she kissed his lips before stepping out of his hold. "Anyway, I'd better go."

He grumbled as he cupped her neck and drew her back for a deep kiss. She moaned into his mouth before reluctantly pushing against his chest. "Don't tempt me..."

Smirking, he dropped his hand. "I'll give you Hollie's number."

"Thanks."

After she had saved the number into her phone, she pulled her jacket and rucksack on. Jason stood in front of her, pulling the rucksack more securely onto her shoulders before placing another chaste kiss on her lips. "I'll-"

"If you say 'I'll call you' I think I might have to hit you."

He laughed. "I'll see you soon?"

She seemed to consider it for a moment before smirking. "Better."

It didn't take long for the driver to arrive and Jason walked her to the car where he kissed her again. She couldn't stop touching him and he seemed to feel exactly the same. There was a physical ache in her chest which could only be eased by the feel of his skin against hers.

Slipping into the car, she watched Jason until he was out of sight before sinking into the seat with a soft sigh. As she absently rubbed at the twinge in her chest she saw the driver's eyes flicker to the rear-view mirror. "Are you alright, miss?"

Distractedly looking up, she continued to keep her hand on her chest. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She thought she saw the driver smile knowingly but ignored it. The rest of the journey was quiet apart from the occasional sound of the driver indicating and cars racing past. The sounds were almost soothing as the car rocked and she found herself drifting off.

It wasn't until the car stopped moving that she blinked out of her trance. Stretching she looked out of the window to see that they had arrived. The driver got out of the front to walk round to open the door for her and she quickly stepped out. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, miss."

Turning, she looked at the driver properly for the first time. He looked to be in his thirties and had swept back golden brown hair. Danielle's eyes snapped to his. They were vivid amber like Hollie and Jason's. "Wait, are you related to Hollie and Jason Evans?"

His adams apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Yes, miss."

"And you're their driver?"

"... I lost my job a while ago and was unable to find another so... Jason," He seemed to struggle to say the name as his eye twitched. "Offered me this one."

Danielle frowned at the total bizarreness of the situation before shaking her head. "OK- sorry I didn't mean to pry."

"It's alright, miss."

"Can you please call me Danielle? It feels weird you calling me 'miss'."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, miss."

Raising her eyebrows, she dropped the issue it and resolved to bring it up another time. "OK. Anyway thanks again."

He nodded his head in acknowledgement before getting back into the car and driving off. Taking a deep breath, Danielle looked up at the dull grey building in front of her and tried to prepare herself for the conversation she was soon to face.

***

Jason felt uneasy. There was a deep ache in his chest that had emerged as soon as Danielle had left and he was struggling to focus on anything other than the night before. Groaning, he tugged at his hair and began to pace.

//Are you OK?//

He could hear the undercurrent of concern in his sister's 'voice'.

//She's human Hol, she's fucking human!//

//Alright- Jeez, I get it already! So what?//

//So what?! I can't care about her this much- it's too dangerous for the pack and for her!//

//She's good for you Jase! I swear to Buddha, Allah, Jesus even fucking SpongeBob Squarepants that if you fuck this up I will kick your ass!!//

//Human Hol.//

//...Are you sure?//

Jason stopped his pacing and frowned.

//You smell it too?//

He heard her sigh.

//I thought that I caught something but I can't be sure. It was difficult to smell anything over all of the desire in the air when you were both in the same room- thank you very much by the way! But when I was alone with her it was like something was niggling the back of my senses.//

She was silent for a moment before continuing.

//You know... you could always turn her-//

//NOT an option Hollie!!//

//It's not that bad...//

Jason growled under his breath.

//How would you know? We were both born like this- you've seen what human's go through when they change: the pain they experience. There's a reason it's rare!//

//Alright-...sorry...//

Jason took a deep steadying breath as he thought over all he knew about Danielle: her rough demeanour yet occasional tenderness, her sharp tongue yet soft curves. She had come to mean so much to him and he didn't want to live without her. But she was human. One day he would have to live without her. Werewolves weren't immortal but they aged slower and therefore lived longer. He couldn't stand to go on without here. The sound of Hollie's voice drew his attention back to the conversation.

//Why don't you go and talk to Roberta? Maybe she can explain?//

//Yeah, yeah I think I will. Where are you anyway?//

He could hear the smirk in her voice.

//I'm in the kitchen with Mum.//

//Wait- does she know what's going on?//

//Oh yeah- Jase it's MUM of course she knows what's going on. She wants to meet Danielle too.//

//Isn't it a bit much...//

//For what it's worth, she approves- she also thinks that she's good for you from what I've told her.//

//What have you-?//

//Hadn't you better be going to see Roberta?//

Giving in, he looked around the cabin once more before heading out and making his way through the forest. His hand touched bark as he strolled past, savouring the rough texture under his palm as the crunch of fallen leaves filled his ears. There was damp in the air causing moisture to gather on exposed skin as mist escaped from his numbing lips. The sounds of birds overhead echoed throughout the trees as he made his way through along with the occasional rustle of small animals scavenging and leaping from tree to tree.

Finally escaping the foliage, he was met with a large building with vines crawling up the walls. Through a large stone archway were a set of large doors which led to a large hall. Marble tiles covered the floor while wooden panels covered the walls. Taking a left turn, Jason made his way to the kitchen before peering around the solid oak door. His sister and mother were sat on bar stools by the counter, drinking lattes and chatting.

As he opened the door, his mother turned to look at him and a smile lit up her features. "Jason, how are you?"

Returning the smile, he made his way into the large kitchen and placed a kiss on his mother's cheek. "I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm well. I've just been hearing about this Danielle..."

Jason turned to glare at his sister who shrugged. "I told you I was."

His mother placed a gentle hand on his arm. "She sounds like a lovely girl."

He squeezed her hand. "I'll come and speak to you later- it's been a while since we've spoke."

"It's alright; I know that you must be busy..."

"That's no excuse. I just need to speak to Roberta and then we can catch up."

Hollie smirked. "Are you that eager?" At his face, she laughed. "Go on- go find her, otherwise we'll never hear the end of it."

Rolling his eyes, he kissed the top of his sister's head and gave his mother's arm a small squeeze before leaving. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and called out with his mind.

//Roberta.//

There was a brief silence before there was a reply.

//Alpha?//

//Where are you?//

//I'm in my lab.//

//I'm on my way.//

Confidently striding through the corridors, he made his way to the medical facility in the house, barely taking notice of the large windows which let copious amounts of light into the house. The house had been built to be purposefully open and unrestricting for ease of access and comfort. Wolves hated to be confined.

Reaching the large room with white washed walls and rows of beds, he walked through to stop at a white door. Knocking gently he waited for a reply.

"Come in." Opening the door, he smiled at the tanned woman with dark glasses. Her coppery hair was tied in a messy bun and loose strands settled against her round face. She was examining vials of blood as he entered the room before she turned to face him. "Alpha." She nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Roberta." He returned the nod. "Are you free to talk?"

"Of course," She placed the vial back in its holder before spinning her chair to face him fully. "How can I help?"

After a moment of hesitation, he went on to explain his unexplainable connection with Danielle, her scent and his insistent internal conflict between his human and wolfish instincts. As he did so, he subconsciously rubbed at his chest, the ache growing as he spoke of her.

When he paused his pacing and looked towards Roberta, he saw a soft smile on her face. "What?"

"How long have you been feeling an ache in your chest?"

He frowned. "Since she left this morning, why?"

Nodding to herself, she picked up a notepad and pen from her desk and jotted something down. "And how quickly would you say it came on?"

"Almost immediately."

"Can you ever sense her emotions when you're close by?"

Jason thought back to their date at the cinema when an overwhelming urge to grab her hand had come over him at the feeling of distress that had seemed to have been emitted from her. "Yes."

"And you say that during sex you're filled with an overwhelming urge to mark her?"

"Yes."

Roberta frowned before pushing her glasses back up her face. "With the greatest of respect, Alpha: are you sure she's human?"

"Yes, for all I can tell: she is human but... it's just something about her scent..."

Roberta tapped her pen against her pad as she thought. "Everything that you have told me indicates that she is your mate but it is impossible for a human to be... at least not a pure blooded human..."

Stepping out her seat, she walked towards her filing cabinet and began to rummage through drawers. As she searched, she spoke. "There's a chance, a very slim chance I have to admit, that her blood may have been contaminated." She used a hand to wave animatedly as she continued to search. "Are any of her parents a werewolf?"

"Not that I'm aware."

"Has she had any previous encounters with a werewolf that could have involved the exchange of bodily fluid? Any major blood transfusions, transplants-" 

"She had a kidney transplant several years ago."

Nodding enthusiastically, Roberta pulled out a folder and nudged the drawer shut with her hip. "The lycan gene has been mixing more and more with humans ever since the species has become more integrated. It's possible that if Danielle received a kidney from a werewolf that her genes have been contaminated and that would explain the change in scent."

As she quickly flicked through the file, Jason struggled to keep up. "So are you saying that she could be part werewolf?"

"Oh she's still human but she may show more wolfish characteristics: better sight, smell and hearing than her peers. Depending on the level of strength of the genes, she may even have a mate..." She gave him a sly smile with her words as Jason tried to wrap his head around the news.

"How can we know for sure?"

"I'd need a sample of her blood to be sure but I'm pretty confident she is your mate."

"How am I meant to get her blood?" Jason groaned.

"I don't need much- a few drops will do it. Werewolf DNA is very powerful so if she has any it'll make itself prominent." At Jason's exasperated expression, she smiled. "If anyone can work out how to get it, it'll be you."

***

As Danielle unlocked the door, she was immediately met with the smell of burnt toast. Laughing quietly to herself, she locked the door behind her as Mark ran into the room and towards the toaster before pulling out the slices. Swearing, he hastily dropped them into the bin before turning to face her in the doorway.

"Hi."

"Hi yourself," He grinned. "You're glowing!"

She fought back a blush as he stepped towards the kettle. "Do you want a drink?"

"Sure."

Gina strolled into the room holding a colourful kids toy before smiling towards Danielle. "Good afternoon." Wrinkling her nose, she looked at Mark. "Is that burnt toast?"

"I got sidetracked." He argued weakly as Danielle opened a window to ease the strong smell.

Placing the toy down on the sofa, Gina sat down next to it and crossed her legs. "So, how was your night with Jason...?"

Danielle rolled her eyes. "It was fine, thank you."

"Just fine? You're glowing Dani."

Mark smirked. "Told you."

Danielle breathed a laugh as she eased herself onto the sofa next to Gina so that the toy was sat between them. "It was good- really good." She thought over Jason's reassurances over her scars and a faint smile pulled at the corners of her lips. Running a finger over her sleeve where she knew the burns were, she sighed. "He made me feel good about myself."

Gina tilted her head slightly and her eyebrows furrowed. "Why do I have a feeling I'm missing something here?"

Danielle took an unsteady breath. "Gina, talking to Jason made me realise that I should have told you years ago what happened to me- how I got my scars."




Inner Animal Ch. 06



Gina seemed to be frozen in place as her eyes widened. "Seriously?" When she nodded, Gina sat back against the sofa as in shock. "Dani- don't get me wrong: I would love to know how you got them- you know how curious we all are but you don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

Deep gratitude swelled in Danielle at her understanding. "No, it's long overdue. I'm ready now."

Danielle told them everything. Uneasily, she went on to tell them about her parents and the last time she had seen them as well as her experience in boarding school. She told them all about Jake and everything that he had put her through as she carefully looked at their faces. Gina had paled considerably next to her while a heavy frown marred Mark's face as he leant against the counter. 

With unsteady hands, she pulled up her sleeve to reveal the burns on her forearm. "You've already seen the majority of them but at least now you know why I have them." She ran a finger over the red circles as she waited for someone to say something.

The room was silent for a long time before Gina cleared her throat. "So those marks on your arm are caused by...?"

"Cigarette burns."

"...And the big one on your hip...?"

"Which one?"

Gina gave a breathy laugh as if in disbelief before rubbing a hand over her face. "Both of them...?"

"The one that wraps around my hip is from when he attacked me with a knife and the one on my abdomen is from a kidney transplant I had after the last beating."

Mark's voice was husky as he spoke. "Do you know where he is?"

She shook her head.

Gina's eyes seemed to be glued to her. "Don't you ever get scared that maybe you'll see him again?"

Danielle closed her eyes as she forced out another confession. "Yeah, yeah I do. Some days, I feel like I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. Say there's a busy stag do; part of me is terrified that he'll be part of the group. Or maybe he'll somehow find out I'm not dead and come looking for me to keep me quiet." Gripping her hair in tight fists, she pulled her legs up to her torso. "Or what if one of his mates see me and recognise me? I used to run a thousand scenarios in my head nearly every day- trying to look at every decision I make in a day, trying to see if I leave myself vulnerable..."

The ache in her chest intensified tenfold and she pulled her legs closer. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Gina shuffle over to wrap her arms around Danielle. Several tears escaped as Gina clung on to her, wetting the other woman's shoulder silently as she stroked her back. After a few moments, she felt another set of arms wrap around her from the side as a chaste kiss was planted on the top of her head.

They both held her for a while, not saying anything as she tried to come to terms with telling them after all of this time. Eventually, they let her go and she quickly wiped away the remaining tears. She noticed that Gina also had to compose herself before clearing her throat loudly.

Mark stepped picked up the car keys and stepped towards the door.

Danielle frowned. "Where are you going?"

"I think after that we all need a good film and some Ben and Jerry's."

The rest of the day was rather normal after that. Neither Gina nor Mark seemed to treat her any differently for which Danielle was extremely grateful apart from the odd look of thoughtfulness that seemed to pass over their faces when they thought she wasn't looking. They did feel the need to tease her about Jason though up until the point that Gina began to ask for details on the sex the night before and Mark left the room muttering about women.

Later on, when they all crammed together on the sofa bed and watched 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Danielle couldn't help but smile as she fought with the other two over ice cream. By no stretch of the imagination was her life perfect... but maybe things weren't so bad after all...



Phew! OK, so I know that some of you may have criticisms about how I've gone about this or how not all the mysteries have been solved but things will become apparant later on. I HOPE that at least some of you hvae enjoyed it and don't hate my different approach to lycanthropy too much! *Nervous laughter*

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 07



I'm back! I'm so sorry about the delay but I've finally managed to finish this part so I really hope you enjoy it. Please let me know at the end what you think and thank you to any readers who are following this story as it means the world to me! 

*

The next morning, Danielle found herself waking up with a smile. Granted, the ache in her chest was still as prominent as ever, much to her confusion, but she felt optimistic about the day ahead. Walking out of her room, she was careful not to wake the sleeping Mark and went to boil the kettle. The sunlight streaked through the grimy window to brighten up the room as the twittering of birds battled against the noise of the early morning traffic.

Hearing a door creak, she glanced over her shoulder to see Gina tiptoeing out of the room. Gina's eyes flickered towards the sleeping form on the sofa bed before making her way towards the counter next to Danielle.

Danielle kept her voice at a whisper. "Morning."

"Morning, did you sleep OK?"

"Yeah, I'd ask you the same but I know that Charlie woke up a couple of times."

Gina grimaced. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's not your fault the walls are pretty much made of cardboard."

As the switch on the kettle clicked, Danielle poured hot water into the two cups that were waiting. Finishing making the tea, she passed Gina her cup and was rewarded with a grateful smile.

After taking a sip, Gina continues. "So, what are your plans for the day?"

"Well, after helping Dana and practicing a bit, I don't know. I might just enjoy a day of being lazy..." She gave a small wink causing Gina to snort.

"Oh please, you wouldn't know how to relax if someone sedated you."

Danielle pretended to be offended. "Excuse me: I think you'll find I am very good at relaxing!"

"Oh yeah, when was the last time you seriously relaxed?" When she saw Danielle open her mouth to respond, she interrupted. "BEFORE yesterday!"

Danielle bit her lip before grimacing. "I don't remember- but that doesn't mean it's been a while!"

Gina snorted. "I think that the last time you relaxed was when you twisted your ankle a couple of months ago and you had to rest it. Even then you had your foot up while listening to music and jotting down notes on possible choreography!"

Danielle shrugged a shoulder. "I get restless- I don't like to be tied down."

"I wonder if Jason would mind..."

Nearly choking on her tea, Danielle tried to stop herself from coughing. "Gina!"

"Well he may be into that sort of thing, you never know..."

"I can't believe you just-"

A grumbling drew their attention towards the sofa, where the lump under the duvet began to turn. A pair of hazel eyes peered over the thick bedding. "What are you two going on about?"

Danielle shook her head as she boiled the kettle again for Mark. Gina grinned. "And good morning to you too, sunshine."

Running a hand over his face, he yawned. "Good morning. What time is it?"

Danielle answered as she made his drink. "It's half nine."

Mark sighed as he ruffled his hair. "How long have you two been up?"

"Not long." Carrying the tea over, she passed it to him and he thanked her. 

After a brief conversation, Gina went to tend to Charlie as Danielle and Mark went to Danielle's room. Mark began to rummage through his set of drawers as she flicked through her wardrobe. "So do you have anything special planned for today?"

Mark glanced back at her and grinned. "Yeah, I'm actually meeting up with someone."

"As in a date...?" She teased.

He rolled his eyes. "Yes as in a date!"

"As in with another human being? Who are you and what have you done with Mark?"

"Isn't that the teapot calling the kettle black?"

Danielle laughed. "I know! What's happening to us? Our spinster-ship is coming under serious threat!"

"Oh come one- you love it really!"

Danielle smirked. "Maybe."

He grinned. "Yeah 'maybe'..." Walking past her, he nudged her gently with his shoulder before leaving the room. Danielle quickly changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a long sleeved jumper before looking at herself in the mirror. Brushing her hair back, she began to smooth it into a ponytail before pausing and looking at her reflection. Running her eyes over her pale skin, she smiled to herself before releasing her grip and pulling the dark locks over one shoulder.

Leaving her room, she noticed Gina in the living room trying to feed Charlie yoghurt and a banana. Danielle grinned before crouching down next to the toddler. "Hey kid." Fluffing up is bright ginger hair, she fussed over him. "How're you doing?"

Gina sighed. "Oh he's fine, just being a bit fussy!"

Charlie smiled before tugging on Danielle's jumper with a tiny fist. "It's because he knows that we like to spoil him rotten whenever we get the chance!" Charlie giggled as he continued to pull at the jumper causing Danielle and Gina to join in. "Is he coming with us today?"

"Yep, I'll try and keep him entertained while you guys practice and we choose our costumes and then I've got Olivia and Becky watching him tonight."

"You mean that Becky's going to stop revising for once?"

Gina swatted her arm with the back of her hand. "Don't be mean."

Mark entered the room and grinned at Charlie. "Hey Chucky!"

Gina glared at him. "I told you not to call him that!!"

After Gina had threatened to inflict grievous bodily harm on Mark while he laughed, they had eventually gotten into the car. Gina had fastened Charlie securely into the booster seat before sitting next to him as Mark got behind the wheel. Danielle had just gotten into the seat next to him when her mobile had begun to ring. Wriggling her phone out of her pocket, she accepted the call. "Hello?"

"Danielle, it's Jason."

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm good thanks, you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Listen, are you free today? I thought that we could meet up?"

She frowned at his voice, he seemed distracted. "Erm, well some of us are meeting at the club to practice our routines and play a bit of poker. You can come along if you like?"

Mark raised an eyebrow at her before starting the engine and putting the car into gear. There was a pause at the other end of the call before he answered. "Sure, when are you all meeting up?"

"We're on our way there now."

"Alright, I'll be by soon."

"OK, bye." As she hung up, she turned to Gina who was tutting while waving a toy next to Charlie. "What?"

"Let me guess, he wanted to meet up?"

"Yeah...?"

Gina rolled her eyes at her. "Dani, usually when a guy wants to meet up, he means just the two of you. Not a room full of strippers."

"I'll remind you: I am not a stripper."

"You know what I mean!"

Danielle sighed before tapping her head against the headrest. "I'm not good at this dating malarkey! How was I supposed to know that?"

"Common sense?"

Danielle stuck her tongue out at the red head.

Mark glanced at her face. "It must be serious if you're willing him to throw him to the wolves..."

Danielle snorted. "They're not that bad."

"Oh really? Keep that in mind when Rachel is fleecing him dry, Justine's conned him and Owen and Dom have threatened to beat him within an inch of his life if he hurts you."

Danielle pulled a face. "Ghee, thanks."

"You're welcome."

When he grinned, she noticed his small wince as the scab on his lip stretched. "How's the lip?"

He shrugged. "It'll heal."

"Well don't do too much kissing today then, I wouldn't want it to get worse." She teased.

Mark breathed out a laugh. "It's the first date; I very much doubt that there will be 'much kissing'."

Gina grinned. "So are you and Jason official now or what?"

"His sister seems to think so. To be honest I'm not sure. We're close, really close- I couldn't imagine being without him but as to whether I can start calling him my boyfriend? I don't know."

Gina's eyebrows rose. "I don't mean to be blunt Dani but it sounds like you're falling for the guy."

She spluttered. "Don't be daft." Inside, her stomach lurched. The ache in her chest intensified as she thought about Jason and affection instantly welled in her.

"Yeah sure, I'M the one being daft..."

Danielle chose to ignore her as Mark indicated and began to turn. The car remained in a peaceful silence as she looked out of the window and gazed at the modern buildings. The bright sun was reflected off shop windows and metal doorways while shop workers and people wondering by conversed in the street. A disgruntled postman was trying to weave through a pair of gossiping women as they talked loudly with brightly coloured make-up and clothes. An agitated landlord stepped out of his doorway to shout at a couple of young boys who nearly knocked over his flower pots as they raced past on their scooters. Each glimpse into the people's lives was quickly blurred as the images were pulled out of sight.

Settling back into her seat, Danielle closed her eyes and began to go over some choreography in her head. The sound of Gina fussing over Charlie in the back seat and Matt humming softly to himself was oddly soothing as they travelled.

Eventually, Mark pulled up in front of the club and Danielle stepped out while Gina freed Charlie. Danielle grabbed Charlie from her while Gina fetched some of his things from the boot.

When Mark began to speak, Danielle peered down to look at him. "I'll be back at about six to pick up Olivia, Becky and Charlie and drop them off at the flat and then I'll come back to set up."

"OK, do you want us to order you some pizza or are you going to eat while you're out?"

"I'll be fine thanks."

Gina closed the boot and moved to stand beside Danielle. "Thanks for dropping us off."

"You know its fine! Anyway I'd better go- I'll see you soon."

"Have a good time!" Gina and Danielle both sang, causing him to grin.

"Yeah you too."

Gina shut the door before Mark gave a wave and drove off. Gina heaved the stuff over to the door and Danielle was about to follow when something tugged on her instincts. Turning, she looked towards the small public garden that was across from the building. The shedding trees rustled in the light breeze casting shadows over an old oak bench and a shower of golden leaves to fall. With a frown, Danielle's eyes ran over the area as something stirred her senses. A sinking feeling filled her stomach as she searched; adrenaline beginning to pool in her while she failed to understand what she was feeling. Subconsciously, her stance began to shift so that her legs were a shoulder width apart. Gripping Charlie closer to her side, she narrowed her eyes as she was drawn to the area.

"Dani?"

Gina's uncertain voice pulled her out of her trance and she mentally shook herself. She glanced over her shoulder to face Gina before offering up a smile to the woman. "Sorry, I was miles away."

Gina returned the smile after a moment of consideration before pushing open the door and holding it open for Danielle as she walked through. Still distracted, Danielle was surrounded by the other people in the club and she forced herself to focus. Carley swept up Charlie in her arms and began to automatically start blowing raspberries on his stomach while Justine waved from where she was over by the pole. Dom patted her on the shoulder while Owen pulled out his pack of cigarettes. "Hey Dani, I was about to go out for a fag do you want one?"

Danielle positively drooled.

Gina was over in a shot. "No, she won't."

"Gina-"

"Nope. Come on, Dani! When you told me and Mark about the transplant we made you promise to stop the smoking and cut down on the drinking."

"I don't drink that much!"

"But you smoke- don't look at me like that! Even you had admitted that the doctors were pissed." When Danielle continued to look mournfully at the cigarettes that were being held by a confused Owen, Gina sighed. "Right, Danielle Macintyre, you've left me no choice!"

Tugging her away and into the centre of the room, she called out. "Guys, can I have your attention for a minute, please?"

With horror, Danielle figured out what Gina was about to do. "Gina, don't- please don't."

Gina looked at her in soft concern. "Trust me."

Gulping, Danielle waited for everyone to look their way as Gina gave her hand a soft squeeze. "Right. So Danielle here is giving up smoking. It's important that no one gives her any fags no matter how much she wants one otherwise you'll have me to deal with." Gina gave them all a stern glare. When Gina Redfern gave you a glare, you did as you were told. "To show some support, I will be giving up smoking too." She turned to give Danielle an encouraging smile. "It's about time that I stopped both for myself and for Charlie- I don't want him to grow up with fags around the house."

Justine frowned. "Why the sudden change?"

Gina paused and Danielle had known the stripper for long enough to understand the silent message. She was leaving the decision up to Danielle as to how much they knew. Gulping, Danielle took a deep breath and exhaled. "... A few years ago I had a kidney transplant. Gina and Mark found out about it yesterday and therefore they're giving me a kick up the ass to make sure that I look after myself." When she saw Justine's contemplative look, she butt in. "And no, you can't ask why."

Justine pursed her lips but left it alone. Danielle nodded her head slightly in gratitude.

The room was silent. Danielle peered around to look at all the surprised faces, struggling to think of what to say to rectify the uncomfortable situation. Even Owen and Dom seemed to struggle to form words as they frowned at the floor, Owen's fingers playing with the lid of the limply held cigarettes. Unease began to gnaw at her until Rachel, who was sat at the small picnic table they had set up, broke it. She began to laugh. Everyone turned to look at her in amazement as her outburst grew louder until she had to stop shuffling her pack of cards to wipe a tear from her eye.

Justine looked perplexed. "What?"

Rachel managed to bring herself down to a soft chuckle. "She's had a transplant and she still kicks both our asses on the pole!"

Everyone paused in shock for a moment before smirks began to break out on their faces. Dom started the wave of laughter with a deep baritone snicker before Carley burst into a cackle. Before long the room was filled with a variety of different kinds of laughter as everyone thought on what Rachel had said. Danielle didn't know if it was hysterical or maybe just a nervous reaction to unexpected news but she savoured the release of heavy tension that had begun to suffocate her. When everyone once again settled, they once again began to return to their previous activities. Rachel began to shuffle her cards after sending a brief wink Danielle's way; Justine once again began to climb the pole and Owen headed outside.

Dom walked past her and patted her gently on the shoulder before reluctantly placing himself on the seat across from Rachel to be joined by Carley and Becky. Gina began to bob on the spot to soothe the toddler as she watched Rachel begin to deal, giggling quietly at the grimaces on people's faces as she began.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Danielle noticed Dana hovering nearby Justine. With a small smile to herself, she made her way over and watched Justine with the American. Finishing with a complex spin, she landed gently and grinned as Danielle and Dana applauded. Justine made an elaborate bow before hopping off the platform and making her way over to the bar to grab her bottle of water.

Danielle smirked before turning to look at Dana who was tentatively grabbing the pole and looking up to where it connected to the ceiling.

Danielle caught the girl's attention. "You're doing well."

Dana looked at her and beamed. "Really?"

"Really. I've been thinking: I think you're ready for your own routine." Holding up a hand when the other she began to splutter, she continued. "Nothing extreme, it would just be some simple moods incorporated into floor work and stripping- I'm not about to throw you into the deep end."

Dana bit her lip. "OK, I've got to start at some point. Do you have any ideas?"

A coy smile came across her face. "I kind of already have a routine. I was planning it last night. Let me just get changed and I'll show you what I have in mind."

Quickly making her way to the changing rooms, she wriggled out of her clothes before slipping into a white tank top and shorts. Leaving her feet bare, she jogged out back to the main floor and grinned at a fidgety yet excited American.

"OK, so let's begin."

***

Jason made his way towards the club, running an anxious hand through his hair. He had to plan this carefully otherwise he would blow it completely.

Knocking on the door, there was a momentary wait before he heard the sound of locks being turned. One of the men that he had previously met, Dom he believed his name was, peered around the door.

He grinned before stepping back. "I'm guessing that you're here for, Danielle?"

Jason nodded before entering. He caught Danielle's scent immediately as his eyes were drawn to the stage. She was dressed casually as she directed the American next to her and a bright smile made her appear to glow.

One of the women drifted over to him. "Jason right?" When he nodded, she continued. "I'm Justine," she indicated to the group around the small table to the left. "That's Rachel, Carley, Becky and I think you've met Dom."

Each person gave a wave or nod in greeting as Justine linked her arm with his and led him towards the group. "Tell me, how good are you at poker?"

He sat down as Rachel dealt him a pair of cards before she burnt a card and placed three down. Picking up his hand, he looked at what he had been dealt. The king of hearts and the ace of spades. He looked at the cards on the table to see the jack of cubs, the two of hearts and the queen of cubs. He called the bet before waiting for Rachel to deal another card. She burnt the one from the top of the pack before placing down the ten of cubs. Once more he called the bet before Rachel put down the final card of the queen of hearts. Dom folded leaving Jason and Rachel.

Jason tilted his head to take in the woman. Years of being an alpha had taught him to read body language and he used this to his advantage. She met his gaze levelly while they tried to get a read on each other. He raised the bet by adding three pounds to the pile in the middle of the table.

Dom chuckled. "Now this should be interesting..."

Rachel smiled to herself before meeting his bet and raising it a pound. He called before revealing his hand. "Straight."

She nodded before pushing forward the ten, jack and queen that went with his king and ace. She realigned the cards into a line before revealing her own hand with a grin. He sighed at the nine of cubs and king of cubs. "Straight flush."

Dom clapped him on the shoulder while she raked in her winnings. "Don't take it personally, no one wins against Rach."

Justine, who had been watching the game, smirked. "And that, Mr. Evans, is why we call her 'Lady Luck'."

He smiled with the laughing group before he felt Danielle's presence behind him. It was like a magnetic pull between them as her scent wrapped around him and filled him with sudden calm and clarity. He felt hands slip into his hair and a pressure against his back. Danielle's voice drifted in his ear. "Hi."

Closing his eyes, he let his head fall back. "Hi."

"Did you have a good game?"

He hummed in his throat. "It was certainly interesting."

Her laughter filled him with warmth. "Let me guess: Rach won."

Dom chuckled. "Yep, but he held his own."

"I'm glad to hear it," Her hands moved to rest on his shoulders. "Do you want a drink?"

Tilting his head back, he looked at her relaxed face. "It's alright, I'll get them." He addressed the group. "Does anyone want anything?"




Inner Animal Ch. 07



Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Can you even work the bar?"

Lifting himself up, he strolled over. "I worked as a barman for a while a few years ago. I wanted to learn how to pay my own way before I... entered the family business."

As people called out their orders, he moved about and prepared drinks.

Danielle bit her tongue as she tried to suppress a smile. "Is there anything else that I should know about you, Mr. Evans?"

Ignoring the blazingly obvious subject he winked. "Why, Miss. McIntyre, whatever do you take me for?"

***

Various wolf whistles pierced the air and she rolled her eyes. Despite the obvious flirtation, Danielle felt at ease being around the man and took her bottled water off him with a smile. She watched him as he passed people their drinks with complete confidence even going as far as to laugh with the other lads.

Justine sidled next to her with a sly smile on her face. "If I didn't know you any better, Danielle, I'd say that you were falling for him..."

Danielle gave her a dry look. "What are you up to?"

A small smirk tugged at the corner of the cunning woman's mouth. "You know me, just making conversation..."

"I knew that there was a reason that we named you Vixen."

She laughed. "Well we all try to live up to our name sakes don't we, Midnight?"

Midnight shook her head before watching the interaction at the bar some more. When Jason looked up and met her eyes with a smile, their gazes locked and desire began to stir in her gut. Justine pulled her out of her thoughts. "You'll thank me later..."

When Danielle glanced towards the woman she was already walking back towards the table. Mulling over her words, she returned her focus to the bar to see Jason still watching her. Diverting her eyes, she sat down at an empty table near the bar and let her attention wonder about the room. She fiddled with her fingers as her hands rested on her lap before she felt them be captured by a pair of warm hands. Her head snapped up to see Jason seating himself in the chair opposite with a grin. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Are you alright?"

She noticed Justine conspiring with some of the other dancers who kept on looking in her direction. Her brows furrowed. "Yeah..."

When he seemed to notice that she was distracted, he looked over his shoulder towards the women who were now looking suspiciously inconspicuous. As he turned back, Danielle snorted. As he began to run circles into the back of her hand, she became fully absorbed in the heat that he seemed to be spreading through her limbs and the glow of his amber eyes. "I hope that today hasn't been too traumatising for you."

It was his turn to frown. "What do you mean?"

"I admit that the guys can be a bit much..."

He chuckled and the sound sent tingles of electricity over her skin. "I've dealt with much worse, trust me."

"I'll have to take your word for it, so what else have you go- ow!" She hissed as her finger began to throb. "Damn tables- I keep on telling Dom that we need new ones."

She felt him tug gently on her hand as he looked down at it under the table. "Let me see." He smiled up at her. "It's just a scratch, I'll sort it. You were saying?"

She bit her lip as she thought. "I was going to ask you what else you had planned for today."

He hummed in thought as he dealt with her finger. "I'm expecting some results from an experiment that I've just tried."

She was taken aback. "Experiment?"

"In my job, I have to see whether some things with work out or are a dead end. I don't do it very often but sometimes situations remain stuck if I don't intervene."

"It sounds interesting. Can you let me know when you get the results if they were good or not?"

His eyes met hers for a long moment before he nodded. "Definitely."

She grinned as he finished sorting out her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. He was about to speak when Carley called out. "Hey Dani, can we go through the routine one more time?"

Danielle sighed as she reluctantly drew her attention away from Jason. "Why? You already know it off by heart."

She looked scandalised. "And you call yourself a choreographer! We just want to make sure that it's perfect but if you're willing to take the risk and have us all fall apart..."

Danielle held up a hand in surrender as she stood up. "Alright, alright!" She shot an apologetic look at him. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Placing a swift kiss to the back of her hand, he smirked. "Practice away..."

Mournfully drawing her hand out of his, she made her way over to the stage and sent a death glare at the smug woman.

"Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah..." Climbing up on the stage, she heard the others clamber up after her. "Now, me, Justine and Rachel can do our parts but you lot will have to just go through the motions. Dana just keep in mind what we talked about and if you get stuck... well assist in the stripping."

The others giggled as Dana stuck out her tongue. "Yes mom. I still can't believe you chose this song. I was expecting some more rock."

Danielle shrugged. "Well I try and be accommodating. OK, everyone in positions- Dom if you please."

The man grinned as he began the track. As Beyonce's 'Naughty Girl' began to blast through the speakers, Danielle kept an eye out on the other dancers as she moved. Making sure to stay synchronised with Justine and Rachel, she moved into a spin.

Despite her efforts to be absorbed in the music, she felt eyes on her and a sweat began to break out over her rapidly heating skin. She peered under her eyelashes to see Jason's eyes fixed on her and a steady burn began to warm her from the core. Dom and Owen appeared disinterested in the performance as they flanked Jason but rather seemed to be murmuring to him. His lips barely moved as he responded despite his eyes expressing so much. Owen snorted before continuing to dangle a toy in front of Charlie.

Midnight struggled to suppress a delicious shiver as he watched her. As the dance came to a close, Danielle struggled to smother a blush. The connection between them had seemed to flare again and she felt as if she had just allowed others to witness something extremely personal. Clearing her throat, she stepped away from the pole. "Becky, Olivia: can you just do that last bit again? Dom can you get it to about two minutes in?"

He obliged and she nodded her head along to the beat. "One, two, three, four." After watching for a moment she stepped forward. "Yep, try doing the body roll and then the legs splitting." They tried again and she grinned. "Great, just try and remember that after the second 'body' it changes and you'll be fine."

They nodded before hopping off stage. Danielle made her way over to Jason with a shy smile on her face. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be, it was good." He took a sip of his coke. "Did you plan that all yourself?"

Owen who was still sat next to Jason grinned. "Dani spends hours choreographing the group dances. She's a proper little perfectionist though so won't let people stop until they've got it right."

She grimaced. "Gee, thanks Owen."

Jason chuckled as Owen shrugged. He reached into his pocket to pull out a pack of fags. "I'm just being honest. Do you want...?" He closed his eyes and groaned. "Shit sorry, I forgot."

Dani sucked on her bottom lip while she battled against temptation. "It's ok."

Jason looked up, clearly confused. "Why do I feel as though I'm missing out on something?"

"I've decided to quit smoking." Danielle met Jason's eyes levelly to convey her next words. "As soon as I got around to telling Gina and Mark about my kidney transplant they insisted that I quit and cut down on my drinking."

His eyes seemed to light up and a gut feeling told her that he understood what she was trying to express. "I'm glad to hear it."

Their eyes remained locked once more and the ache in her chest that had previously dimmed once more flared into existence. Someone cleared their throat and they broke their connection. It was Gina. "Hey Dani, when was the last time we had a dance off?"

Danielle turned to look at Gina to see a mischievous glint in her eye. Recognising the clear opportunity for revenge, a smirk came across her face. "That's a good question Gina. Justine, didn't you win the last one between you and Rachel?"

Dana who was stood next to Jason, frowned. "Wait, you guys have dance offs? That's awesome."

"Yes, yes we do."

Dom grinned. "Well as it's the final, last month's champion gets to choose the song."

Danielle's grin grew. "You know what; I think I'm going to let Justine have the honours."

Justine raise an eyebrow as the rest of the group called out. Smiling to herself, she walked over to Dom and whispered in his ear causing him to laugh loudly. The pair went up to the stage and after a brief chuckle, Dom played the track.

As the dubstep filled the room, Justine stepped up to the pole and began to spin. Danielle shook her head in disbelief at the choice of track. After a serious of complex spins, the rhythm of the track changed and Danielle took over.

As the song played, the moves got riskier. The song wasn't far from finishing as Danielle once again took charge of the pole and span so that she was upside down. Then she released her grip. The room filled with gasps as she began to fall before she tightened her thighs once more and stopped just before she reached the ground and finished with a spin. The song finished and she winked at Justine who rolled her eyes. Looking out over the group, she saw that Jason was stood rigid while the others were clapping.

Gina's voice came over the noise and caused them to settle down. "OK so who votes that Justine is the winner?" No hands apart from Owen's went up. Justine quickly jogged down to give him a kiss on the cheek. "And who votes for Dani?" The rest of the hands went up and Gina grinned. "Dani's the winner!"

Olivia snorted. "AGAIN!"

Danielle smiled at the rest of the group but still noticing Jason's tension, climbed down and went over to him. "Are you OK?"

His eyes seemed to be running over her face as if assessing her for injuries. Once he seemed satisfied that she was alright, he gently gripped her hand and tugged her away from the others to the corner of the room. She was just about to ask him what was wrong when one of his hands wrapped itself in her hair and pulled her into a searing kiss. Her hands rested on his chest as his lips scorched hers before she pulled away breathless. He rested his forehead on hers. "Can you give me a little warning next time, please?"

She laughed and tapped his nose. "I didn't exactly plan it before hand."

He frowned. "Was it an accident? Are you hurt?"

She shook her head as he cupped her cheek. "No, I mean that in dance offs you kind of just go for it. You don't have time to think."

She felt safe there as she savoured the heat and protection that Jason's presence offered. She felt cared for and adored and it caused a feeling of comfort and satisfaction deep within her.

His phone began to ring out and she rested her head back against the wall behind her and sighed. Jason's eyes fluttered closed before running a hand through his hair and pulling his phone out of his pocket. His voice was gruff as he answered the call. After a brief conversation, he hung up and shoved his phone back in his dark jeans.

Danielle's voice was quiet. "You have to go, don't you?"

"I'm sorry."

As much as it was embarrassing for her to admit to herself, she didn't want him to go. He seemed to sense it as he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Her own eyes fluttered closed as his hands rested on her waist before she felt him pull away. His thumb brushed her cheekbone as he met her gaze. "I'll call you as soon as I can." Nodding, she savoured the brief kiss he placed on her lips before he stepped away and made his way to the door, answering his phone once more.

The ache in her chest made her feel as though a black hole was sucking away her vital organs, leaving her empty. Taking a minute to compose herself, she took a deep breath before making her way back over to the others, some of who offered her a sympathetic smile. Danielle ignored them as she took a sip of water. After stilling her shaky hands, she lifted her chin with determination. "Right, so where were we?"

***

After Jason had managed to drag himself away from Danielle, he got in his car and hit the steering wheel in frustration. Bloody vampires!! Was it so difficult for some of his betas to let William and his party on the estate- why did he have to be there?! He could be spending time with Danielle rather than having to play host to some...

He exhaled sharply as his chest throbbed. Lifting a hand, he rubbed at the area as the ache once again flared into existence. It appeared to be stronger than ever after having had to tear himself away from Danielle who he could feel wanted him to stay.

Swallowing, he tried to think past the feeling and started the car.

The meeting with the vampires was brief. Jason had changed into a suit before he sat at the head of the table and listened to their terms before offering some up of his own. William had done well in smoothing out the finer details and keeping the more temperamental members of the party calm, stopping various fights before they could begin. When they eventually left, the tension in the estate eased and everyone was able to relax. After offering up a few words to those still anxious about vampires trespassing on the land, he made his way to see Roberta. He was eager to have her check the sample of Danielle's blood he had managed to receive and to finally put him out of his misery. He needed Danielle like he needed to breathe but he couldn't stand the thought of being with her only to know that there was someone else out there meant for him.

As he anxiously made his way to her lab, he heard a voice call out to him.

"Jason!"

He barely bit back an agitated growl. "Not now Carolyn."

"Fine, I need you to come down to the female quarters as soon as you can- Natalie has gone into labour. We both need to be present when the baby arrives."

He never hated lycan traditions more than he did then. He sighed as the events of the day began to catch up with him. "How far gone is she?"

"Not far, she's just started but I think that Rick could do with the added support."

He gave a swift nod. "Tell him I'll be there as soon as I can. Keep the women together and I'll inform the men- if anything happens or the situation progresses quickly let me know."

She quickly left and Jason continued to make his way to the lab. When he got there, a ruffled Roberta was quickly gathering her bag. She looked up when he walked through the door, brushing loose strands of hair out of her face. "Alpha, I'm sorry I didn't realise that I was expecting you..."

He waved the comment away. "I should have asked if you were free- is everything alright?"

"Yes, I had just heard from Alpha Carolyn that Natalie had gone into labour so I was on my way to help out the older women of the pack."

Jason cursed himself. He had been so distracted before that he didn't register that Roberta would be on her way to help with the birth. "Of course, I'll come back later."

"Is something wrong?"

"I'd managed to get some of Danielle's blood and I was hoping that you'd look at it for me."

The doctor immediately stopped what she was doing and grinned. "How did you...? Of course, I'll take a look- if you want I can quickly check now. I know what I'm looking for so it won't take long and from what I gather Natalie has a while to go yet."

The eagerness she showed would have been comical if it wasn't for Jason's own apprehension. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the sample he had gotten earlier when he scratched her finger before passing it to Roberta. She looked at it curiously before moving to the back of the room and testing it. The wait for the Alpha was anxious as she inspected it. The only sounds to fill the room were the sounds of Roberta's movements and the steady ticking from the clock on the wall. After several agonising moments, the soft tread of her shoes broke the silence as she made her way back over. A smile lit up her face. "It was as I thought, there is clear werewolf DNA in her blood. Alpha... Jason, the evidence strongly suggests that Danielle is your mate."

Jason remained frozen as her words sunk in. He was truly meant to be with Danielle, he was meant to grow old with her- have a family with her. They were fated to be together. The problem was, how the hell was he going to convince her of that? 

*

Just in case anyone was curious the dubstep song is called 'Don't stop looking (high rankin remix)'. You may or may not get Justine's joke...

Anyway, I hope you like it and I will try incredibly hard to not keep you waiting too long for the next installment.

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 08



Hey guys! I know, I know! I'm sorry I've been gone for so long but real life has just been crazy. Enjoy! 

*

Jason closed his eyes as he felt a breeze sweep through his hair sending shivers down his spine. Slowly opening them, he stared at the forest before him and tried to clear his mind from all the anxiety that was plaguing his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he changed into the wolf.

Scents bombarded him as he moved. The rough terrain under his paws shifted as he ran and the once gentle wind billowed past him, ruffling his dark brown fur as he threw himself towards the forest. The sounds of birds twittering and flapping their wings to get away filled the air as he ploughed on. The scent of damp grass filled his nostrils as his movements disturbed the earth beneath him. The instincts of the wolf were now in charge now as he sped through the thick foliage. The urges to hunt, fight and mate were overwhelming as his animal instincts led him onwards.

Thoughts of Danielle overwhelmed him as the wolf pined for his mate. The urge to claim was strong as he tried to burn off the access energy that filled him. He tried to use common sense to battle against his animal instincts. The situation was delicate; he needed to approach the subject carefully. He couldn't mess this up- there was too much at stake.

***

Danielle's fingers lingered on her mobile as she stared at the device on the counter. Sighing, she picked it up and was about to dial before panicking and placing it back down. Ever since the day before, everything in her was screaming to call Jason. The ache in her chest was strong enough to catch her every breath as she stared at the phone.

"Just ring him."

Turning around she saw Gina stood there with a small smile on her face. Danielle pulled a face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Gina huffed out a laugh. "Yeah right! It's clear that you want to see him so just call him."

Licking her bottom lip nervously, Danielle picked up the phone and quickly called Jason's number. Her heart fluttered with each ring.

Finally, he answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Danielle." She bit her lip and barely refrained from hitting her forehead with her palm. Of course it was her- her name would show up as he answered. "How are you?"

Gina smirked before shaking her head and leaving the room. Thankfully, Jason responded. "I'm good, how are you?"

"Yeah, I'm great. Listen, I was wondering if you perhaps wanted to meet up...?"

Danielle held her breath as there was a momentary pause where only shallow breathing could be heard. "... That sounds good, do you have anywhere in mind?"

"I was thinking that maybe we could just watch a film or something? I'd offer around mine but I don't think that we'd get much privacy. Would it be possible for us to watch it around yours?" A flash of heat spread across her cheeks as she realised what she said. 'My place or yours?' SERIOUSLY?!

"My place is fine. If you wanted we could order some food while we're at it."

A smile spread across her face. "Great. When can I come around?"

"I'll send a driver around now."

She barely suppressed her eyebrows from rising in surprise. "Oh. Alright, I'll see you soon." Ending the call, she placed the phone back down with a small smile on her face.

Gina sauntered back into the room, trying to appear as if she hadn't heard the conversation. "Well?"

Danielle rolled her eyes. "Like you don't know!"

She didn't even deny it. "I guess that it wasn't worth all of the stress after all..."

Barely managing to stop herself from sticking her tongue out again, Danielle decided to say nothing which seemed to give Gina all the confirmation she needed causing her to laugh quietly under her breath.

It didn't take long for the driver to arrive and Danielle quickly drew herself away from the window to grab her rucksack and make her way towards the door. Quickly she called out. "I'm going; I'll see you in a bit!"

Gina smiled. "OK, enjoy your sexathon!"

Danielle tuned around. "It is NOT a sexathon!"

"Of course not. Have fun..."

She would have argued the point but her eagerness to see Jason won out and she made her way through the door. Hopping down the steps, Danielle left the building and over the waiting black Mercedes. The driver, who had dropped her off the other day, stepped out of the front and opened the door. She offered him a small smile which he shyly returned. Sliding into the back, she was slightly disappointed not to have Jason waiting but when the driver started the car, anticipation soon replaced her dismay. The driver once again appeared to have a knowing glint in his eye but she barely noticed as she fought to stop herself from fidgeting in her seat. Thankfully, the journey was brief and it wasn't long until the car pulled up in front of the cabin. Impatient, Danielle beat the driver in opened her door before grinning at his shocked face. "Thanks!"

She all but ran towards the building as Jason appeared in the doorway with a tea towel hung over his shoulder. He looked good in his dark jeans and pale blue shirt and as she barrelled into him, his strong arms wrapped around her waist. Burying her face in his shoulder, she took in his warm scent. "Hi."

She felt the rumble of his chest against her as he chuckled. "Hi." As he rested his cheek on top of her head, the intense ache began to ease and she took a deep breath in relief. After a few minutes he broke the comfortable silence. "Shall we go inside?"

Nodding, she allowed him to gently pull her inside the cabin and place a kiss on her forehead. After giving her hand a quick squeeze he let go and made his way over to counter on the other side of the room to pick up a pile of DVDs. "I didn't know what you wanted to watch so I got a selection." He offered up a cheeky smile. "From what I gather you aren't exactly into romantic comedies..."

She laughed. "Not really." Making her way over, she looked through the various films. Her finger hovered over the cases before it landed on one. "How about Die Hard?"

He grinned before placing another kiss on her forehead. "That's my girl."

She laughed before making her way over to the sofa and sinking into the soft material. Jason grabbed a bag of popcorn and tossed it to her before crouching down and placing the disk in the player. She opened the bag and grabbed a piece before Jason sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. As the titles began she rested her head against his chest and he began to run a hand over her hair.

As the film went on their legs became entwined on the sofa and Danielle snuggled deeper into Jason's chest. He placed another kiss on her forehead causing her to look up and smile at him. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his. Cupping the back of her neck, he deepened the kiss and with a moan she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew herself closer. Movie forgotten, he ran his hands down her sides as he drew her closer. She could feel his chest moving beneath her as she ran her hands through his hair. As his hands tightened around her waist, she gripped his wrists and pinned them down to the sofa with a sly smile. He reached up to kiss her but she pulled herself out of reach and teasingly shook her head.

Her eyes were mischievous as she reached down and gently kissed his lips. When he tried to take charge, she took herself out of his reach once more with a grin. Reaching down she brushed her lips against his cheek and down to his jaw, retreating whenever he tried to take control. The game continued until with a barely concealed growl, Jason quickly moved his wrists so that she fell forward and he kissed her causing her to quietly laugh.

***

Later on, Danielle was asleep on Jason's chest while he ran his fingers through her hair. The sofa was beginning to become uncomfortable but he easily ignored his discomfort as he watched the gentle rise and fall of Danielle's chest. When she snuggled closer a soft growl rumbled in his throat in approval. She seemed to settle at the sound even going so far as to respond with soft rumble herself. A small smile came across his face at the unconscious sound before he nuzzled his face into her hair and inhaled her scent. His arms tightened around her as he savoured the smell. Her features remained peaceful as he watched her sleep, his heart beating strongly and solidly in his chest as he held her securely in his arms. He was in love with her. He couldn't deny it any more as he took in the thick eyelashes and the gentle curve of her nose.

Closing his eyes he rested his head back against the arm of the sofa and exhaled deeply. What was he going to do? As he lifted a hand to rub his tired eyelids, Danielle shifted once more and his tense muscles relaxed. She had entrusted him with such a huge part of her past- something that she had shared with no one else, he could trust her too.

As she shifted some more, he looked down to see her eyes slowly opening. He stilled his hand on her head as her eyes blinked open and she yawned. As she glanced up towards him, her face broke out into a smile. "Hey."

"Hello." He smirked. "Have a nice nap?" She closed her eyes and buried her face back into his chest before nodding. She moaned her agreement in the back of her throat and he chuckled. "I'm glad to hear it."

As he continued to stroke her hair, she turned her head to the side. "How long was I asleep for?"

"A couple of hours."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I don't think that I've ever seen you so peaceful."

She pulled a face. "Just because you're my boyfriend now doesn't mean that you have to turn all sentimental..."

He paused. "Is that what I am now?"

Danielle stiffened. "I guess. I mean, we've slept together, I've told you about my past relationship and we've both sort of met each other's families- I'm sort of thinking that 'boyfriend' is kind of appropriate here..."

"Hm..."

Her voice was strained. "Hm?"

"It's just that I thought that we were more than that to be honest."

There was a moment of silence before she rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him, he green eyes wide. "Really?"

His knuckles brushed her cheekbone as he met her gaze. "Danielle, I've never met anyone quite like you. I know I didn't exactly make the best first impression," She snorted. "But, even though it was reluctantly, you gave me another chance. I know that it's only been a few weeks but this is important to me- YOU are important to me. Call it sentimentality but I'm thinking that 'girlfriend' doesn't nearly begin to cover it."

"So what should I call you? My 'lover'?" She waggled her eyebrows and he laughed.

"How about 'partner'? It makes us equal and shows that it's serious."

"And I thought I was the woman in this relationship..."

"Danielle!"

She smiled at him. "Ok, ok. 'Partner' it is."

Grinning, he reached down and kissed her to which she quickly responded.

It was a little while later that his phone rang and he dragged his hands away from her warm skin to grope blindly for it behind him. When he finally found it, he reluctantly answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Jase, what's up?"

He groaned at the perky voice of his sister as Danielle winked and began to kiss down his torso. He struggled not to move as her soft lips pressed at every exposed area of skin she could access. "Not a lot, listen can I call you back?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Nope," He bit his lip as Danielle reached the hem of his trousers. "I just can't talk now."

"OK fine, I'm in the house anyway- can you come meet me and Mum in the kitchen in ten minutes? Oh and bring Danielle!"

"How did...?"

"See you, Jase!" He didn't have time to respond as she ended the call leaving him glaring at Danielle.

She looked at him with smouldering eyes and he gulped as blood ran south causing him to become painfully hard. "Is something wrong?"

He could barely bring himself to do anything other than moan as she ran a palm over his tented jeans. He cleared his throat and licked his lips as he tried to speak. "No, it was just my sister."

She hummed in acknowledgement before slowly unbuttoning his jeans and pulling down the zip. His breathing was shallow as he watched her, beads of sweat already forming on his brow in anticipation of what was to come. When she tugged at his jeans, he lifted his hips to help her before throwing back his head and closing his eyes as she began. Threading a hand through her hair, he gently massaged her scalp as she took him down barely holding back grunts as she teased him.

As he panted, his hand tightened in her hair. "Dani, I hate to have to tell you this we've... we've only got ten minutes."

She pulled off and he released her hair to cup her cheek. "Why?"

He gulped as the cold air hit his exposed flesh. "Apparently my Mum and sister are waiting for us in the main house."

She gave him a disbelieving look. "...Right then." She was about to carry on and he moved his hand back to her hair when she paused. "Jason?"

"Yeah?"

She chewed her lip before looking up at him, vulnerability shining in her eyes. "Just, do me a favour? Don't tug at my hair." She looked down. "It brings back bad memories..."

A combination of anger at her ex and sadness washed through him. "Danielle look at me. Look at me." When she hesitantly looked up, he met her green eyes levelly. "I promise you, I will never hurt you."

She searched his eyes for a moment before giving a small nod. "I trust you."

He stroked her hair for a minute as she leant into his touch before a slow smile spread across her features. "Ten minutes you say?"

"Yep."

Pulling out of his hold, she grasped him and his breath caught. "You'd better keep an eye on the time then..."

***

Danielle snuggled into Jason's arms as he led her towards the house. She didn't know how she'd gotten so bold. For some reason being around Jason brought it out of her yet she couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for it. The chaste kiss he placed on her forehead pulled her out of her thoughts and she smiled up at him.

The building in front of them was large and seemed to loom over them as they approached. Vines grew up near the large archway that marked the entrance way while large windows provided a modern twist to the archaic house. They were about to pass under the stone arch when something caught Danielle's eye and she paused. Pulling herself away from Jason she wandered over to one of the pedestals next to the large double doors and lifted a tentative finger to stroke the detailed stone wolf.

"Danielle?"

Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed the concern on his face and offered up a small smile before turning back to the small statue. "It's stunning. Who designed these?"

She felt his arms wrap around her waist and she leant back into his touch. "They were designed with the house when it was first built by my great-great-great grandfather and his family." He murmured as she placed her hands on top of his where they were rested on her stomach. Closing her eyes, she leant back and he placed a chaste kiss on her temple. "Come, if we don't turn up soon Hollie will soon turn up to drag us away." She laughed quietly to herself and he nudged her cheek with his nose. "What?"

"I sometimes forget how posh you are."

"What do you mean?"

"'Come'? I'm sorry but saying that makes you either posh or old, which one is it Mr. Evans?"

A deep chuckle rumbled through his chest as he continued to nudge her cheek. "Oh, Danielle..." She shivered as she felt his warm breath against her skin. "I promise that you will be hearing that word a lot later..."

She bit back a moan as he trailed kisses down her neck before the sound of the door swinging open and a throat being cleared caused him to pull away with a groan of frustration. Danielle looked towards the sound to see Hollie standing there clearly amused as she rested her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. Danielle tried desperately to cool her rapidly heating cheeks.

Hollie grinned. "I was going to ask what was taking you so long but I think that it's pretty obvious..."

Jason tightened his hold. "We were just about to come find you."

"Sure you were..." She rolled her eyes before heading back inside, the sound of her high heels clicking against the stone floor. They followed her inside and Danielle had to physically restrain her mouth from falling open. A high ceiling gave the intimidating building the impression of being open and spacious while the large portraits that framed the walls hinted at the Evan's history. A grand staircase was the centre piece of the room and split in two; one half towards the left side of the house and the other to the right.

Danielle was steered to the left and into a large kitchen where a woman was stirring a pan on the hob. Strands of grey hair were falling out of a bun that was tied to the nape of her neck as she hummed softly to herself. Jason's voice disrupted the peaceful silence that seemed to settle over the room. "Mum."

The woman paused her stirring and turned around before a bright smile lit up her face. "Jason!" He stepped forward as his mother wrapped him in a hug before pulling away. Her bright amber eyes snapped to Danielle who was hovering nervously in the doorway. "You must be, Danielle!" She jumped as she was suddenly squeezed before the woman held her at arms lengths and looked her over. "Look at you! Aren't you a stunner?"

Danielle offered a small smile, feeling uncharacteristically shy. Jason wrapped an arm around her waist and she took strength from his presence. "It's nice to meet you."

The woman beamed at the pair for a moment before seeming to remember herself. "Sit down, sit down! I'll put the kettle on." As they lowered themselves into barstools, Jason's mother lowered the heat on the hob before moving to grab cups. "How do you like your tea, dear?"

Her head rested against Jason's chest as they sat next to each other, his hand absently stroking her hair. "Just milk, please."

Hollie wondered over to the saucepan and peered at what was inside. "What are you making, mum?"

She smiled. "Beef casserole." As the kettle clicked, she softly hummed to herself and Danielle closed her eyes to savour the homely sounds. The hand in her hair was soothing as she took in the warm scent of the food and the sense of comfort she seemed to sink into.

At the sound of the cup being placed in front of her, she opened her eyes to give the woman a grateful smile. As Jason's mother sat back down, she settled into her seat and sighed. "So Danielle, how did you and Jason meet?"

Danielle's hand lingered over the handle of the cup as she hesitated. "Oh... we met at a club."

The woman nodded with a smile. "Was it where you were dancing?"

She nearly choked on her tea. "Erm..."

Hollie smirked. "Yeah, she knows."

Danielle diverted her eyes. "Mrs. Evans..."

"Call me Kath, please."

She cleared her throat. "Kath, I know that you may not necessarily approve..."

"Nonsense!" She waved the idea away. "You're working, aren't you? It's more than most people can say now-a-days."

Struggling to form words, she sat there dumbfounded while the woman smiled at her pleasantly. "...I guess."

Kath's eyes turned to her son. "You'd better be taking good care of her, mister."

His arm wrapped around Danielle's waist. "I'm trying my very best."

The woman nodded her head in approval before resuming her questioning. "Tell me a bit about yourself."

Danielle bit her lip. "I'm not sure what there is to tell..."

She wasn't deterred. "Well where did you grow up?"

"Winchester."

The woman's eyebrows rose. "That's quite a distance from Manchester, how did you end up over here?"

Her brow furrowed and she scratched the back of her neck. The woman shook her head before patting Danielle on the knee with a tut. "Listen to me- I'm being ever so nosy! Don't mind me, dear, but if ever I get the chance to meet one of Jason's girlfriends I can't seem to help myself!"




Inner Animal Ch. 08



Danielle glared at the chuckling man at her side. "I'm hearing that a lot."

The woman beamed at the pair once more. "For what it's worth- you're my favourite by far. Jason needs a girl who can keep him on his toes and give him what for. I do love him but sometimes he does need bringing down a peg or two..."

Hollie snorted. "Sometimes?"

The woman glanced over her shoulder at her daughter. "Don't you give me that look, missy! You may be married now but I can still send you to your room without any food!"

Hollie grinned. "I'd like to see you try!"

Danielle and Jason laughed as they watched the pair bicker before Kath, inevitably, won. Kath turned back around to the pair. "Danielle, how would you like me to show you some of the house?"

"That would be great."

"Good, almost everyone is out so we can go pretty much anywhere you would like."

Danielle sat up higher in her chair. "Can we go now?"

Kath picked up the empty cups and placed them in the dishwasher. "Of course we can." When her hands were free, she linked arms with her and began to lead her out of the kitchen before looking over her shoulder. "I'll bring her back to you soon."

Jason nodded. "Thank you."

After giving Danielle's arm a quick squeeze, they left.

***

Jason sat with his head rested in his hands at the table while Hollie stood on the other side of the room. The silence between them seemed deafening only broken by the ticking from the clock on the wall.

Hollie was the first to break the quiet. "When are you going to tell her?"

He took a deep breath as he slowly lowered his hands. "I don't know- today maybe..."

"You need to tell her, Jase-"

"I KNOW... I know, alright?" He sighed as he slowly lifted his head to look at her. "It's just... it's not easy."

She offered up a small smile before walking over to place a hand on his shoulder. "You really like her, don't you?"

He nodded before closing his eyes in despair. "I can't lose her."

"If you don't come clean, she's going to know that you're keeping something from her and you'll lose her anyway." She carefully lowered herself into the seat next to him. "I'm not saying that it's going to be easy, cause honestly? The chances are she's going to freak out. BUT, if she likes you as much as I think she does she'll come round."

"And if she doesn't?"

Hollie didn't respond.

He sighed. "I've never known any other werewolf to have this problem before."

"It's becoming more common. Ever since we started becoming a part of human society, there have been more and more cases. Werewolves began having affairs with humans before finding their true mates which passed the DNA through generations. I've heard of a couple of cases but only with Omegas- nothing any higher."

Jason sat up as his alpha instincts kicked in. "Could this cause issues?"

She frowned. "They are naturally weaker and would be unable to protect themselves against the threats we have to our race. For instance, they wouldn't stand a chance fighting off a vampire if one was to attack."

The idea of a vampire attacking Danielle made Jason's heart clench. "How do we protect them?"

She shrugged. "We can't." She paused the lip her lips before hesitantly continuing. "The only way is to turn them."

Jason's limbs locked at the idea. "We couldn't do that."

"What if we didn't have a choice? Jason, what if it was Danielle that was at risk? Are you seriously telling me that you wouldn't contemplate turning her for her own safety?"

"I promised her that I would never hurt her."

"Even if it's for her own good? Jason, we live longer than them for a start- you say that she's your mate but if you aren't willing to make the change than you will have to eventually live without her."

"I'll figure out a way."

"How? How exactly are you going to be able to make a life with her if you have to spend god knows how many years without her?"

He slammed his palm on the table. "I said NO Hollie."

"Well what else are you going to do? Have you even considered that she might want to change when she knows the truth? Danielle's strong- she would make it,"

A snarl was torn from Jason's throat quickly ending the conversation. "I SAID NO!" Silence once again took dominance over the room as Hollie shook her head in irritation.

It was that scene that Danielle and Kath returned to. Kath looked at the pair with furrowed eyebrows while Danielle made her way over to Jason. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze to reassure her.

Kath made her way over to the stove and began to fill a food container. "I'll give you some of this to eat back at the cabin."

"Thanks Mum." He refused to meet Danielle's searching gaze as he tried to calm his temper before gratefully taking the plastic box.

Making his way towards the door, he sensed the mounting tension behind him but ignored it as he steered Danielle out of the building. She remained silent as he lead them back to the cabin but he could sense her barely restrained curiosity.

After a few moments they arrived and Jason quickly opened the door and made his way inside. Danielle hovered in the doorway. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

She didn't seem convinced but let it go as she made her way inside. Nodding her head to the food she offered up a small smile. "It looks good."

As a sense of awkwardness began to settle over them, he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, I'm just... stressed."

Her smile became more convincing as she made her way over and kissed his cheek. "It's alright- I knew ever since I first met you that you were a moody bastard."

He chuckled as the remaining tension dropped from his shoulders and he captured her lips. "I'll serve this up." She hummed against his mouth before approaching the table and taking a seat.

They ate mostly in silence. Jason couldn't help but watch Danielle as she hummed in approval. He struggled with his own dish as he picked at the meat, a knot of anxiety heavy in his stomach. How was he supposed the tell her? Dropping his fork, he leant back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair.

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that you're alright?" He couldn't bring himself to do anything other than give his head a quick jerk in response. She slowly lowered her own fork and once again that half-hearted smile came across her features. "Maybe we should just watch a film or something..."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah, why don't you go and pick something while I clear up..." As she stood up, he saw the hurt on her face and his hand wrapped around her upper arm. "Danielle..."

She visibly gulped before turning to face him. Grief struck him as he saw her misery. Stepping closer, he used his other hand to cup her neck and pull her into a kiss. He put all of himself into it, knowing full well that it may be the last time he ever got the chance to feel her lips on his.

Reluctantly, he pulled away to see her eyes searching his. The primal need to claim was warring with his fear and the battle must have been clear in his eyes.

He didn't pay much attention to the film. He was too busy savouring the feeling of Danielle in his arms. His face was buried in her hair, trying desperately to commit her scent to memory while he ran a hand down her arm, feeling the rough texture of her scars on the warm skin.

As the credits came across the screen, Danielle turned off the TV leaving the room to descend into quiet. All that could be heard was the sound of their breathing and the distant bird calls in the forest.

Jason ran a thumb over her cheekbone as her dark green eyes met his before slowly removing his hand. "I need to tell you something."

***

Danielle's heart was pounding in her chest. He was going to break up with her. She'd suspected it since his detached behaviour but ever since that kiss, the knowledge that their relationship was going to end had been niggling at the back of her mind.

Jason's eyes scanned her face as she fought hard to hold back tears that were fighting to break through. "This isn't easy... but you have a right to know." Taking a deep breath, he exhaled gradually. "I'm a werewolf."

There was a moment as his words sunk in before her heartbeat began to steady and frown of confusion marred her brow. "What do you mean? Is that a gang or something?"

His adams apple bobbed as he swallowed. "No. Danielle, I mean as in a man that turns into a wolf."

The frown became more pronounced. She opened her mouth to speak before closing it again. When he reached out to touch her she moved out of his reach. Her voice was strained as she spoke. "Does your sister know...?"

He nodded. "She's one as well- we all are."

A burst of shocked laughter was torn from her lips. "Oh God- you really think that you're a werewolf!"

"I am, Danielle,"

Pulling herself off the sofa, she kept a hand out to detain him. "Oh God- no stay where you are!" She shook her head. "And I thought that you were a nice normal guy! Yeah- arrogant and moody but a nice SANE guy."

"Danielle..."

"No! You need help Jason. OK, listen to me, you're not a werewolf. Werewolves don't exist."

Her head was spinning. How was it that she had ended up with another psycho? Quickly looking about the room, she found her phone on the side and picked it up as well as her jacket.

Jason's voice was raw. "Where are you going?"

"I can't be with a person who hasn't got a grasp on reality, OK? I know I'm hardly perfect but at least I know that I'm human- a pretty messed up one but human all the same. You're a nice guy, Jason but you need help."

"What if I could prove it?"

"And how are you going to do that exactly?" She swept her hair out of her face while her chest constricted in pain.

His shoulders were drooped and his fist was clenched around the cushion so tightly his knuckles were white. "What if I was to change?"

"What?"

He looked up and the sadness on his face cut her deeply. "What if I was change into the wolf... then would you be satisfied?"

She paused as she looked at him. The frantic panic in her began to calm as some part of her longed to comfort him as she saw his turmoil. Her words became gentle. "Yeah Jase." A tear escaped and she absentmindedly brushed it away. "But I want you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"When you don't change," She held up a hand as he went to interrupt. "When you don't change, I want you to admit that you need help. I'll visit as often as I can but..." Her voice broke.

Unsteadily, as if it took every effort to do so, Jason lifted himself from the sofa and stood in front of her. "I need you to trust me."

"I trust that you really believe that you're a werewolf."

His head dropped before he closed his eyes. Slowly, he removed his clothing so that he was stood before her naked. The sunlight from the window cast his golden skin in a warm glow as his muscles flexed before a stillness entered the air. His chest expanded as he took a deep breath before his form began to change. His posture began to melt and his features began to elongate. His amber eyes seemed brighter than ever as the image of the wolf began to push through the image of man before a large dark brown wolf was stood before her.

Danielle's breath left her in a shaky gasp as she looked into the large amber eyes that were so familiar. Reaching back, she felt for the sofa before falling onto it, the wolf watching her every movement. "Jason?"

The wolf sniffed and Danielle clung to the cushion as she tried to calm her breathing.

Burying her head in the crook of her arm, she closed her eyes. It couldn't be real- none of it could be real. It went against everything she knew.

When she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, she flinched and it pulled away. "Danielle..."

She shook her head. "No, just stop, please." Tearing her face away from her arm, she looked up at him with a tear-stained face. "How...How is it possible...?"

He knelt on the floor in front of her, his eyes running over her face. "We don't know." She wasn't aware that she was shaking until he lowered his head with a pained groan. "Please don't be afraid of me. I can't stand the thought of you being afraid."

"How do I know that you won't hurt me? How do I know that you're not going to kill me?"

"I promised you that I would never hurt you."

"You already have, Jason." A sob escaped her and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle the noise.

"I'm the same person as I was before."

"But you're not- you're not human."

"Danielle, please..."

She shook her head fervently. "I'm sorry- I can't. I need time to think... I can't..."

He wiped at his eyes roughly as they began to water. "Please..."

As she lifted herself up, she mutely shrugged on her jacket and made her way to the door.

"Danielle!"

She paused before looking back over her shoulder. "I'm sorry." Stepping out, the door shut behind her with a soft click leaving Jason to fall to the floor in despair.

*Cowers* I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Don't hate me! I promise you that this is NOT the end of the story! It was just really important to me to have a more realistic reaction to Danielle finding out that Jason was a werewolf. I mean, come on, if we were dating someone and they turned around and said "Oh yeah, by the way, I'm not human..." I think that we'd freak out a little. Besides, Danielle has been through enough crap, there was no way I could make her be A-OK with the fact that she's been deceived AGAIN. (Poor love...)

Please let me know what you think!

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 09



Hey guys! Well here's the latest instalment. Just a quick note: --'...'-- shows quotes from previous chapters. I hope you enjoy! 

Danielle fumed as she hit her punch bag. The sack swung violently as she pummelled it.

--'...I'm a werewolf...'--

Her right fist connected with the bag as the echo of Jason's words resounded through her head.

--'...What if I was change into the wolf... then would you be satisfied...'--

The speed of her fists increased.

--'...Please don't be afraid of me. I can't stand the thought of you being afraid...'--

Kicks began to join her punches as she took out her frustration.

--'...Danielle, please...'--

Her limbs began to ache.

--'...Danielle!...'--

She stopped the bag and sagged against it as grief overwhelmed her. Her head rested against the cool material as she panted and a layer of sweat settled over her heated skin. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to calm her breathing and her frantic thoughts.

There was a timid knock on the door before Gina poked her head around the door. "Are you alright?"

Ever since Danielle had gotten back two weeks ago from her conflict with Jason, she had been letting out bouts of aggravation and been distant with the other two. They had asked her what had happened but she had refused to answer. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"What happened to your hands?" Gina stepped into the room and tilted her fingers to look at the reddened knuckles. "Why didn't you wear any gloves?"

Danielle seemed almost surprised to see the bruises forming. "I don't know."

Gina inspected the hands some more. "Come on, we'd best put some ice on them otherwise you won't be able to dance."

Danielle followed the woman out and into the living room and sank onto the lumpy sofa while Gina rummaged through the freezer compartment and pulled out a two bags of frozen peas. Wrapping the bags in tea towels, she made her way over and sat next to Danielle before carefully placing them on each hand. Danielle winced as the cold touch her raw knuckles before closing her eyes and leaning back.

Gina readjusted the packs as Danielle's hands began to numb. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Danielle slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. "Not particularly."

Gina sighed. "I haven't seen you like this since you first moved in." She seemed to hesitate. "Did Jason hurt you?"

"No, not physically."

"How then?"

Danielle's brow furrowed before she lowered her gaze to look at Gina. Thinking back on what happened, she chose her words carefully. "He told me something about himself that came as a bit of a shock."

Gina nodded. "Does he have any control over this thing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well does he have any choice in it? Is it something that can be changed?"

Danielle thought about what Jason had told her about his ancestors. "I don't think so."

"Could this thing be dangerous?"

"... I don't think so."

Gina bit her lip. "Can I say something?"

"Shoot."

"I've seen the way that Jason looks at you. I can tell that he cares about you a lot. I've seen how happy he makes you- when you're around him it's like you light up. You've got a good thing going here- don't throw it away over something he can't help." She ducked her head to focus on Danielle's hands. "People like that only come along once and you need to make the most out of your time with them, you can't let the little things get in the way of that. You don't know how long it's going to last for..."

Danielle's voice was solemn. "I'm sorry, Gina. I forget how tough it must be for you."

The woman offered a weak smile as she checked on the state of Danielle's knuckles. "It doesn't get any easier; you just learn to live without them." She gave a short laugh. "Besides, I can tell already that Charlie's going to grow up looking just like his daddy."

"Except that he's got your hair."

"Yeah but he's definitely got Ryan's nose." She swallowed. "Did I tell you that he nearly had a hold of one of his army medals the other day?"

"How?"

She shook her head. "I must have left the box out with all of his photos and awards and Charlie, being a typical toddler, got a hold of it."

Danielle laughed. "What did you do?"

Gina's smile became more genuine. "Well after I got it back off him I told him all about his brave daddy and how he got it... he just struggles to understand why daddy isn't coming home from Afghanistan."

Danielle released one of her hands to place it on the red head's shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Gina."

The woman squeezed the hand. "It's not your fault... damn IEDs."

There was a moment of silence as the pair drifted into their own thoughts before Charlie's cries pierced the serene. Gina cleared her throat and stood up. "Just, just think about it. It's your decision... just make sure it's one you can live with."

As Gina left, Danielle rested her head back and took a minute to process everything that had been said. The ache in her chest was agonisingly strong as she thought about Jason. How was she supposed the deal with what she had learnt about him? How was she supposed to get her head around the fact that he wasn't what she thought he was at all and the fact he had a completely different way of life to the one she knew?

Her eyes drifted over to her phone on the counter in contemplation. She needed answers. Lifting herself up, she made her way over and picked up the device with her aching hand. Flicking through her contacts, she hesitated before making the call.

***

Jason was in a dark mood. The rest of the pack were constantly on edge ever since he had lost control and changed into the wolf during an argument with one of his betas. The omegas were particularly skittish around him with him having his wolven side so close to the surface- some were even going so far as to avoid him.

Things were a mess. He had begun to drink more as he tried to numb the nagging ache in his chest and when he wasn't overseeing pack order he was cooped up in the cabin trying to regain some control over his wolven instincts that were itching to claim. It was as he was sat with a bottle of whiskey on the table and a glass in his hand that Hollie burst with her hair flowing out behind her, a look of fury on her face.

"Right, that's it- I've had it!"

Jason pulled himself from his thoughts and lifted his gaze from where it had been staring into the amber liquid. "What?" 

"You heard. Jason, I swear to God, you need to get a grip. I get it, OK? I get it! Danielle left and it's tough but the pack needs you."

"No, you don't get it, Hollie! She was terrified! It is my job to protect her- to take care of her and she couldn't get away fast enough!"

"Jason, put yourself in her shoes! She's just found out that werewolves exist after going through her whole life thinking that we're myths! Of course she's going to freak out!"

He took a deep drink from his glass. "I get that. I do, alright? It's just..." He rubbed at his chest.

Hollie's stern features softened. "Give her time. It's a lot for her to take in." Her eyes flickered to the bottle. "Drinking isn't going to help- at this rate you'll be in no fit state to do anything." Shaking her head she made her way over. "Look, why don't you," She was cut off when her mobile began to ring. She held up a finger, hold that thought. Pulling out the device from her pocket, she blinked at the screen. Her eyes were wide as she accepted the call. "Hello? Danielle, hi."

Jason's back straightened with her words. His amber eyes locked on Hollie's face as she talked.

"How are you?" After a pause she nodded causing Jason to breathe a sigh of relief. "Good, yeah I'm fine." There was an even longer pause as she listened to what was being said and Jason had to fight to restrain himself from asking his sister what was happening. "Of course, when were you thinking? Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you tomorrow then. OK, take care... bye."

Hollie ended the call and placed her mobile back into her pocket. She paused for a moment before picking her head up to face Jason. She held up a hand when he opened his mouth. "She's OK. She's asked that I meet with her tomorrow at a cafe nearby because she wants to talk." When she saw the dismay on his face she continued. "It's a good sign, Jason."

He nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah..." He bowed his head. "Hollie?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you... can you let me know how she is? When you see her?"

He felt a pressure on his shoulder as Hollie wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Of course I will."

He placed a hand on her arm. "Thanks sis."

"It's going to be OK Jason." She placed a kiss on the crown of his head. "Promise."

***

At two o'clock the next day, Danielle found herself sat in a noisy cafe tracing the circle of moisture left on the table. A steady murmur filled the air as Danielle waited silently for Hollie to arrive, a steady stream of questions swirling around her mind. Agitation caused her to tap her foot against the floor as her gaze kept flickering towards the entrance. Memories bombarded her of the last time she was in a cafe.

--'Well it seemed to me that you were too distracted to really have paid that much attention to it...'--

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, she took a sip of her drink. She should have known he wasn't normal; no man that cocky could ever be normal...

--'Danielle...You told me the last time that I kissed you that I could have at least asked ... So I'm asking now, can I kiss you?'--

She touched her lips as the memory of the kiss caused her lips to tingle before forcing her hand back down. How was it things had changed so drastically since that moment?

Finally, after what seemed an age, the dark haired woman walked through the door and looked around the room. When her eyes met Danielle's she gave a small smile before making her way over to the counter and ordering a drink.

Danielle took a drink of her cappuccino as she tried to calm her hammering heart. Ever since she had learnt the truth about Jason she had constantly felt on edge. She needed answers- she needed to understand because at that moment in time she felt totally lost and it was not a feeling Danielle was comfortable with.

Hollie made her way over and sat opposite Danielle before crossing her legs and taking a sip of her latte. Humming in approval, she placed the glass down and smiled warmly. "I'm sorry, I really needed that. How are you?"

Danielle tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm OK, how about you?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

An awkward silence began to settle over the women as they both descended into their own thoughts and sipped their drinks. Danielle continued to trace the ring on the table while Hollie tapped her crossed leg in time with the soft music being played. When the song ended, Hollie leaned forward so that her elbows were rested on the table. "I'm assuming you have some questions."

Danielle dragged her attention up to the woman's amber eyes before nodding. As she watched the woman's eyes light up in amusement a thought struck her. "Are the eyes a family thing or a... or a werewolf thing?"

Said eyes rolled. "I know right? Talk about obvious! It's a werewolf thing- it makes us stick out a mile if you know what to look out for..." She seemed to think for a moment. "I mean Jason tries to cover it by saying we're all one big family but,"

"How is he?" The question burst out of Danielle before she could stop it before he cheeks coloured under Hollie's knowing smirk.

"He's been better. He's missing you like crazy."

The ache in Danielle's chest gave a lurch. "I never meant to hurt him."

"He understands."

Danielle gave a small nod. Clearing her throat, she focused on her questions. "How long have you all been... y'know...?"

"Werewolves? It's not a dirty word you know."

"I know... it just seems so surreal..."

Hollie looked into her glass. "We're all born this way... well almost all of us..."

"Almost all of you?"

The woman looked torn as she bit her lip. "Yeah... some of us- no one in the Pack of Central Manchester- but some werewolves are turned."

"Turned? What do you mean?"

"I mean that some werewolves are bitten as humans. Their DNA changes and they become werewolves."

Danielle's hand froze as she picked up her cup. During sex with Jason he had seemed to have to drag himself away from her neck. She hadn't thought much of it at the time but now...

"Does that happen often?"

"It's more uncommon now then it was. In the past werewolves were less considerate of what the human may go through in the transformation. Now, as we've developed more respect for them, we've learnt to appreciate how painful it is to go through the change and so most of us would only really turn a human if there was no other alternative."

"Most of you?"

Hollie snorted. "You don't miss anything do you? I'm afraid that, just like in the human species, there are extremists in ours."

Danielle pondered this. "Like the one who attacked you."

The woman grew pale but gave a curt nod. "Yep."

Danielle glanced around to make sure that no one was looking their way before also leaning forward. "What do you mean by the Pack of Central Manchester?"

"Each area tends to have its own werewolf pack with the same structure as wolves do. There are Alphas, Betas and Omegas as well as some other roles that help the pack to function. We tend to stick together so that we can survive but also to gain protection and a support network."

"So what are you and Jason?"

"Jason is the leader- the Alpha male of the Pack here while I am the Alpha Female of a pack not too far away."

Danielle's eyebrows rose. "Jason's the leader?"

"Yep."

"Wait the Alpha MALE... is there an Alpha female?"

"The Alpha female of the pack here is a woman called Carolyn."

A surge of jealousy seemed to rise in Danielle and she gripped the table while she tried to smother it. "Are the two of them...?"

"No- definitely not. It is only you he wants, Danielle."

Danielle lowered her head. "But what is it he wants...?"

Hollie's sharp hearing picked up her words. "What do you mean?"

She took a moment to decide whether to explain before giving in with a shrug. "From the sounds of it Jason could have anyone he wanted. So why go for me?"

Hollie rubbed the back of her neck. "Jason isn't..." Her words trailed off before she sighed. "OK, I'm going to be honest with you. He's got a reputation. But Jason's serious when it comes to the pack- he would never dream of messing with the people in it. It's his responsibility to take care and protect the pack and he takes it seriously. I'm not under any illusion when it comes to my brother- I know he used to sleep around with humans but he's changed since he's met you. I've never seen him be so taken with anybody- you're special. Trust me when I say this, Danielle, for him you're the one."

For the next hour, Danielle quizzed Hollie on life as a werewolf and pack life. She listened in keen interest as Hollie went on to explain some of the traditions as well as the different responsibilities of the members of the pack. The anxiety of talking to the woman was soon replaced with the familiarity of talking to a friend and she soon found her stiff posture easing, despite the surreal topic they were discussing.

It wasn't until Danielle caught sight of the time that she realised how long they had been talking and pulled a face. "I'm sorry I must have been talking your ear off- I should let you go."

Hollie grinned. "It's fine, really! It's been nice speaking to you again." Her smile faded into a look of contemplation as she ran the tip of her finger around the rim of her now empty glass. "Can I ask YOU a question now though?"

"Sure."

"Why did you ring me? Why didn't you ask Jason all of these questions?"

Danielle bit her lip as she thought carefully. "If I was to ask Jason all of this... I think that it'd be too painful- too raw, you know? We didn't exactly part in the best of ways and all I think it would do would to cause more hurt."

Hollie nodded in understanding. "Now that we've spoken, would you consider calling him?"

Danielle diverted her eyes. "I don't know. I just... I just need a bit more time. There's so much to take in."

Hollie offered up a small smile before placing her hand on top of hers on the table. "It's OK, I understand."

Danielle nodded her head in gratitude before watching her turn to walk away. Just before she does, she seems to hesitate. "Danielle? I just want you to know that whatever you decide, I'm here if you need me."

"Thank you, that means a lot."

She watched as Hollie sauntered away before taking a moment to absorb everything she had just learnt. The busyness of the cafe before had calmed down to a gentle hum as Danielle grabbed her coat and slipped it on before making her way to the exit and leaving to the sound of the dinging bell.

As the cold air hit her, she took a minute to close her eyes and take in the silence after the noise of the cafe. The wind rustled her hair as her approaching headache was soothed and she pulled her coat around her tighter.

Opening her eyes, she was about to make her way back when something pulled her attention to the woodland close by. Her eyes narrowed as her eyes swept over the area. Her heartbeat quickened as her posture shifted. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind and she was about to make her way over when a passerby knocked into her, disrupting her. After the man's mumbled apology, she shook her head to clear her mind. With one last glance towards the trees, she continued her journey home.

Danielle didn't really how much the information Hollie had given her was distracting her until Dom had pulled her aside and had asked what was wrong. The other girls at the club had asked after Jason only to get short replies and Midnight had been unable to focus on her routine. Her actions were sloppy and the headache she had fought off earlier was returning with a vengeance. What was worse was that the manager had decided to make an appearance and decided to have a go at her for slacking.

As Danielle finally managed to drag herself away from the screaming man and into the back room, she buried her head in her hands. Her joints were aching and she felt both emotionally and physically drained as the stress from the past two weeks finally caught up with her. Biting her lip, she smothered the urge to cry and raked her hands through her hair in frustration.

There was a banging on the door before Dom's rough voice came through the thin wood. "Hey Midnight, someone wants a private dance- you're up."

She bit back the sob that escaped before straightening her back and taking a deep breath. "I'm coming through." She'd been through worse, she could handle this.

The rest of the shift went painfully slow as she was subjected to verbal abuse, spitting and men trying to grab her. Near the end one actually succeeded causing the long scar on her hip to be exposed and for the man to jeer in disgust.

Danielle was shaking as she changed into a loose jumper and baggy jeans. The other girls looked at her with sympathy but she ignored them as she dragged her clothes on before slamming the locker and leaving without saying a word.

When she got outside the rain was falling so hard that it was bouncing off the pavement leaving her immediately soaked. Her hair stuck to her face and her hands began to numb. Rushing to stand under the shelter of a nearby shop, she was unable to stop the tears from falling and the cries that were ripped from her throat. Her chest constricted in pain as the throbbing ache that had been present all day echoed her bawling and she lifted a trembling hand to press against it.

Everything in her was screaming for Jason. It had taken two weeks for her to admit it to herself but she missed him. She had been struggling to cope without him and now everything was falling apart. She needed him.




Inner Animal Ch. 09



Rummaging through her sodden bag, she found her phone and called.

***

Jason reached blindly for his mobile as he heard it buzzing on the bedside table. His head was buried in the pillow as he sleepily felt around before flipping the phone open and placing it next to his ear. His voice was muffled by the material. "Evans."

"...Jason?"

Jason lifted his head and checked the name on the phone before quickly placing the device back to his ear. "Danielle?"

"Hey."

"Hi, how are you?"

"Yeah I'm..."

Her voice broke and he frowned. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"No, I've just... I've just had a horrible shift and I needed someone to talk to. I'm sorry, I'm being really unfair on you I should go..."

"No! Danielle don't, you're not- it's OK." He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "What happened?"

"Just the usual- guys swearing at me and call me a whore, spitting on me and grabbing at my clothes..."

He could hear her sobbing. "I'm sorry, Danielle, you don't deserve that. They're dicks."

She gave a broken laugh. "Yeah..."

He heard the sound of a car horn in the background. "Where are you?"

"I'm outside the club... I just needed a minute before I started walking."

Jason looked towards the window to see the rain hammering against the glass. "Stay where you are, I'm coming to get you." Jason dragged himself out of bed and went to grab some jeans and shoes.

"It's fine, really..."

"No, I'm on my way now. It's pouring it down. Just wait there and I'll be there soon."

"Jason...?"

He tugged on a t-shirt and a coat. "Yeah?"

"Thank you."

She sounded so small and vulnerable that his heart clenched. "No problem."

Stuffing what he needed under his coat, he shoved his hood up and hurried to the large garage hidden behind the cabin. Walking past the numerous quad bikes and jeeps, he grabbed the keys to the Mercedes and got in.

The roads were fairly clear as he sped down them. The rain battered against the windscreen as he raced towards the club, anxiety over Danielle heavy in his heart.

It didn't take him long to get there. The place was mostly shrouded in darkness with only the occasional light illuminating the downtrodden buildings. Jason's eyes searched until he saw her stood under a streetlamp: the light raining down on her like a halo. Her hair was sticking to the sides of her face and her arms were wrapped around her shivering torso. He was reminded of the last time he had seen her like this.

--'...How long have you been stood there...'--

--'...About half an hour, I think...'--

Dragging himself out of his thoughts, he reached over to open the passenger door. "Get in!"

Her eyes widened before she hurried over. Slipping into the car, she shut the door behind her. Drops of moisture splattered against the leather seat as she trembled. "I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't know who else to c-call..."

"I'm glad you did." He reached by her feet to pass her a thick blanket. "I got the feeling that you might need it."

She quickly wrapped it around her and huddled into its warmth. "T-Thank you."

He restarted the car. "You should Gina and Mark and let them know that you're on your way back."

"I don't want to d-disturb them. They're both exhausted as it is."

Jason's hands gripped the wheel tighter. "Do you want me to take you to the cabin?" He wasn't sure if he was overstepping his boundaries by asking but everything in him prayed that she said yes.

She looked at him in surprise before tucking her hair behind her ear. "...Are you sure?"

"It's fine." When she failed to respond, he continued. "You don't have to if you don't..."

"No... no I'd appreciate it. Thank you."

With a brief nod, he focussed on the road. Danielle shuffled in the seat next to him as she tried to get warm. All that could be heard was the sound of the rain pattering against the car and the breathing of the vehicle's occupants.

It didn't take long for them to make it back the cabin. The rain was still relentless as he opened the door and made his way around the car to open hers. He picked her up in his arms before nudging the door closed and making his way to the building. He expected her to protest but she remained silent as her head rested against his chest. His heart was beating strongly in his chest at the feel of having her in his arms as he made his way to the door.

When he crossed the household, he placed her down by the fireplace before starting a fire. "You need to warm up. I'll get you a towel."

As the fire flared into existence, he went to the bathroom to grab a towel before re-entering the warmly lit room.

Danielle was stood by the fireplace with the blanket wrapped around her, looking into the flames as he approached her. Passing her the towel, she took it from his with uncertain fingers. "Do you want a drink?"

Her bright green eyes flickered to hers before she quietly replied. "Yes, please."

He gave a quick nod. "Any preference?"

"Have you got any hot chocolate?"

He offered up a smile before he opened a cupboard and pulled out a sachet before tipping the contents into a cup and flicking the switch on the kettle. As he listened to it gurgle, his eyes wondered over to the dark haired woman nearby. She was sat on the floor; her hair was pulled over one shoulder as she rubbed the towel through her tresses. The light from the fireplace caught the droplets of moisture on her face as she tugged the blanket tighter around her before the click indicating the boiling water drew his attention. Pouring the water into the cup, he stirred the liquid before carrying it over. Kneeling down, he placed the handle carefully in her hand with a small smile.

Lowering the towel, she cupped the mug with her other hand before blowing and taking a sip. She closed her eyes and hummed in approval before resting it on the floor. He gulped as he watched her before his eyes fixed on a chocolate smudge on her top lip. "You've got..." Gesturing to his lip, she frowned and reached up to her own.

"Where?"

"About there..." His hand reached forward, of its own accord, to hover just over her lip before pausing. Realising what he was about to do, he drew his hand back and cleared his throat.

Colour tinted her cheeks as she swiped the stain away. As her cheeks cooled, he noticed the blossoming bruise on her skin. He reached out to cup her chin but she flinched. Sorrow filled him. "I promised you that I'll never harm you."

She seemed to hesitate for a moment before giving a brief nod. Slowly, he touched her and tilted her head so that the light caught her bruise. "How did you get this?"

"One of the men in the club lost his temper when I didn't play ball. He smacked me before security dragged him out."

Rage filled him at the thought of someone harming her but he kept his touch gentle. The tips gently stroked her cheekbone as he looked it over. Standing up, he made his way over to the fridge freezer and pulled out some frozen peas before wrapping it in a towel. Returning, he sat back down and gently placed it on her cheek as she took another sip of her hot chocolate. Her eyes flickered up shyly, the light catching the green in her eyes and making them sparkle before her long lashes lowered.

She kept her eyes downcast as he rested the compress against her cheek. The sound of crackling logs filled the quiet between them as he watched her face for any indications of pain. After a long silence, he spoke. "I'm sorry I kept the truth from you."

Her shoulders tensed slightly before she looked up. "I get why you did."

"I never meant to hurt you..."

"I know." A wince broke off her words.

"I'm sorry." Moving the ice, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Their eyes met as he caressed her soft skin before he saw her eyes flicker to his mouth and back. Her lips seemed to call to him as he slowly leaned forward. He was just about to taste them when she dropped her head and she placed a hand on his chest.

"I can't go through all of this again, Jase. I really, really like you but I can't stand being hurt again..."

He closed his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers before inhaling her scent deeply and dragging himself away. "I understand... you take the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa."

Lifting himself up, he offered her his hand and she quickly placed her empty cup to the side before reaching up and grasping it. As he pulled, she lost balance and fell into him, causing his hands to wrap around the tops of her arms and hers to rest on his sides. He could feel the heat off her as she stood close. Her breathing seemed to accelerate as he held her but it wasn't from fear. His eyes roved over her face, trying to remember every little detail from the slight curve of her nose to her slightly fuller upper lip. She appeared to be trying to do the same before a tentative hand reached up and cupped his cheek. He closed his eyes at the sensation and the feeling of warmth sinking into his skin. That's when he felt her lips on his.

Heat coursed through him as he felt her skin against his. Cupping her neck, he pulled her deeper into the kiss causing her moan in appreciation. The sound went straight to his groin as her hands fisted his top before tugging it upwards in a silent plea. Breaking apart, he ripped the material off before attaching his lips to her neck and trailing kisses over any skin he could reach, worshipping every part of her and silently thanking her for not truly giving up on them. She gasped as his lips whispered across her flesh before she pulled herself away to divest her own clothing and yanking him back to her mouth.

Clothes were quickly lost in their need to reconnect with each other and to feel the all-too-familiar fire that always built between them in their desire. He caressed every scar with gentle fingers as they kissed, awe filling him from the incredible creature in his arms.

They never made it to the bed. Danielle's lips scolded his as she lay on top of him in front of the fire, her skin appearing to glow in the firelight. Her lips travelled downwards as she traced every inch of his body- almost as if she was trying to remind herself of every detail just as he was doing with her. When he reached for her to turn them over, her hands pinned his wrists down and she gave her head a small shake. Confused, he opened his mouth to question her when she kissed him again. He became lost in the sensation until he was suddenly brought back to the present by the sensation of Danielle mounting him. He threw his head back and groaned as his hands instinctively curled around her thighs. Her hands settled lightly on his chest as she took a moment to adjust before slowly beginning to move.

Jason's wolven instincts demanded that he take control; to be dominant but he knew how desperately Danielle needed to be in control- to establish the pace in which they moved- both as a couple and during sex. The sweat that was beginning to form caused her to shimmer in the dim lighting as she appeared to sensually move on top of him leaving him without words.

She began to move faster, a sense of urgency taking over as he felt tension build in his abdomen and his balls begin to tighten. As she reconnected their lips, he put as much of his need into the kiss to which she eagerly responded. The urge to bite her roared into existence as he broke the kiss and closed his eyes to smother it. As he did, Danielle began to move more erratically before her back arched and she called out his name in ecstasy. The feeling of her tightening around him triggered his own orgasm and he came with a cry as his head was thrown back with the force of it.

As the aftershocks began to slowly subside, his chest rose and fell rapidly before fell back against the rug. Danielle fell down next to him in a similar state, a radiant smile across her face. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her closer so that she was rested against his chest. He felt a swell of joy and warmth in his heart as he held her before burying his face in her hair and kissing the top of her head. Dragging the blanket nearby over, he covered the pair of them as they settled by the fire before his eyelids became heavy and he peacefully fell asleep for the first time in days.

And that's all for now folks! I hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought.

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 10



Hey guys! Well we've reached double figures and I hope that you enjoy this instalment. Thanks for your patience!




Danielle woke up feeling comfortable and safe. Snuggling deeper into the warm chest next to her she sighed as she felt fingers run gently up and down her spine. She grumbled as she felt him shift under her and he chuckled. Lifting her head, she peered up at him to see him beaming down at her. "Good morning."

"Morning..." She yawned. Reaching up, she kissed him and felt him smile under her lips.

"How are you feeling?" His thumb brushed under the bruise on her cheekbone.

"I'm good." When his eyes drifted to her cheek she relented. "It's a bit sore."

He frowned. "I could kill him for hurting you..."

She frowned before diverting her gaze. "You wouldn't would you... kill anyone, I mean?"

He stroked the back of her neck causing some of the tension to drop from her shoulders. "I would never kill someone unless it was in defence or to protect you. I do want to seriously hurt him though." He sighed. "We need to talk, Danielle, I think it's long overdue."

Closing her eyes, she nodded her head. "I know." Pulling herself up she turned to look at him.

His eyes surveyed her face as he rested his hands behind his head. "I need to know that you trust me. I want to be with you but this won't work if you don't."

"I do, it's just... it was a lot for me to take in."

"I appreciate that. Can you accept me for what I am now?"

Her eyes ran over him. "I need you. I know that it sounds like something out of a bad romance novel but I do..."

"But can you accept me?"

Her eye drifted up to his face to look into his intense amber eyes. "I already have." His eyes closed and he exhaled. Seeing how much her words affected him, Danielle reached down and kissed his chest. "I'm sorry." His eyes flickered open. "I'm sorry that I just ran off, it wasn't fair."

"You were afraid,"

"But I still should have listened. I shouldn't have put you through that- I was selfish. I'm sorry."

His hand reached up to cup her cheek. "I understand."

Turning her face, she kissed his palm. "I missed you."

"I missed you too; I was driving everyone around me insane with how I was acting."

"Do you mean the rest of the pack?" When Jason raised an eyebrow, she explained. "Hollie explained some stuff to me when I asked."

He nodded. "Yes, it is never good to have an alpha that is on edge- it disrupts the rest of the pack." He seemed thoughtful. "Danielle, may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why did you ask to speak to Hollie and not me?"

She bowed her head, allowing some of her long dark hair to cover her face. "...I thought that if I were to talk to you it would be too much- too real. I didn't think that I'd be able to handle it. Things were already strained between us; I didn't want to risk damaging what we had any further by freaking out in front of you or falling apart."

"So how much do you know?"

"I know the basics like the different ranks and that you live for longer... she also mentioned how she thought that for you, I was 'the one'."

"You are, Danielle," He sat up to place his hands on both sides of her face and to rest his forehead against hers. "For me, you're it."

"How do you know for sure though? I mean, I've been awful..."

Capturing her lips, he kissed her deeply before pulling away with a gasp. "You are everything to me." His hand lowered to her pulse. "Do you feel a pull towards me when we're close or an ache in your chest when we're apart?"

Shocked, she nodded. "Yeah, how...?"

"We're connected Danielle. We share a bond." He exhaled. "I don't want to risk losing you again..."

Feeling a rush of guilt over his fear, she hastened to soothe him. "I promise you, I'm not going anywhere."

He remained still before he hesitantly lifted his head. He looked at her for a long time before hesitantly speaking. "... Every werewolf has a mate- a soul mate in human terms. When the two meet, they are automatically drawn to each other and the connection begins to form. When we first met I felt drawn to you- I couldn't keep my eyes off you. It wasn't until I spoke of the pull I felt towards you to our resident healer that she helped me to realise. You are my mate, Danielle."

"I don't understand, I'm not a werewolf..."

"When I first recognised the draw to you I spoke to our healer. She explained that if a human was to receive a large amount of lycan DNA, whether it be through inheritance or medical interference, that the human may develop wolven characteristics and, depending on the amount, may even have their own mate."

She blinked. Twice. Opened her mouth and then closed it. "...Are you saying that I could be part werewolf?"

He slowly removed his hands before running one through his hair. "I know you are... I had some of your blood tested."

"What- when did...?"

"When I came to visit you at the club and we were sat at the table. When you thought you had scratched yourself... it was me."

Taking a moment to absorb what he had told her, she stared down at her hands. "You're referring to the kidney transplant aren't you?"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw him nod. She took a minute to mask her face as her mind raced over all the information she had just been told. All of that time that she had felt like there was a crater in her chest, he had felt the same. She had to admit it explained a lot, the constant need she felt to touch him, to be near him. Being away from him had been a battle between her heart and her head- she never wanted to go through that again. It had made her realise how desperately she relied on him being there, how vital her was in keeping her functioning...

Exhaling, her shoulders drooped. "So does this make me your bitch now?" Looking up, she saw the alarm on his face and a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I'm kidding."

A grin lit up his face before he reached forward and began to tickle her. She squealed between her laughter as he squeezed her. Eventually she surrendered and he relented.

Later on, after the pair had gotten dressed, she was stood in front of the kettle waiting for it to boil. Feeling his eyes on her, she glanced over her shoulder and offered a coy smile.

When the switch went, she poured the hot water into a cup and stirred. When she'd finished, she turned to fully face him. "So," She blew on the top of her tea before taking a sip. "Are you really a business consultant or was that just a cover?"

He smirked as he strolled over. "No, that was true. I am a freelance business consultant for members of the werewolf community."

"Huh," She leant against the counter. "I didn't realise there was a werewolf community."

Prowling closer, he nodded. "Oh yeah, it's traditional for us to meet up during a lunar eclipse and celebrate."

"Celebrate how exactly?"

As he stood in front of her, he leant past her to place a couple of slices in the toaster. She could feel his heat against her as he moved- his earthy scent tantalising. When he began to pull back, his nose brushed against her jaw and she shivered.

"We hunt and bond. The younger ones play..."

"Is that so...?" He hummed against her skin forcing her to shut her eyes.

As he moved to place his lips against hers, she smiled and blindly moved to place her cup down on the counter behind her and wrap her arms around his neck. Pressing herself closer she felt herself melting into the kiss before there was a knock on the door.

Looking towards the door, she tried to focus as she felt Jason's lips on her neck. "Ignore it."

The banging continued until he finally relented and dragged himself away to answer it. The door opened to reveal a very distracted Hollie. "Hey, sorry to disturb you but you haven't seen my purse have you?"

"Yeah, I noticed it earlier..." As Jason went over to the sofa to collect it, Hollie noticed Danielle hovering by the fridge and she grinned. Rushing over, she hugged the dark haired woman. "Danielle! How are you?"

Danielle beamed at Hollie's enthusiasm. "I'm good, how about you?"

"I'm great!" Her eyes wondered over to Jason who was hovering nearby. "Are you two...?" When Danielle nodded, she hugged her again. "Oh thank God! Maybe he'll stop being such a miserable bastard now..."

Over her shoulder, Danielle saw Jason roll her eyes and barely restrained a laugh. As Hollie pulled away, she clapped her hands happily. "Well that's drastically improved my morning!" Snatching the purse from Jason, she pointed a finger at him. "Don't forget to sign the McCarthy deal!"

"Yes mother..."

She swatted him with her purse before heading to the door. "I'll see you guys later." She smirked. "Enjoy your morning..."

Jason nodded as he shut the door in her face and Danielle finally released the laugh she'd be holding back. "Don't get me wrong, your sister is amazing and everything, but sometimes..."

He held up his hands. "You don't have to explain it to me." Placing his hands in his pockets, he strolled over. "So where were we?" As he placed his lips on her pulse point, she gasped and her hand tightened in his hair.

The pop of the toast interrupted them once more and she sagged against the counter. "Ever get the feeling that someone is trying to tell you something?"

He snorted as he stepped past her to grab the slices and butter them. Danielle put the kettle on again for Jason as he passed her a plate and she munched happily.

She wondered over to the window and peered out into the forest. The sun was bright despite the season and birds flew about in the clear sky. "How long have you lived here?"

"I've been staying here on and off for about thirty years."

She choked on her breakfast as she spun around. "Thirty years? How the..." Her eyes narrowed. "Werewolves live for longer don't they? How old are you exactly?"

His grin turned mischievous. "It's rude to ask how old a werewolf is..."

"Jason!"

He chuckled. "I'm eighty three."

She looked at him with an analytical eye. "You don't look any older than thirty."

"Why, thank you." When she opened her mouth to protest, he continued. "Because we tend to live about three times as long as humans, we biologically age slower. However, there is the occasional exception to the rule with some werewolves who live far longer than expected. I think the record was set by a werewolf in Canada who lived to be eight hundred and twenty three."

"How old is Hollie?"

He smiled. "She's pretty much the baby of the family: fifty one."

Danielle moved to sit down. "How come you don't have any more siblings then? I mean surely if werewolves live that long they'd have a tonne of kids."

He moved to join her. "Werewolves can only have children once they've found their mate. For some reason, it is impossible to have a child with anyone else. In a way it's fortunate, it stops overpopulation. Besides, most parents choose not to have too many children as it can cause issues further down the line- especially if it was the children of an alpha couple, fights may break out as to who was entitled to rule the pack next."

"I'm guessing that you never had that issue."

He appeared saddened and she reached forward to clasp his hand in support. "No, it was expected that when my father died I would be the one to take over." His eyes met hers and she squeezed his hand. "He was killed by poachers. Usually bullets wouldn't harm us but he was weak after fighting another Alpha to protect our pack. He didn't last the night."

"I'm sorry."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed heavily. There was a moment of respectful silence before he picked himself up. "I need to get some papers from my office in the main house. Do you want to stay here or...?"

She offered a small smile. "No, I'll come. It'd be nice to see you Mum again," A smirk came across her face. "And to see the people who call you 'Chief'." She gave a salute.

He rolled his eyes. "They call me 'Alpha' not 'Chief'."

Standing up, she brushed the crumbs off her. "Aye aye, Cap'n!"

He reached forward to tickle her once more before steering her out of the house with an arm placed loosely around her shoulders.

***

Jason hadn't felt so carefree in a long time. As he headed towards the main house with Danielle tucked safely into his side, he nodded his head in acknowledgement of a few passing joggers that called out to him.

The dark haired woman glanced up at him. "You're like a celebrity or something."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I'm being serious..."

A bunch of teenage girls blushed as they saw him approaching and began giggling. "Good morning, Alpha!"

He nodded. "Good morning, girls."

Their giggling became louder before one of the female omegas came around the corner and waved them away. She shook her head. "I'm sorry about that, Alpha."

"It's quite alright."

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "You were saying?" He shrugged a shoulder before leaning down and capturing her kips with a passionate kiss. At the sound of catcalls, he pulled away to see her looking dazed. "What was that for?"

"Just because."

A blush coloured her cheeks as she looked towards the ground and he walked them into the building. She seemed shocked at how many people were inside, not surprising considering how empty it was the last time she was here and seemed to look around almost nervously. The other werewolves seemed to take an interest in her too with many of the younger children stopping their play just to stare at her opened mouthed while their parents tried to tug them along.

As Jason led her through a large doorway on the left, they entered a large lounge with various heavily cushioned sofas and mats. A large TV was placed against one wall as various kids lounged about playing on some form of console. When they saw him enter, they hurried to stand up but he held up a hand. "It's alright."

Once they began to relax, he wondered over to look at the car race happening on the screen. "Who's winning?"

A small boy with light brown hair and freckles held up a tentative hand. "Me, Alpha."

Jason grinned at him. "Good job." Messing up the boy's hair, he made his way back over to a grinning Danielle. "What?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing."

He lifted a questioning eyebrow as she beamed at him before shrugging it off. Linking his fingers with hers, he continued through the communal area before he was abruptly stopped by a familiar group of faces.

The three men grinned at him before the one on the far left spoke in a sing song, high-pitched voice. "Morning, Alpha..."

Jason smirked before shoving him in the shoulder. "Knock it off!" Turning to face Danielle, he gestured the men. "Danielle, I'd like you to meet Aaron, Harry and Dean."

She nodded at them. "Yeah, I remember them from the stag do." She grinned. "So, which one of you was the lucky guy?"

Aaron looked sheepish. "That would be me."

"When was the wedding?"

"Two nights after we went to the club."

She smirked. "At least that gave you time to recover from the hangover."

He crossed his arms in defiance. "What makes you think that I had a hangover?"

"I saw the state you were in that night- trust me, there was no way that you wouldn't have a hangover."

Harry burst out laughing and slapped Aaron on the shoulder. "She's got you there mate." Dean remained silent.

Aaron pulled a face. "I wasn't that BAD..."

"Yeah, you were..."

Jason chuckled when Harry pulled Aaron into a headlock. "She's not daft is she, Alpha?"

Jason turned to look down at Danielle who was looking at him expectantly. "She's certainly not that..."

As he let his voice trail off suggestively, she gave a laugh. "Ghee, thanks!"

The men laughed as she rolled her eyes. Dean merely glanced at Jason. "If you excuse me, Alpha, I'm afraid that there is something I need to do." With a quick nod of his head, he walked away leaving Danielle to watch him leave with a frown.

"Was it something I said?"

Jason shook his head as he pulled her closer so that she fit into his side. "No, Dean's just very... reserved."

Harry offered a kind smile. "Don't take it personally, he doesn't really speak to anyone until he gets to know them and even then he doesn't say a lot."

She opened her mouth the reply when a voice interrupted. "There you are!"

Turning around, he saw Hollie approaching followed by a group of women. "McCarthy is on the phone and wants to talk over the deal terms."

He sighed. "Of course he does..." Facing Danielle, he offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry but I really need to sort this out. Will you be OK if I leave you here for a bit?"

"It's fine. Go on and sort this 'McCarthy' thing out- I'll see you in a bit."

"Alright." He gave her a quick peck before he reluctantly pulled himself away and headed towards the door. "I won't be long." With a meaningful glance towards Harry and Aaron, he left wondering what the old coot wanted with him now...

***

Danielle internally cringed as she saw Hollie's positively predatory smile. As the group of women behind her moved to a couple of large sofas nearby, Hollie grabbed her hand and followed them. Flopping down, she tilted her head as Danielle hesitantly sat. "So what have you been up to since we last talked?"

Feeling the group's eyes on her, including Harry and Aaron's as they hovered nearby, she feigned nonchalance. "Nothing much, to be honest."

A pale woman with dirty blonde hair leaned forwards eagerly. "So how long have you been with the Alpha?"

Hollie laughed in shock. "Easy Tanya, let the girl breathe!"

Silently, Danielle thought of the irony of Hollie's comment but chose not to voice it. "That's a tricky question to answer..."

Tanya frowned. "How so?"

Another with red hair pulled a face. "Remember when the Alpha was acting all pissed last week?"

"Yeah...?"

"Work it out..."

"...OH..."

As Danielle fought off a blush, a stern looking woman narrowed her eyes at the two. "I don't believe that it is any of your business as to the relationship between him and Danielle."

They bowed their heads. "Sorry, Madam Alpha."

Danielle turned her torso to get a better look at the woman who was sat to the side of her. "Are you, Carolyn?"

The others gasped at the address and Danielle was about to ask if she'd committed some sort of werewolf faux pas when the woman smiled and gave a nod. "Yes I am, it is nice to meet you at last, Danielle."

Danielle bit her lip. "Why do I get the feeling that you know more about me, than I do you?"

When Carolyn's amber eyes lazily drifted over to Hollie, the dark haired woman turned to glare at her.

Hollie merely shrugged from where she was lounging. "What? You didn't seriously expect me not to say anything did you?"

Shaking her head, she turned back to Carolyn. "Nothing bad, I hope."

"No, nothing bad."

"So what's Jason like in bed?"

Carolyn turned to a woman with dark skin. He tone was icy. "What did I just say?"

"Oh Madam Alpha, please! It's not like any of us will ever know and he's so dreamy..."

Hollie pulled a face. "Wow, I'm officially disturbed..."

She sighed wistfully. "He has so many muscles and such a sexy voice..."

When Danielle heard the men laugh, she narrowed her eyes at them. 'Not helping!' she mouthed.

"And the size of his hands, can you imagine the size of his,"

"OK, OK!" Hollie interrupted, her face stricken. "That's enough, thank you! This is my brother you're talking about!"

Carolyn shook her head in what appeared to be disapproval. "I couldn't agree more."

Danielle barely held back laughter as she saw the woman pout and slump down further into the sofa. Her smirk softened into a soft smile as she thought of the man in question. "There is one thing I'll say about him..." The woman perked up and Hollie looked worried. "He's caring, he gives me WAY more credit than I'm due... and I feel so SO lucky that he's with me..." 'Especially after what I put him through' she added mentally.




Inner Animal Ch. 10



Hollie visibly relaxed, the woman gave an 'aah' and Carolyn nodded her head in approval. "You've been good for him."

"I'm not so sure about that."

Hollie seemed to agree with Carolyn. "No, she's right. Ever since he's met you he's got his act together. Don't get me wrong, he got his act together a lot when he became Alpha but he's really reined in his arrogance since you came into the picture."

Danielle laughed. "Well I'm glad to hear,"

The door burst open causing everyone to spin around in shock.

A leggy woman with platinum blonde hair stormed into the room, the click of her stilettos quickly being muffled by the plush carpet. Her amber eyes were narrow as they scanned the group before fixing on Danielle. "You!"

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Her hair whipped about her as she marched over to the sofa to drag Danielle up by the arm who immediately shoved her away. "The Alpha was meant to be with me!"

Danielle scratched the back of her neck. "Huh, so that's what's got your hackles up..."

If anything this seemed to make her madder. "Was that a dog reference?!"

"Well you are acting like a total bitch..."

When she moved the lunge forward, Carolyn quickly moved to block her path. "Jenna! Whether you like it or not, Danielle is who your Alpha has chosen- not you. Either you rapidly change your attitude or you leave NOW."

Her voice turned whiny. "He was meant to be with me! We would have been good together- we could have been powerful and had all the land we could have ever wanted."

Carolyn crossed her arms. "You know full well, he is not interested in furthering what he has..."

"Besides," Danielle cut in. "Jason and Jenna? It sounds like some cheesy celebrity couple..."

"Why, you...!"

Hollie stepped forward and Harry and Aaron appeared tense. "That's enough! My brother is with Danielle not you- deal with it!"

"She's not even a proper werewolf! She's some disgusting hybrid that is just carrying part of one. Have you ever considered that, hm? Have you considered that the Alpha's mate is already dead and you're a walking incubator for one of her organs?" She moved forward so that her face was directly in Danielle's. "Just keep that in mind. Jason is going to be with me, because he's sure as hell is going to be sick of a worn out stripper like you, and I promise you that as soon as that happens, you'll be gone like that." She proved her point with a click of her fingers and Danielle met her gaze evenly.

"Jenna!"

"Ok, first of all I'm not a stripper, I'm a pole dancer- if you're going to insult me make sure you've got your facts straight first. Secondly, darling, you can't judge me when you look like a fucked up Barbie doll. Tell me, where you born with that vacant look on your face or is that what happens when you try and think of a big word?"

"You don't belong here and you know it. You can't even deny it, can you? You're not one of us- you are not part of this pack. It won't take the Alpha long to realise and things will go back to normal soon enough. I suggest you enjoy your time here while it lasts because I promise you, when the Alpha realises just how," Her eyes ran up and down Danielle. "Ugly, you are- you'll be gone."

"JENNA!" A snarl was torn from Carolyn causing Jenna to take a step back.

The woman's eyes ran up and down Danielle. "I'm done here, anyway." With a quick bow of her head to the Madam Alpha, she left.

Hollie looked as though she had tasted something foul. "I never liked her." She frowned as she looked at Danielle. "Are you OK?"

Danielle offered a wide smile while she internally reeled. "Are you kidding? Work in a strip club for a few years and you'll realise that was nothing, trust me."

As Hollie gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze, the women began to talk among themselves leaving Danielle to her thoughts. Even though she hated to admit it, Jenna had a point. What is Jason was only drawn to the part of her that had come from someone else? If it hadn't been for the transplant Jason wouldn't have identified her as his mate and she wouldn't be in this situation. Her hand absentmindedly moved to the scar from the operation. What if he realised that she wasn't who he thought she was and got rid of her...?

Realising that the space around her had become quiet, she looked up to see that people were looking at her expectantly. Feeling a presence next to her, she turned to see Jason smiling down at her. "I'm sorry I took so long, are you alright?"

Slightly dazed, she nodded. "Yeah, sorry I was just thinking."

Hollie pulled her hair back over her shoulders. "Please don't tell me she's got to you."

"She hasn't..."

Jason became business-like. "Who are you talking about?"

"Jenna."

He immediately became irritated. "What's she done now?

Hollie tried to appear casual. "Oh you know, came in here, had a go at Danielle, told her that you'd get fed up of her and that you and Jenna would end up together..."

A rumbling sound began to emit from Jason's chest and Danielle looked at him in surprise. In a weird perverse kinda way, seeing him growl made him appear rather... sexy.

His amber eyes roved over her face. "Did she hurt you?" When she shook his head, he ran the back of his fingers over her cheek bone. Once he seemed satisfied that she was alright, his attention turned to Carolyn. "She is getting out of control."

Carolyn gave a swift nod. "She is now on her last warning; I will not have her terrorising the other females any longer. I was lenient on her when her sister left us but no longer."

Jason then turned his attention to the hovering Harry and Aaron. "Why was this allowed to happen?"

The men seemed to become flustered under his powerful gaze. "Carolyn and Hollie stepped in; besides, Danielle seemed to be able to take care of it."

"She shouldn't have to have taken care of it because it should never have happened!"

"Jason," Danielle moved to place a hand on his chest to feel it vibrating under her hand. "It's fine, I'm OK."

He looked at her for a moment before he pulled her closer. Her fingers curled into his crisp white shirt as she felt the warmth of him soak into her. His lips rested against her forehead as he held her close. Closing her eyes, she allowed him to wrap his arms around her and savour the comfort he gave.

After a few moments, someone cleared their throat and they pulled away from each other to see Hollie smirking. "I think if anyone had any lingering doubts about you two belonging with each other, I think they just went."

Danielle saw the knowing smiles from the females and felt her cheeks begin to redden. Jason ran his hand down her arm to grasp her hand before acknowledging the rest of the group. "Please excuse us."

Leading Danielle from the room, he began to make his way up the stair case and to the right side of the house. Danielle looked up at him as they walked. "Where are we going?"

"I want to show you something."

As they made their way across the wooden flooring, Danielle took in the large windows and the bright sunlight that streamed through. The house really was beautiful.

Jason said nothing as he directed her through the corridors and through a large oak door. The wood was decorated with intricate patterns which formed two wolves on the arch at the top. The design was the same as the one of the stone statues at the front of the house.

Jason opened the door to reveal a lavish room. Thick red drapes cascaded down from large windows and an ornate glass chandelier hung from the centre of the room. Against the far wall, on a small platform, was a king size bed with a thick red comforter and a whole array of cushions. Dark leather furniture was placed in the corner by a table with a decanter, supplying an intimate setting.

As soon as he had shut the door behind them, he made his way over to a window on the left hand side of the room and looked out. When he seemed to realise that she was no longer following him, he stretched out his hand. "Come take a look."

Curious, she walked over and allowed him to once more pull her into his arms so that her back was against his chest. Her breath caught at the view. In front of her she could see the forest in all its glory. Despite the cold season, she could not help but marvel at the vibrancy of the yellows and reds of the falling leaves. Birds whizzed past the window as they fluttered about to various nests; their dark plumage catching the light as they moved. As he eyes tried to take everything in, she noticed in the distance the edge of the city centre. She tried to strain to hear the familiar sounds of cars and people but it was smothered by the sound of the birds and the rustle of the leaves as the wind swept past.

She allowed herself to lean back into his chest. "It's beautiful."

She felt him nod above her. "I find it's very good at calming me down after a particularly stressful meeting."

She laughed. "I can imagine." She seemed to consider for a moment before continuing. "I've never had the chance to enjoy anything like this. You know: nature. When I was growing up I was either in the boarding school in the town or in one city or another."

He was silent as she admitted this piece of information. "I thought Winchester was meant to have a lot of greenery?"

"It does," She closed her eyes as she felt him squeeze her in encouragement. "I just never got the chance to see it. My parents, when I was REALLY young, never had the time to take me out anywhere. I was usually left with a child minder who was too worried about getting our clothes dirty for us to do anything fun."

"That must have been hard."

Danielle thought about this for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I didn't know any better at the time. It wasn't until I was older that I began to realise what I was missing out on. I guess... I guess that's why I acted a little crazy once I got the chance to make up for lost time."

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself."

"Maybe," Glancing up at him, she offered a small smile. "I'll try not to be."

As their attention was once more directed to the view, Danielle voiced what was playing on her mind. "Jason?"

"Hm?"

"I've been thinking about something Jenna said. I'm worried that she may have a point."

She could feel him stiffen. "Why, what did she say?"

¬"Jenna was on about how I wasn't really you're mate- I was just using one of your mate's organs. She was saying how you're mate was already dead and I was just carrying a part of her."

The tension she could feel in Jason was indescribable. His arms were rigid as he held her, yet his touch remained gentle. She could hear the forced restraint in his voice. "She had no right to say that to you."

"But what's she saying makes sense, Jase..."

"She's being ridiculous."

"But what if she's right? I'm not a werewolf, Jason. Yeah, I may have certain genetics but it doesn't mean that I am biologically your mate. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to be with you more than anything but what if she was onto something. What if we both wake up one day to realise that this thing between us isn't ingrained? The rest of the pack will hear what she's saying and they're going to realise that she could be on to something and try everything in their power to get you to see what she's saying could be right..."

He cut of her panicked rambling. "Where is all of this coming from? What has happened to the confident woman who didn't care what people thought about her?"

She dismissed him with her hand. "That's different. Jason, a lot of people could turn against us here. If she goes around spreading this, who knows what will happen? What if you realise a few months down the road that she was bang on and that you were just wasting your time with me? I mean come one Jase, I'm a pole dancer- I'm damaged goods. You're the big Alpha dude, in what planet are we meant to be an item?"

His hands gripped her shoulders as he turned her around and met her eyes. "Danielle what I feel for you I have no doubt over. You are everything to me. Jenna is just obsessed with bettering her position due to the ideas she has which are way above her station."

When something in her face must have shown her lingering doubt, he frowned. He appeared thoughtful before he spoke. "Give me a moment."

Danielle watched as he made his way over to a drawer in his dresser and pulled out a photo album. As he made his way back, he opened the smooth brown leather cover.

He tilted the book to show a black and white photograph. Danielle felt her eyebrows rise as she recognised the house in the background behind a tall man and woman who were stood closely together. "This is my mother and father in the 1920s. My mother caused quite a stir- she was never one to sit back and take orders from a man, quite a shock in those times. Many people thought my father was mad to bond with her but she was his mate and he loved her, despite what other people thought."

Turning the page, he showed her another black and white photograph. In this one was the same man and woman but the woman was holding a small baby in her arms. The pair could be seen beaming as they looked down into the bundle of blankets. "This was just after I was born. Many people were angered when my father asked one of his betas to take charge for a while as he helped my mother and they began to settle down into a routine. Packs were much sterner then; an Alpha was expected to be seen as strong and in charge...For my father to so openly defy that caused quite the controversy."

The next photo was coloured and showed a scrawny boy with the same couple. The woman was now holding up a toddler, a pink large ribbon in her hair. All of them had bright amber eyes. Jason was instantly recognisable and Danielle felt a smile pull across her lips. To the side of her, she saw Jason copy the gesture. "This was a few years after Hollie was born. They caused more animosity when they stated that if anything were to happen to me, Hollie would be given the responsibility of the pack until an Alpha Male could be established. I can't remember a lot of it but I remember a lot of arguing. They wouldn't be budged though, that much was obvious."

As he flicked through the rest of the album, he explained the stories behind the pictures causing her to laugh at some and turn morose with others. Finally, after the final page had been turned, she glanced up at him from where they were both lying on the bed. They had gravitated there after the first few photos with Jason hand gently stroking her hair. He smiled down at her as he pushed a stray lock out of her face. "I bet you're wondering why I've shown you all these, am I right?" She nodded. "I wanted to show you that, despite everything, we Evans stick together- despite what it may cause people to think. I don't want you worrying about what may happen between us because of what other members of the pack may say or do." A smirk came across his features. "You're not getting rid of me that easily..."

She nudged him with her elbow when he began to chuckle. She felt the corners of her lips curve and bowed her head to hide the relief she felt. "Thank you."

He fidgeted so that her head ended up on his chest and she could hear his strong heartbeat beneath her ear. "Any time."




Please let me know what you thought! A special thank you goes to anyone who has been following the story all the way through- I can't begin to tell you how much it means :)

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 11



Hey guys. Ok, before I begin: 'Anonymous' pointed out that there was an issue with the word 'wander'. I am not trying to excuse myself for this mistake however I must explain that due to my accent I have never- if rarely- said 'wander' (with the 'a') as it has always been pronounced as wonder (obviously with the 'o'). Since I have read this comment I have been repeating the word 'wander' over and over again to try and get it ingrained. Hopefully it worked. Enjoy.




It was a little while later while they were sat on the chairs, Jason drinking brandy and Danielle fiddling with her fingers, when Danielle realised that he seemed to be distracted. She frowned as she crossed her legs. "Are you alright?"

He seemed to blink out of his thoughts before offering up a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine. I was just communicating with Carolyn actually."

"I'm not following..."

He took another sip of brandy before placing it down on the table. "When werewolves are in a pack they can communicate with other members telepathically. It's mostly used when we are in wolf form but it can occasionally come in useful if a message needs to be delivered urgently or people are far apart."

A huge grin came across Danielle's face. "Seriously? That's cool. Where is she?"

His smile became indulgent. "She's in the communal area but she's trying to get out of talking to the other women."

"Why?"

He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "Apparently they are talking about my... prowess in the bedroom."

She felt her cheeks begin to warm slightly. "I see..."

"Apparently they were asking you about it before?"

"Yep."

"Hm..."

There was a pregnant pause before Danielle relented. "I didn't say anything."

"I know," When she seemed confused, he elaborated. "Carolyn told me. Besides, I know you and I know that you wouldn't be the sort to give details."

Flattered at his faith in her, despite her concerns that it may be undeserved, she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Thank you."

"It's the truth." There was a pause before he started laughing.

"What?"

He shook his head but the smirk remained. "Nothing important- Carolyn has just informed me that Hollie has just fled from the talk."

Danielle nodded absent-mindedly. "She's nice Carolyn, how long has she been the female Alpha?"

"About twenty years. She came to us about twenty five years ago."

"She wasn't born a part of the pack?"

"Not exactly..."

Danielle thought for a moment before managing to put the pieces together. "She was bitten, wasn't she?"

Jason stiffened. "How do you know about that?"

"Hollie..."

Picking up his glass he took a large sip. His voice was bitter. "Of course she did."

Feeling as though she had managed to drop Hollie in it, she scratched the back of her neck. "I'm guessing that's a yes then...?"

He sighed. "Yes, it was an accident. The former female Alpha was out patrolling the territory when she sensed something and attacked." When Danielle gulped, he reached forward to grab her hand. "When we're in hunting mode, the lycan side of us takes over- our human side has very little input."

When she got over the uneasiness that the image displayed, she gave a small smile and squeezed his hand. "So what happened?"

"As soon as she realised what she had done, she managed to change back into her human form- something which is not easy I assure you- and brought her inside the house. Once the transformation had finished we discovered that she'd been sleeping rough for a few nights and had been using the forest as a shelter. Fiona, the Madam Alpha at the time, took her under her wing and prepared her to take over in the future- she'd never met her mate so there was no issue as to who would inherit the title."

"What about Carolyn, does she have a mate?"

His fingers ran over the rim of the glass. "Yes, she does."

"Do they have any kids?"

He shook his head. "They don't- well not yet, they're claiming guardianship of a small boy who they found when they were out one night..."

Danielle frowned. "I don't understand: I thought that once a werewolf found their mate they could have children."

He looked up from his hands to meet her eyes. "Our species is good but we're not that good." When Danielle continued to appear lost, he smirked. "She's a lesbian."

"...Oh."

"Her mate is a lovely woman called Nicola."

"Huh..." She leaned back in her chair. "Didn't see that one coming..."

He chuckled. "Well neither did anyone else. Gay werewolves have a lot of issues in the community. Unfortunately, in most packs the men are expected to be 'men' and the women 'women'."

Danielle felt her eyebrows rise. "I would have thought you guys would stick together."

He seemed to consider his words carefully. "...One of the issues with being what people would class as a 'supernatural' being is that when you live for such a long period of time or indefinitely, it can be difficult to adapt to the times. Many people enter their species with their own ideals and morals from their own times. It can be difficult for many of them to... accept homosexuality- especially those who may be from a heavily religious time or environment."

"That sucks."

"Sadly, it is a part of pack life. There are exceptions- a few packs who have a more open-minded perspective. We are one of those: I do not accept any prejudice in this pack and if I am to hear of any, the culprit is told to leave."

"I'm glad to hear it."

He shrugged. "I do what I can."

"So what happened when Carolyn came out?"

"There were some problems, I'll admit. Some of the older members weren't happy but they were told that they had to deal with it or leave the pack." He topped up his glass. "Fiona was a formidable woman who was fiercely protective of Carolyn- people weren't willing to go against her."

A grin came across Danielle's face. "It helps to explains why Carolyn is so excepting of us- especially if she knows what it's like to have people against you."

When the room settled once more into a companionable silence, she began to drum her fingers on the arm of the chair and nibble on her finger. It was a few moments after she started tapping her foot that Jason placed down his glass and rested his elbows on his knees. He appeared to be studying her face intently. "Are you alright? You seem to be rather... agitated."

Reluctantly giving up the finger, she bit her lip. "I'm sorry, it's just I'm REALLY craving a fag..."

He lifted an eyebrow. "If you want to smoke..."

She shook her head quickly before resuming her attack on her finger. "I'm trying to quit. Gina and Mark pretty much insisted that I cut down on drinking and stopped smoking."

"I'm glad to hear it."

She pulled a face. "Speaking of Gina, I'd best phone her up again and find out when my shift is tonight." Irritation seemed to flicker across his face before he grunted and threw back the rest of his brandy.

Danielle paused. "What was that look for?"

"It is nothing."

"No don't give me that- what is it?"

He stared into the bottom of the, now empty glass, as if it would supply him with the words he seemed to be searching for. "Why do you work there, Danielle?"

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Because I need the money, why?"

"You have the potential to do so much more."

She shook her head as she looked to the ceiling. She could see where this was going a mile off. "Why don't you just say what this is really about?"

He set his shoulders back before linking his fingers. "Alright, fine. I don't like you working there."

She couldn't say she was surprised, all the other girls had faced the same situation one way or the other, apparently it was now her turn... "And where else am I meant to work, exactly? I'm a pole dancer, Jase!"

"You're better than that!"

She gave a laugh of disbelief. "Unbelievable! So not only are you insulting me, you're insulting my friends now?! I have zero qualifications, alright? Pole dancing is all I know- it's what I do to earn a living!"

He stood up, pent up frustration emitting from him in waves. "I don't like you putting yourself in danger!"

"Well neither do I! But, unfortunately, it comes with the job description!"

"I can support you! If this is just about money there are other ways to get it!"

She angrily cut him off with her hand. "I'm my own person, Jason! I don't need or want someone to support me- I can support myself, alright? I'm fine as I am!"

"If you're so fine then how come I keep on finding you in situations where you need saving?!"

His words were followed by a heavy silence. Danielle stared resolutely at the wall, unable to look at him. Her chest was rising and falling quickly and as her heartbeat began to slow, she closed her eyes. "Things aren't as simple as that, Jase. I don't even have a CV. All I can do is dance- that is all I have to offer an employer."

He deflated, the built up tension leaving his shoulders. "I hate the fact that you're constantly put in a situation where you're jeered at and threatened. Every time you have gone to do a shift, I've been worried what's going to happen to you- whether you'll be alright."

The vulnerability of his words caused her to look at him and see the honesty in his amber eyes. Placing her hands on the top of her head, she exhaled noisily. "So..."

"Yeah..." He also appeared at a loss as he wandered over to the window.

Danielle watched him look out for a moment before swallowing the lump that had appeared in her throat. "I need to get my phone from the cabin."

After a moment, he turned to face her. "I'll come with you." She offered him what she hoped was a comforting smile before carefully taking his offered hand.

As they made their way through the building, Danielle noticed the curious looks and whispers of some of the other werewolves in the house. There were groups of them huddled together who abruptly stopped what they were saying as they saw Danielle and Jason approach only to stare as they went past. Danielle squeezed Jason's hand tighter as he rubbed soothing circles into the pack of her palm.

They didn't say a word to each other as they made their way out of the grand house and back through the forest. A pregnant pause seemed to be lingering over them as they walked under the colourful branches until they came to the large wooden cabin. Danielle looked at him before reluctantly releasing his hand and making her way inside. The crunch of footsteps behind her told her he was following.

She found her phone on the side table and moved over to pick it up and call Gina with tentative fingers. She heard the door shut behind her and from the corner of her eye saw Jason move to sit on the sofa. Fighting the urge to chew on her finger again, she waited for Gina to pick up. Thankfully, Danielle had had the foresight to call Gina the night before as she was waiting for Jason and earlier that day to let her know she was safe. She really needed to plan these things more...

When Gina finally picked up, the conversation was brief and to the point. She could tell that Gina knew that something was playing on her mind by her questioning but decided not to explain until she saw her. Hanging up the phone, she took a minute to compose herself before turning to face Jason who had been pretending not to be impatiently waiting for her to finish her conversation.

Danielle tapped her phone absent-mindedly as she began to address him. "Gina's asked if I can go into the club and help Mark set up the bar. Apparently it's just him tonight as Greg's off ill and they haven't got anyone else to cover."

"Why has she asked you to do it?"

She shrugged. "I'm the only one who knows where everything goes- I help out on the bar every now and then if they're struggling to serve people."

He gave a small nod as he looked down at his hands. She rubbed her forehead as she felt the approaching headache. Her head snapped up when he suddenly stood and stretched. "I'll give you a lift down."

As he moved to hold the door open for her, she hesitantly made her way through it. She was surprised when he suddenly started to walk around the building and followed him curiously. On a path, just down from the cabin was another large building- this one made of concrete. Jason moved to a keypad near the entrance of a large set of garage doors before typing in a code. Unable to resist the burst of laughter that escaped her, she covered her mouth with a hand. "Oh, you CANNOT be serious!"

He glanced over his shoulder at her. "What?"

She spluttered. "What?" She wildly gestured to the rows of cars and motorbikes. "I know what they say about boys and their toys but come ON!"

He smirked. "They're for pack use, not just for me."

"So are you telling me that you haven't tried them all out at one point or another?"

He shrugged. "I never said that..."

She shook her head as she laughed. "Unbelievable..."

He walked down the row as she moved to look over the different cars. "Any preference?"

She blinked as she took in the expensive vehicles. "Do you have a favourite?"

He pursed his lips in thought before casually strolling over to a black Audi A5. "Probably this one."

She took in the sleek black metal. "I can see why."

As he opened the door and got in, she couldn't help but have one last admirable glance at the car before getting in herself.

The journey was mostly silent as Jason drove her to the club. She couldn't help but think of the metaphorical elephant sat in the back seat that was making the atmosphere uncomfortable. As she stared out of the window she breathed on the glass and traced the condensation with her finger. Why was it that they couldn't have NORMAL couple issues?

Jason was keeping his eyes focussed on the road. His eyes occasionally wandered over to where she was sat but after several false starts, he failed to prompt any conversation. After a while, he flicked the stereo on and jazz filled the tense air between them. She tried to relax to the soft sounds but her spine remained rigid as he drove.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for Jason to arrive. As he pulled up, he turned the music off and they sat in the silence. Unsure of what to say, Danielle leaned over to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'll call you later."

"Can you call me once you've finished your shift? No matter what time it is."

She paused as she reached for the door handle. She could understand his anxiety. When she had first started it had felt like she was in some nightmare, never knowing if she was going to make it through a shift without some form of abuse. She supposed after doing the job so long she had become desensitised and had forgotten what it had felt like to fear what was going to happen.

Pulling herself back, she rested back against the seat. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Jason so that green eyes met amber. "Jase..." Throwing her head back, she tapped it lightly against the leather interior. "I'm sorry. I don't want us to fight over this."

The tension he'd been carrying in his shoulders visibly dropped as he leant back in his seat as well. "Neither do I."

She bit her lip in consideration. "It's weird for me to consider that I need to think of someone else now- that I need to think in terms of 'we' instead of 'me'. If it makes it... difficult for you, I'll think about looking at doing something else."

He closed his eyes. "I feel like a total bastard."

As he moved to cover his face, she pulled his hands away. "Why do you?"

He sighed as he allowed her to remove his hands. "Danielle, I don't want to stop you from dancing. I know how much you enjoy it and I don't want to take that away from you. It's just the thought of those... pigs..."

"Steady on there- remember that you first met me as a customer."

He smirked before his face fell. "It's just- God, when I saw what they'd done to you I was ready to..." His eyes flashed and she moved to stroke his face to calm him. He moved his face to kiss her palm and his eyes dimmed. "I can't stand the thought of you hurt."

"Hey, it's OK. I'm lucky that I know some self- defence, it could be a lot worse. I'll think about my options. You never know: I might be lucky and win the lottery or something and be able to open my own studio."

He ran a hand over her forehead. "You'd be brilliant."

She pulled a face. "Don't be daft."

"No you would be- I've seen you with Dana."

She smiled shyly. "Yeah, maybe." Glancing towards the door, she grimaced. "I've got to go. I'll call you when I finish."

His hand moved to cup her neck as he kissed her, his lips urgently brushing against hers. She moaned into his mouth as she gripped his hair, her breathing ragged as he ravished her. Reluctantly, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you for understanding."

"Thank you for putting up with me."

"There's nothing to 'put up with'."

She groaned as her hands rested on his chest. "I've gotta go..." Unwilling to leave, she kissed him once more before dragging herself away.

He called out to her as she opened the door and stepped out. "I'll speak to you later."

Turning, she smiled at him before shutting the door. She watched him drive away before she turned her face up to the sky. Setting her shoulders back, she exhaled slowly before turning on her heel and making her way inside the club.

Dom was the first to notice her. A cheeky grin lit up his face. "Well good afternoon, sunshine."

Midnight rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah- so I'm guessing Gina's told everyone where I was."

Folding his paper, he crossed his arms; a heavy smirk coming across his face. "Well when it was just Gina, Chucky and Mark that turned up..."

"DOM!"

He looked sheepish as he turned to face Gina's angry expression. Danielle laughed lightly. "I hear you've been grassing me up."

She lowered her hands off her hips. "To be honest we were just so happy that you'd sorted things out- we were fed up of you acting like Godzilla."

Danielle pulled a face. "And what makes you think that we've sorted things out?"

"You mean despite the giant love bite on your neck?" Danielle lifted a hand to cover her skin when Gina laughed. "Ha! Got you!"

Midnight narrowed her eyes at her as she removed her hand. "Har har very funny..."

"So are you two all sorted now?"

She sucked the inside of her cheek. "Not exactly..." Wandering over to Mark, who had been watching the conversation, she gave a quick greeting.

Gina followed her over. "What do you mean not exactly?"

She sighed as she moved to place a couple of bottles of beer on the glass shelf behind the bar. "I mean that he doesn't like me dancing here."

"Ah..." She leaned against the bar until Mark swatted at her with the rag he had been cleaning the counter with. "The old career dilemma..."

Danielle sorted through another crate. "He just doesn't want me to constantly put myself at risk. He knows how much I love dancing but he just can't stand the thought of me doing it here."

Gina raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's all?"

"What do you mean?"

"Have you considered the possibility that he's jealous?"

Danielle paused and considered the option. "Huh, I hadn't thought of that." She shook her head as she heaved the plastic box over to Mark who took it outside. "I don't think that's it. He's... protective of me. He doesn't like the thought of me being hurt."

Mark came back through as he dusted his hands off on his jeans. "So what are you going to do?"

Midnight bit her lip. "I'm not exactly devastated at the thought of no longer working here but it's not like I'm qualified to do anything else."

Gina held a hand over her heart. "Ouch, Dani! And here I thought we were friends!"

She laughed. "You know what I mean!"

A crease appeared in Mark's brow as he thought. "I could always talk to the manager- Greg's planning on leaving soon and we're going to need someone to replace him."




Inner Animal Ch. 11



Danielle's face lit up. "Really?" Her shoulders slumped. "But he's not going to be thrilled about giving up one of 'his girls'."

Gina picked up Charlie who was wandering about near here feet. "It's worth a shot."

Mark placed a tea towel over his shoulder as he crossed his arms. "I know you'd still be around a bunch of jerks but at least you wouldn't have to be constantly fending them off and I'll be next to you."

"Plus I'd get to wear more clothes..."

Gina laughed. "Well that's true."

Mark pulled out his mobile from his jean pocket and went through his contacts. "I'll talk to him."

Danielle kissed his cheek. "Thank you!"

He smirked. "Don't thank me yet."

As he placed the device next to his ear and began to speak, Becky wandered over. "Hey, is everything alright?"

Gina answered while Danielle watched the conversation eagerly. "Danielle's back with Jason, he doesn't like her working here, Mark's trying to get her a job behind the bar." She nodded in acknowledgement. 

Danielle bit her lip as Mark frowned. "No, I'm not saying- Of course I appreciate that it is your place to hire people but I thought that," She gulped as she watched him get more frustrated. "Yes, sir- I appreciate that but,"

Becky signalled for him to pass the phone, he appeared confused but quickly handed it over. A bright smile came across her face. "Good Morning Mr. McCarthy it's Rebecca Jackson." She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm one of the strippers. I happened to overhear the conversation between you and Mark and I completely agree- Miss. Macintyre should stay exactly where she is." Everyone looked lost as she seemed to nod at something the manager said. "Yes, sir, I agree. I do have to warn you though, while this may not be well known, Danielle Macintyre has in the past had a transplant and is on medication. Yes, I fully appreciate that you didn't know that... I'm just worried that the company may come under threat. You see it may cast the company in a bad light if it was known that a woman who is on strong medication was working in such a hostile environment. I mean what if something was to happen: I'm afraid that you Mr. McCarthy have a large duty of care to Miss. Macintyre, especially given her medical history, which could mean that you would lose a civil case against her and may be forced to pay compensation." Danielle lifted an eyebrow. "Don't get me wrong, sir, Danielle is an incredible asset to the team- her choreography has helped us to gain many more customers and to increase the clubs profit but I just thought I should let you know." Her eyebrows lifted as she began to twirl a piece of hair around her finger. "Wait, sir, you don't think she should dance? Oh, of course sir, it would be better for the company if she was to have a more... subdued role." Her eyes brightened. "You're right, sir, I will try and break it to her gently that her services to the customers will need to be changed. I'm afraid Mark was just so worried about her welfare- I'm sorry he disturbed you- I appreciate that you must be a very busy man." She released her hair and winked at the gaping group. "Thank you for taking the time to listen to our concerns. Goodbye, Mr. McCarthy." Shutting the phone, she passed it to Mark.

Gina was shaking her head in pure disbelief. "You FIEND! And I thought Justine was bad..."

Becky shrugged. "With people like that you have to make them think that it was their idea or they'll never listen. Besides, if you make him think that he could be sued for it he'll soon change his mind."

Mark chuckled. "Man, am I glad we have a law student working here."

She shrugged. Danielle broke the playful atmosphere. "How do you know I had a transplant?"

Becky scratched the back of her neck in obvious discomfort. "Well when me and Olivia were babysitting Charlie we were trying to find some food for him when we found some pills hidden in the back. We kind of got bored later on when we'd put him down for a nap so we googled what they were for and found out that they were meant to stop rejection."

Danielle said nothing as she waited for Becky to finish her explanation leaving the woman to look at her with anxious eyes. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"We figured that if you wanted us to know you would have told us. We'd snooped enough by finding out what they did- it wouldn't be fair of us to pry."

There was a momentary pause as everyone seemed to wait with baited breath as to how she was going to react. After she wet her lip, she cleared her throat. "Thank you: for respecting my privacy." The corner of her mouth quirked up slightly. "Did you really have to share that bit of information with Mr. McCarthy though?"

She beamed. "Well it worked didn't it?"

Danielle let out a loud laugh causing everyone to look in their direction. It wasn't until then that she realised just how aggressive she had been recently.

Becky leaned forward on the counter and lowered her voice. "Just out of curiosity: what organ is it that you had put in?"

Danielle faltered for a moment before mentally shaking away the uncertainty. She needed to let people in more. "It was a kidney." Turning around, she lifted the bottom of her top to reveal the scar.

"Aaaaah, so that's how you got that scar."

Danielle lowered her top and turned back around. "Yep, but please keep it to yourself. I'd rather not have to answer questions as to how I got it."

Becky mimed zipping her lips. "Gotcha. You start at the bar tomorrow." Her voice trailed off as she noticed Olivia wandering towards the fire exit and her face lit up. "I'll talk to you later."

Danielle smirked as she watched the woman follow after her partner before smugly pulling her phone out of her pocket.

Gina raised an eyebrow. "Who're you calling?"

She grinned as she placed the phone next to her ear. "I'm telling Jason the good news."

***

Jason was staring mournfully at the piles of paper in front of him when his mobile rang. Noticing that it was Danielle, he quickly answered. "Hello?"

"Hi!"

He blinked at her eagerness before a smile spread across his face. "Hi, why are you so happy?"

"What is a girl not allowed to be happy now-a-days?"

"Danielle..."

She soon caved in. "You know what we were talking about earlier?"

He felt his heart rate pick up in anticipation. He had felt awful about criticising her job but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get past the thought of her constantly being pawed at every night. "Yeah?"

"Well a couple of the guys here have spoken to the manager and tonight is my last night of dancing- he's moving me to work at the bar with Mark."

He sank into his chair in relief. "That's fantastic."

"I didn't disturb you or anything did I? I just really wanted to let you know."

"No of course not- you could never disturb me." He lifted up a corner of a pile with reluctant fingers. "I was just about to tackle some paperwork actually."

"Sounds... interesting..."

"Hardly, I'd much rather be talking to you."

"Well you just know all the right things to say don't you, Mr. Evans."

He grinned. "Well I do try Miss. Macintyre."

He heard her laugh and revelled in the sound. "Anyway I'd better leave you to your paperwork- you are a very busy man after all."

"Hm."

"I'll call you after my shift."

"Alright- just PLEASE try and stay safe!"

"I will- don't worry. Like I said: I'll speak to you soon. Bye Jase."

He sighed. "Goodbye Danielle."

Hearing her end the call, he closed his mobile and tried to refocus on the work in front of him. Begrudgingly, he pulled the first pile towards him and had just begun to read over the first sheet when there was a knock at the door. Taking in a deep breath, he took in the scent and called out. "Come in, Lincoln."

Lincoln was a rather slim man who looked as though he could quite easily be blown away with a strong breeze. He was clearly anxious as he stepped into the room, his fingers meshing and twisting together as though he was trying to break free from invisible restraints. "The pack in neighbouring territory wants to negotiate a partnership in regards to the land and have asked that you meet with them."

Jason nodded as he continued to scan the text in front of him. "Have it be arranged for their earliest convenience."

When Jason failed to hear Lincoln leave as expected, he lifted his head to see him hovering near the doorway. Jason took in his nervous behaviour and frowned. "What's wrong?"

The man kept his back to the wall and his head bowed. "I come on behalf of some of the members of the pack."

Sensing that an issue was about to be raised, Jason leant back in his desk chair and threaded his fingers. "And what is the message that you were sent to deliver?"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. He glanced up quickly to show dull amber eyes before his gaze retreated back to the wooden flooring. "There are concerns as to... as to the woman you have begun dating."

Jason felt his wolven instincts snarl at the referral but kept his composure. "And what concerns are those?"

With each word Lincoln appeared to become more skittish. "That she isn't truly one of us and that she may expose us... Others are worried that she will leave again, leaving you and the... and the pack vulnerable."

Jason felt his temper begin to grab hold of him but he pushed it back and forced himself to remain calm. "Danielle is with me and as such she will not expose us- she wouldn't even if we were not together as she is not that type of person. We have sorted our issues and are happy together, I can assure you that she will not be leaving anytime soon."

A crease had appeared between the werewolf's brows as Jason spoke. "But can you be sure?"

"Excuse me?"

A blush coloured his cheeks as he was reminded of who he was speaking to. "I beg your pardon, my Alpha, but how is it that you can be certain that she will not leave again? Some of us are concerned that if she has no obligations to us she may leave without any fear of repercussion and may bring us harm."

Taking a deep breath, Jason drummed his fingers on the table to give his hands something to do. "And as I said: Danielle has shown me that she doesn't plan on going anywhere."

"But, from what I gather, she didn't plan on going anywhere before either..."

Jason slammed his hand down on the table making the man jump. A snarl was barely concealed in his voice. "I have told you that there is nothing to worry about. Furthermore, I don't believe that it is any of your business as to what happens in the relationship between Danielle and I. Even when she was away, I fulfilled my duties as Alpha and will continue to do so no matter what the future may hold!"

Lincoln looked decisively paler than when he had first entered. "Yes, my Alpha, of course you are right... but she... she is still not part of,"

Jason was up and had his hand wrapped around Lincoln's throat. Lincoln's eyes were wide with shock as he was held against the wall. His breathing was rapid as Jason's grip wasn't tight but the fury in his eyes was undeniable.

The growl in Jason's voice was clear as his eyes flickered. "You question me?"

Lincoln shook his head rapidly, his bottom lip trembling. "Of course not, my Alpha."

He flexed the hand around the man's throat as he tried to suppress claws from emerging and ripping his throat out. The man whimpered and fear was written clearly across his face. "Not only are you wrong in your concerns, you are behaving as if I do not consider the welfare of this pack. You do not have the authority to try to dictate what I do and if you should try again I will happily take your head- do you understand?"

The man nodded. He opened his mouth to speak when someone tapped on the door.

Jason scented the air before calling out. "Enter!" Carolyn walked in before quickly taking in the scene in front of her. Jason kept his eyes locked on Lincoln. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir."

Jason stepped back allowing Lincoln to slump against the wall. Carolyn was gritting her teeth. "Go, you foolish man!"

When he appeared to hesitate, the dregs of Jason's restraint finally snapped. "GO NOW!"

He yelped before scurrying out of the door, shutting it quickly behind him. Jason ran a hand over his face before collapsing into his desk chair. Carolyn looked sympathetic. "Tough day?"

He huffed a laugh. "You could say that." He ran a hand through his hair. "Do you know what that was about?"

She nodded as she lowered herself into one of the chairs opposite. "I'm afraid so, I'd heard some rumours as to what some were planning but I thought that they were just that."

"Do you think that I'm too soft on them?"

She smirked. "I think that they're in for a shock. You're usually so laidback I think that it's becoming a shock to the system to see you reinforcing your dominance." Her eyes wandered to the wall thoughtfully.

"What?"

She exhaled before scratching her forehead. "Jason, there's something I think that you need to know." Crossing her arms, she leant back in her seat. "I'm losing power as an Alpha. I think that Danielle is becoming more in tune with her lycan instincts and because of this the power is switching... I believe that the rankings are shifting so that Danielle will soon be recognised as the new female Alpha of the pack."

Jason stared down at his desk as he took in the information in. "How? I mean, she'd not even technically a werewolf."

She shrugged. "I don't know- I've never come across anything like this before. I can just feel the lack of authority behind my words. The compulsion werewolves feel to do as I say is dwindling- my wolf's ranking is changing I can feel it. I can only assume that as Danielle has been identified as your mate she is the next Alpha female."

"I just don't understand. It's never been known to happen before."

"I guess she's stronger than any of us knew. The only way we could know for sure was if she was to turn," She held up a hand as he opened his mouth to protest. "Not that I'm suggesting that. Either way you need to come up with a solution for the future. I don't how much longer I will be recognised as an Alpha."

His mind spinning, he frowned. "I'm sorry that this is happening to you."

She gave a light laugh. "You know me better than that, Jason. I've always been one for the quiet life- I'll finally get the chance to retire. Besides, I always knew this day was coming. The Alpha Female is meant to be the partner of the Alpha Male just as your mother was until she passed the role onto my mentor."

He smiled. "I can imagine you and Nicola on holiday in a small cottage in the woods somewhere."

"Hm, don't tempt me." She pulled her hair up into a bun as she glanced at the clock on the wall. "If Danielle were to take over though, rest assured that I would help her to settle into the position as best as I could."

He gave a quick nod. "Thank you." He shifted in his seat. "So, what is it you wanted?"

"I was out for a run earlier and came across a small family of werewolves who were looking to join a pack."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you know their rankings?"

"The young girl and boy look to be thetas and the couple who have taken them in are elders but get this: the man is a shaman."

Jason looked at her in disbelief before leaning forward on his desk with his head rested on his knuckles. "No way."

She nodded smugly. "Yes."

"Seriously?"

"Ahuh."

A grin broke out across his face. "Roberta will be jealous."

"Well she can count her job safe- apparently he only uses herbal medicines as that was what he was always shown. You should see his healing though, Jase, I mean don't get me wrong it's not like he can heal the dead or anything but just being around him just makes you feel... healthier. The little boy that was with him fell over when we were talking and he just placed his hand over the cut, did a chant and the next thing you know he's fine."

Jason shook his head in amazement. "Did he say why he was here?"

"He just said that something was drawing him here and that he wanted to young ones to be able to grow up with a proper pack."

"Thank you for improving my day."

She grinned. "No problem, so when are you going to speak to them?"

"Where are they now?"

"They're in the kitchen with your mother who is still baking cakes for the children in the pack."

He thought for a moment. "Make sure they have something to eat and are comfortable and I will come down to speak to them. It sounds as if they have travelled a long way so I will come and speak to them when they are ready."

"I'll let them know."

"Thank you."

Straightening her white crisp shirt she stood. He watched her leave before leaning back and looking up towards the ceiling. Danielle was beginning to fill the role of being the next Madam Alpha, a shaman had turned up: what impossibility should he try to prepare for next?

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took a deep breath before glaring at the waiting paperwork. "One step at a time, Jason, one step at a time..."

***

Midnight couldn't quite decide how she felt about her last night as a pole dancer at 'Club Tease'. While part of her was more than happy to be able to escape the focus of the leering punters with their far too eager hands another part of her was becoming sentimental. There was a companionship with the other girls she was worried that she may lose and she didn't know when she would get the chance to dance again: to savour the feeling of pushing your body to the limit and being rewarded by doing a manoeuvre perfectly. She didn't regret the move to stop dancing for the club but she was worried about possible change. Midnight knew more than anyone that once you get used to something it can be difficult to readjust.

It was as she was deep in thought that Dana came over to join her where she was hovering by the bar. "Hey, are you alright?"

She offered a small smile. "Yeah, it's just weird, you know?"

Dana took a sip of the water that Mark quickly placed in front of her. "Scared of the unknown?"

Danielle shrugged. "Maybe a little."

"Change isn't always necessarily a bad thing. You don't know until you try, right? Sometimes you've just got to take that risk. I mean, I wouldn't be in England if I hadn't taken a gamble."

She raised an eyebrow. "You went from living the life of luxury to being forced into stripper-dom and you're trying to give a pep talk on taking risks?"

The American gave a quick nod in acknowledgement of her point. "Alright you've got me there but it isn't all bad: I would never have met you guys if I hadn't come here. All I really wanted was some genuine friends- something which I didn't have back home. I came here, yeah to do some shopping, but to also catch up with my only friend who I hadn't been able to speak to in years. Now, I have her and I've got everyone here. Yeah, life isn't perfect but I'm happier than I was." Just then Justine walked off the stage and 'Lily' took a final sip of water. "It looks like I'm up."

Midnight watched the woman go up thoughtfully. Dana had a point but she couldn't help but reel from everything that was happening. Everything seemed to be changing so quickly: first her relationship with Jason then her career- what would be next?

***

Jason was stood staring out of the window in his room as he waited for Danielle to let him know she was OK. He would have preferred to have been back in the cabin but with the new members of the pack settling in, he needed to be in easy access in case he was needed. Sighing, he had another sip of coffee as he watched the sun getting ready to emerge. Ever since he had entered a relationship with Danielle he had changed. Gone was the playboy who would spend his time going out looking for a one night stand to ease the primal need to mate for the night. Now, stood in his place, was a man who was trying to keep himself awake to know that the woman he loved was safe and on her way home.




Inner Animal Ch. 11



He couldn't deny it: he was in love with her. He had begun to feel the effects of it when she had left only for it to hit him like a truck when she came back. He was constantly concerned for her well-being and happiness- more so than his own and couldn't imagine going on without her. Jason rubbed a temple. He was clearly getting soppy in his old age.

He moved to take another mouthful of his drink when his mobile began to ring. Checking the screen, he felt his shoulders loosen in relief as he answered. "Hello."

"Hello sir, this is your 4am wake up call."

He chuckled. "I never went to sleep."

"Why not?"

"I couldn't."

He heard distant 'aahs' in the background and the Danielle's muffled voice telling them to shut up. "Sorry about that. I told you that I'd be fine."

"I know."

He could hear the smile in her voice and it warmed his heart. "Well you can go and get some sleep now, I'm OK and after I've got changed Mark if going to drive me and Gina back."

Jason frowned. "Isn't he tired?"

"Power naps. 'Tis the way of the gentleman club worker."

He smirked. "Ah, I see."

"Go get some sleep. I'll get a taxi around yours later and we can celebrate my not-so-new job."

"How about if I send a driver around about one o'clock?"

"Even better."

"Goodnight Danielle."

"Don't you mean 'Good morning'?"

He laughed. "It doesn't have quite the same ring to it."

"Hm, how about sweet dreams, then?"

"Sweet dreams, Danielle."

He heard her throat catch from the purr in his words. "Sweet dreams, Jason."

***

Danielle woke up to find her duvet half hanging off the bed and groaned. Cocooning herself in what part remained on the bed, she snuggled down deeper in her bed. She was just about to fall to sleep when the piercing cry of Charlie broke through the air. As she heard Gina move in the room next to hers, she gave up with a sigh and dragged herself out of bed. Glancing at the clock, she half covered her mouth as she yawned before trudging into the living room. Mark was already awake and dragging his fingers through his messy hair. He peered up when Danielle came in who was already making a bee line for the kettle.

As Danielle put large doses of coffee into three cups, Gina poked her head around the door. "I'm sorry!"

Danielle waved her off as she yawned again. "Not your fault- don't apologise."

As Danielle finished making the drinks, she passed a cup to the tired woman before picking up the other two and walking over to the sofa. Mark shifted over as she plonked herself down next to him and passed him a coffee. He took a sip gratefully as he leant back against the cushions and she tucked her legs under the duvet.

Gina remained in the doorway. "So how did you find your last night of pole dancing?"

Danielle cupped the mug to warm her hands. "It was weird, to be honest but I wasn't exactly sorry to see it go."

Gina grinned. "I can imagine."

Mark placed his arm along the back of the sofa and squeezed her shoulder. "Well at least you're not leaving altogether. We'll make a great team."

"I'm just hoping that I don't mess it up."

"You'll be fine; I'll keep you away from any sharp objects..."

She stuck her tongue out at him and Mark and Gina laughed. Danielle took a sip to cover her own smile. "Yeah well do I keep to keep the stage name?"

Gina beamed. "Of course, besides we call Mark 'Pink Lady'."

He rolled his eyes. "You do realise how much I hate that nickname don't you?"

"Yeah well it's your own fault for drunkenly admitting you like Grease."

He shook his head. "Well if anything, it taught me not to try and win a drinking game against you girls."

"It was Justine that introduced the vodka shots."

"Well it IS Justine."

Danielle snorted. "Exactly." Her eyes wandered over to the kitchen as her stomach rumbled and she contemplated grabbing some food. When she noticed the clock on the wall however, she quickly tried to get up: it was five to one. "Shit!"

Mark moved his cup out of harm's way as she threw herself off the sofa. "What's wrong?"

"Jase is sending a car around at one."

Danielle just caught the sight of Gina raising an eyebrow as she ran into the bathroom. "You're spending a lot of time with him at the minute..."

She popped her head around the door with a mouth full of foam. "So?"

"So, are you in LOVE with him...?" She waggled her eyebrows at the end and Danielle rolled her eyes as she moved to spit in the sink.

Wiping her face with a wet wipe, she replied. "Behave you!"

Gina continued to laugh as Danielle ran into her bedroom. "You're not denying it though!"

"I'm not going to have this conversation with you!" Pulling out a jumper, jeans and her ugg boots, she pulled them on just as there was a buzz from the living room.

She heard Gina answer before the woman called out. "The driver's here!"

Cursing, she ran out of the room and frantically combed her fingers through her hair. Rushing over, she brushed a kiss on Gina and Mark's cheek before heading out of the door and speeding down the steps.

As soon as she reached the front entrance, she pulled open the door and smiled at the familiar face. "Hello again."

The driver offered a shy smile. "Hello again, Miss."

She thanked him as he opened the door for her before sliding in. As he got back into the front seat, she settled into her seat. "So how have you been?"

"I have been well, miss. Yourself?"

She grinned. "I'm good thanks."

The rest of the journey was spent with Danielle impatiently waiting for them to arrive. Her fingers tapped against the seat next to her as she waited for the car to get there. She felt a smile creep over her face as she remembered Jason's care the night before and the teasing of the other girls once they realised that he had waited up for her. She's had to put up with a dodgy rendition of 'Can you feel the love tonight?' as she had quickly shoved her clothes on. Gina had been on the verge of tears in her laughter.

A blush was tinting her cheeks by the time they arrived. She beamed as Jason opened the door for her and she jumped into his arms. He laughed as he gave her a squeeze before giving her a quick kiss. He gave a quick nod to the driver before leading her towards the main house.

"Where are we going?"

He grinned. "I got you something; it's in my bedroom in my house."

"You do realise if you put a bowtie on yourself that doesn't count right?"

He chuckled. "That's not it, trust me." She did completely.

When he led her into the communal area, she frowned. "I thought we were going to your room?"

"I just need to check something." She clung to his hand tighter as he stopped around the corner. She hovered shyly as he walked over to a group of men and smiled. "I'm sorry to interrupt- Maverick, Roberta has asked if you may go down, apparently she needs some assistance."

"Yes, Alpha."

Danielle froze. She knew that voice. A distant memory hovered in the back of her mind as she tried to think of where she had heard it. Jason must have felt her stiffen. "Danielle, are you alright?"

The man, Maverick, turned and a shock of recognition went through her as his amber eyes met hers. Her chest began to tighten as memories long since buried came back to the surface.

'Help me please!'

'Don't leave me, please, PLEASE!'

'I'm so scared...'

The familiar stranger smiled. "It is good to see you again, Danielle."

As memory after memory filled her vision and stole her breath, she became overwhelmed and gasped for air. Then everything went black.





Well there we have it folks! In the next instalment I will explain all about Maverick and the connection between him and Danielle so don't kill me for the cliff-hanger! Please let me know what you think!

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 12



Hey Guys! Here is the next instalment of Inner Animal. Just a warning: it may take me a little longer to get the next part to you but it shouldn't be too long a wait and I'll let you know as soon as I know when I'll be able to post it. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!




Jason had just managed to catch her in time before lowering her to the ground carefully. His fingers moved to her pulse to find it beating solidly before checking her breathing. Both were steady.

Once he was sure that she wasn't hurt, a snarl was torn from his lips as he marched over to Maverick who seemed to be looking her over from afar. He was visibly shaking in anger and was barely restraining himself from lashing out. "What did you do to her? I swear to God if you've hurt her..."

He held up his hands but remained perfectly calm. "I haven't done anything. I believe that she may have fainted from shock, my Alpha."

Still riled up, he cast one last warning look at the man before returning to Danielle's side. It wasn't until then that he became aware of the whispers in the room. Glancing about, he noticed small groups of people casting curious glances at Danielle who was slumped on the floor.

Jason placed an arm under her back and one under her knees before lifting her up. "I'm taking her to the medical ward."

Maverick nodded. "I will come with you."

Jason itched to say something but once he heard the whispers grow in volume bit back the comment. "Fine."

Turning, he quickly left the room. He could feel the other man close on his heels as he quickly strode toward the other side of the house. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Maverick's gaze locked on Danielle and instinctively tightened his hold.

He could hear Maverick muttering to himself as they hurried to Roberta yet only managed to catch snippets of what he was saying. "...I now know why the spirits have brought me here..."

Due to Jason's quick pace, they soon arrived and he carefully lowered her onto a bed while Roberta, having heard the sound of someone arriving, came out of her office. "What happened?"

"She fainted."

Roberta quickly grabbed a small torch from her top pocket and moved to Danielle's side. Lifting her eyelids, she shone the light in each eye before checking her pulse again. "She's fine: she should wake up soon."

Jason brushed his hand over her dark hair and watched her face for any sign of movement. His thumb brushed her forehead before it crinkled under his touch as she frowned. "Danielle?" Her eyes fluttered and Jason heard Maverick step closer. The Alpha lifted his head to growl at the man.

"Jason?" 

His focus moved back to his mate as he carefully stroked her cheekbone. "I'm here." Roberta, once seeing all was well, went back to her office.

Danielle's green eyes ran over his features. "What happened?"

"You fainted."

She groaned. "Fantastic." She looked about before she seemed to physically lock down when she saw Maverick. Jason calmed her by kissing her forehead and resuming brushing his hand over her hair. The tension in her visibly relaxed and she gulped. "Who are you?"

***

Danielle squinted at the man's face. He looked to be in his mid forties but a spark in his eyes seemed to emit a wisdom that came from someone a lot older. His hair was shoulder length and dark but was held back by an old leather strap and while his complexion was smooth it was littered with a couple of scars: one on his right temple and another on the left side of his jaw.

A hazy memory of those same features hovering over her sprung to mind and she scrunched her face as her head began pounding. Jason massaged her scalp.

"I take it you do not remember me?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

The man sighed. "I cannot say that I am surprised, you were in a lot of pain. I was worried that you weren't going to survive."

The sound of his voice reignited the memory again as she remembered him leaning over her. The voice was different then: more concerned and desperate- a contrast to the smooth deep voice now.

Realisation crashed over her and she gasped, looking back up at the man's face. "You saved me."

"I only did what I could until the doctors looked at you. I was weak from fleeing an invasion on my pack and I could only hold you together for a short while. I wish I could have healed more than I did..."

Confused, she looked up at Jason who explained. "Maverick is a shaman. It means that he is a spiritual healer: he can cure people and take them on spirit walks, sometimes he may even see visions of the future."

Slightly awed at the information, she looked at Maverick who gave a nod of confirmation. It seemed so surreal that the man in the scruffy brown jacket and scuffed jeans was the person being described. She licked her suddenly dry lips. "It was you wasn't it? That's how I ended up at the hospital- you took me there." She felt Jason stiffen next to her.

He nodded. "I was trying to confuse any werewolves who may have been following me by using random pathways and moving erratically. I was hoping that if I smothered my scent enough with humans it may dilute it. I was nearly out of the estate when I smelled blood. In all honesty, I was confused: I had just seen a young man leave the very same building where the scent was coming from, but my instincts were urging me to investigate. I had managed to find a window looking into the kitchen and saw a pair of legs on the floor, sticking out of a doorway. I banged on the window but there was no response so I broke the lock on the front door." His eyes moved over to her face but she was lost in the memories as they began to come back to her. Jason held her tightly with his face buried in her hair.

"There was a lot of blood- you were barely conscious. You were begging with me to help you, I only just had the strength to knit your skull back together and to repair your spine: you were panicking because you couldn't feel your legs." As tears began to prick her eyes, his face became blurred. "I knew that I needed to take you to the hospital so I looked through your bag to find your name and carried you there. I left you with a nurse before I ran."

She gulped as the tears escaped. "Why did you leave me?"

He shook his head, sorrow clear on his features. "I knew that if I stayed that they would be asking me questions that I could not answer. I was sure other werewolves were on my trail so I needed to keep moving. For what it is worth: I have been hoping that our paths would cross again someday."

She gave a swift nod as she buried her face in Jason's shoulder.

_________________________________

The memories were all too clear now, replaying over and over in her mind like some broken record player.

The coppery tasting blood filling her mouth that she tried to desperately spit out. The agonising pain she felt when she breathed despite the numbness in her legs...

She knew that it wasn't good that she couldn't feel anything from the waist down and panic overwhelmed her. It was so hard to fight off the darkness. It would be so much easier to give in. There wouldn't be any more pain if she died. NO, she had to keep on fighting, Jake needed her- he'd said that he couldn't live without her.

Suddenly hands were on her head forcing her to look up into a concerned face. Her throat was hoarse from screaming, blood dribbled from her lips. "Help me please!" Tears poured from her eyes. "I can't feel my legs..."

His hands ran over her body and as he poked and prodded at her, she whimpered. His amber eyes met hers. They seemed to glow in the fast approaching darkness. Her head lolled and her eyes struggled to stay open. "Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me." A pressure was on her skin. Her fingers twitched. He brushed her hair back from her face only for it to come back red. "Good girl, stay with me."

One of his hands moved to rest on back of her head while the other moved to the bottom of her back. Fear overwhelmed her: what was he doing? Was he going to hurt her?

She was drifting once more before she was pulled back to reality by the incomprehensible pain in her legs. A silent scream escaped her.

"I'm sorry, I know it hurts." A sweat had appeared on his brow. "I'm so sorry, you're being so brave."

He seemed to search about the room before quickly standing and moving out of sight. Fear overwhelmed her. "Don't leave me, please, PLEASE!"

He came back into her sight holding her ID from the club she worked at. "I'm here, Danielle, I'm here. I'm going to take you to the hospital, alright? I'm going to get you some help."

The man scooped her up in his arms and she hung like a rag doll. Tears fell down her face as agony consumed her every sense. She could feel herself slipping into the abyss. A jarring pain across her collar bone caused a hoarse cry to escape her but she could no longer keep her eyes open. "I'm so scared..."

"I know, my child. Just hold on, just for a little bit longer." The last thing she remembered was being cradled to a chest before promptly passing out.

___________________________________________

"Danielle?" Forcing herself back to the present, she tried to focus on the voice calling her. "Danielle..."

She felt soft kisses being pressed against her eyelids and as she slowly opened them, she found Jason hovering over her. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she moved her head so that she was looking at the Shaman. Her voice was quiet. "Thank you."

"I will give you two sometime alone."

With a quick nod to Jason, he left. Danielle felt her eyes stinging once more and barely managed to bite back a sob. Jason lifted the covers and crawled into the small bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her shaking torso. "Just let it out."

Grief washed over her as she clung to him. The tears kept on coming as Jason whispered words of comfort into her ear and ran his hand over the back of her head. "How could I have forgotten the man who saved my life? How could I have forgotten all that?"

She could feel his warm chest move against her as he spoke. "Sometimes when the mind can't cope with something it suppresses it to protect itself."

At his explanation, her sobs stopped and she sniffled. "It was really close. I mean, I know from what I was told that it was bad but now I remember how close I was to,"

He lifted her head to brush a thumb across her cheekbone. "But you're not. You're here and you're safe. I swear, Danielle, that I will never let anyone hurt you again. I promise you."

She closed her eyes as she felt him rest his forehead against hers. "Rest now. Get some sleep; you've just had a lot to take in."

She gave a small nod before shifting so that she could rest her head on his chest. As she felt him place a kiss on the top of her skull she snuggled in closer before drifting off.

***

Jason held her in his arms a little longer as she slept; her breaths warm against his neck, before he carefully moved her head onto the pillow and slipped out of the bed.

Making his way towards the doors, he stepped outside and exhaled slowly. To see Danielle in such a state had left him feeling so helpless. He hadn't known how to bring her back from that and it had unnerved him. For a moment he thought that he had lost her to her memories.

Running a hand through his hair, his attention was drawn towards a window. Maverick was stood with his arms crossed, looking out over the view. Setting his shoulders back, he made his way over to the Shaman.

Maverick addressed him just as he reached his side. "Is she alright?"

Jason followed the man's gaze out of the window to see the man's mate and two young children playing on the grass. A small smile came across his face at the sight before he refocused on the man. "She's resting. I wanted to apologise for earlier..."

"Your reaction was understandable."

"...As well as thank you. If you hadn't done what you did for Danielle..." His voice trailed off, unable and unwilling to state the obvious.

"It is part of my duty as a healer to help those in need." A small crease appeared between his brows. "When I first came across her I had the feeling that there was something different about her- that she had a purpose in this world." His attention turned to Jason. "How has it come to be that she is here?"

"She had a kidney transplant. It is our belief that she received the organ from a werewolf and because of this her DNA has changed."

His eyebrows rose. "That is most unusual. Who, may I ask, are you referring to with 'we'?"

"Roberta and I."

"Ah... Yes, she wanted my assistance didn't she? I will go to her."

As he went to move, Jason's arm reached out to stop him. "Wait, you see her as your cub don't you?"

The man's eyes seemed to brighten. "I will admit that when I first came across her I was immediately protective. To see her so broken and in that environment..." He shook his head. "No one should be living like that. As time passed and I thought of her, I did begin to think of her as my cub. I suppose after seeing her in such desperate need of some help and protection my wolven instincts immediately claimed her guardianship." His eyes locked with Jason's and, despite Jason's authority over the other wolf, he felt slightly intimidated. "I know that she is your mate and it is obvious from the way that you look at her that you love her but, please, look after her."

Jason gripped the Shaman's forearm in a mark of respect to have the man copy the gesture. "I swear to you, I will." The man gave a swift nod before heading back into the medical ward.

Looking out of the window once more, he laughed lightly at the sight of the children play fighting. Maverick's mate was stood next to them with her hands on her hips but a large grin covered her face. Hopefully, one day, when everything seemed to settle down and Danielle had managed to move past her issues and look towards the future; Jason would have his own family.

Feeling considerably lighter, he turned around and made his way back through the doors and to his mate. Lifting the cover, he slid back next to Danielle. She sighed as he moved back next to her before shifting so that she could once more snuggle into his side. He chuckled quietly as he watched her face relax before softly stroking her hair and watching over her, feeling his own tension melt away as he lay next to her.

***

Danielle woke up slowly. Blinking away the blurriness in her vision, she heard the sound of laughter next to her ear and peered up at the face next to her. "Hello."

Jason grinned. "Hello."

She scrunched her nose up as she half covered a yawn with the back of her hand. "What time is it?"

He pulled his arm out from under the cover to check his watch. "Quarter to four."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"I'd say about a couple of hours. How are you feeling?"

She gave a small smile. "I'm feeling better. I guess everything just got to me..."

His hand ran over her hair and she snuggled deeper into his warm chest. "It's to be expected. It was just the shock of the situation."

She closed her eyes in contentment as she felt the steady rise and fall of Jason's torso underneath her cheek and the warm earthy smell of him made her feel protected. Everything was fine; there was nothing to worry about...

"Oh God, I fainted in front of everyone didn't I?"

Burying her face in her hands, she felt Jason try to coax her back into the open. "Danielle, it's not that big a deal..."

It worked to a certain extent. Her hands dropped and she looked at him with wide eyes. "Not that big a deal? Jase, I collapsed because someone said hello to me! People are already gossiping about me and now this..."

"When have you ever cared what people thought?"

She gave him a dry look. "This is different. They already think that I'm not worthwhile and now that this has happened they're going to be even more convinced. They're your pack, Jase. I want them to like me."

"Look, surely you've been in more embarrassing situations than this in the past?"

She pulled a face. "There was this one time when I did the splits in school and my trousers split in front of everyone." He smirked and she could see the physical effort it was taking him not to laugh. She lifted a finger at him. "Don't you dare..." Laughter erupted from him and she swatted his chest with the back of his hand. "Jase!"

"I'm sorry, it's just..." He continued to laugh.

"Great, just great. Now I have double the humiliation." She moved to swing her legs over the bed when his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back towards him.

"I'm sorry." He cleared his throat and fought back the smile. "I promise you though: no one will give you grief over this- I won't let them. Besides, Carolyn would soon put people in line. No one will bother you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh."

A slow smile came across his face as he lowered his face to hers. "Trust me." He kissed her gently, his lips softly brushing against hers before pulling away.

A sigh escaped her as he moved back and her eyes which had flickered closed, opened. "Fine- but I'm telling you now that someone will say something."

Sitting up, she swung her legs off the mattress and carefully got out of the bed, closely followed by Jason. Running a hand through her hair, she tried to tidy herself up and smooth down her wrinkled clothes. Danielle rubbed her eyes as she tried to shake away any remainder of her sleep before smiling at Jason who had been watching her. He offered his hand which she quickly took. "Come on, I still have to give you your gift."

She beamed at him as he squeezed her hand and led her out of the ward and towards his room. Once more they were followed by a chorus of whispers as they passed and she subconsciously stepped closer to Jason.

Jason held the door open for her and she gratefully stepped past him before shutting it behind them. He reluctantly let go of her palm, his fingers lingering over hers before heading over to dresser and pulling open the top drawer. He hesitated for a moment before reaching inside and pulling out a small jewellery box.

Turning, he tapped it lightly against his palm as he made his way in front of her. He appeared nervous. Carefully, she took the box from it and slowly opened the lid. A small gasp escaped her as she took in what was inside. A simple silver necklace with a teardrop pearl lay against the cushion inside. She pulled it out, as if it were made of glass, before holding it up in front of her. "Jason it's... it's beautiful, thank you."

Jason cautiously took it off her before stepping behind her and placing the silver chain around her neck. "In our culture it is traditional for a male to give the woman he is courting a gift to symbolise the temporary claim he has placed upon her. This is the same necklace that my father gave to my mother when they first started dating."

She lifted her hand to gently touch the pearl that hung next to her heart. "Is there anything I should know? Am I meant to give you something?"

He shook his head but he was smiling. "No, the only thing I ask is that you never take it off."

"If I am never meant to take it off then how come your mother isn't wearing it?"

"My mother gave it to me a few years ago. She asked that I one day give it to my mate so that it may travel through the generations and that my father would always play a part in our family. It is an old custom that many families tend to take part in; it comes from the idea that previous generations bless the union of the latest descendants." She shivered as his fingers traced the chain. "It looks good on you."

Her eyes fell closed as he pressed a kiss to the joint between her neck and her shoulder before pulling a face. "I must stink- especially to you."

He chuckled against her skin. "You smell good- you always do."




Inner Animal Ch. 12



It was her turn to laugh. "Liar. Can I use your shower?"

"Sure."

Turning around, she gave him a quick peck before heading towards the bathroom. Reaching up, she turned on the shower before gripping the hem of her jumper but a knock made her pause. Jason popped his head around the door. "Forgotten something?"

She frowned in confusion as he stepped into the room before she saw the towels he was clutching in his right hand. "Oh, sorry: I think I'm still half asleep from earlier."

"No problem."

As she took the towels from him, she placed them on the side before once more going to lift her jumper. When she didn't hear the familiar sound of the door opening and closing, she glanced over her shoulder to see him stood there. "Are you after a free show?"

"From you? Always."

A mischievous smirk came over her face before she turned on her heel and strolled up to him. Keeping their eyes locked, she slowly removed her top and dropped it on the floor next to her. His eyes seemed to devour her. "Don't you think that it's unfair that you're the only one who gets a free show?"

He pretended to consider her words before unbuttoning his shirt to reveal a toned chest. Her eyes swept over him before meeting his hungry gaze. The material fluttered to the ground by their feet. The next thing she knew their lips collided.

Her hands raked greedily through his hair as he moaned into her mouth, his large hands resting on her waist before moving around to cup her ass and pull her closer. She eagerly moved to unbutton his jeans and pull down the zipper when she felt his thumb caress one of her many scars and a wave of nausea went through her. The memory was still fresh in her mind and all she could think of was the pitiful state that she had been left in. Breaking the kiss, she looked away. He appeared confused but continued to gently stroke the scar until she reached around to pause his hand. For some reason, whenever they were intimate, he always seemed to worship the marks and where before the attention had given her hope, now all it seemed to do was remind her of how damaged she really was. "Jason..."

"What's wrong?" She shook her head sadly and as his hand ran over the scar, she flinched. With the action, realisation seemed to dawn over his features. "Don't be ashamed of them."

"How can I not be? I was so deluded- I didn't even fight back. I LET him hurt me, Jase."

He kissed her forehead as he held her close. "Danielle, none of that was your fault. I don't care that you have the scars because they are a part of you. To me they symbolise your strength and determination- you don't let them define you- and to me, it was that same strength and determination which drew me to you the first time we met."

She risked peaking up at his face. "I thought that was because I'm your mate."

"Yes... but I would never have allowed us the opportunity to work that out had you not intrigued me as much as you did." His fingertips lightly traced the scar on her shoulder. "You're amazing Danielle: don't ever doubt that."

As he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, her eyes closed and she wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands ran down her sides, taking the time to trace ever mark before loosening and slowly pulling down her jeans. Her hands tightened on his broad shoulders as he followed their path with languid kisses before gripping his hair tightly and tugging him up. She captured his lips almost viciously as she clawed at his jeans. Once they were both free of their clothes, she yanked him into the shower.

The room was full of steam as the hot water cascading over them. Danielle's hands were planted firmly against the wall in front of her as Jason's hands trailed down her wet torso and to her core. Her fingernails tried to grip the tiles as he teased her, her head thrown back against his shoulder and his hard chest pressing against her back. She felt the familiar coil inside of her getting tighter and tighter as his hot breath brushed her ear lobe and her legs threatened to buckle. Sensation overwhelmed her as she arched and Jason murmured praise in her ear as she sagged against him.

His hands drifted to her hip as he ran his lips over her neck. A shiver went through her as she heard him growl. "Mine." And despite every twenty first century, feministic part of her that wanted to tell him she was nobody's possession, an even deeper part of her was agreeing.

His lips locked on the juncture between her neck and shoulder as she felt his hardness against her. "Please..."

His hands moved to guide hers to the wall before returning to her hips and in one sure movement, his hips snapped forward and he was in her. A groan escaped her at the feeling as he rocked into her and she eagerly met him thrust for thrust. All she could think of was the need to feel him in her, the need to have him claim her as his own. What the hell was going on with her?

The rhythm became more disjointed as his fingers wandered down to her still sensitive body and a desperate cry escaped her. Jason gave a shout of his own as he came before gripping the walls on either side of him.

When he slipped out of her, she turned to see him breathing heavily but with a triumphant smile on his face. Stepping under the spray, he swept his hair out of his face as his eyes gleamed. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she took him in, aftershocks still tingling across her nerves as she rested against the cold wall.

It was a long time before they got out of the shower. Danielle wrapped herself up in the towels as Jason went to grab one for himself. He came back into the bathroom with it wrapped loosely around his waist and Danielle fought the embarrassing urge to drool as she watched a drop of water run over his solid chest down to his abdomen to get caught by the fluffy cotton. He raised an eyebrow. "See something you like?"

"Always."

He smirked at her before reaching down and picking up his shirt. Pulling his arms through the sleeves, he began to button it up. Danielle went to pick up her bra when she saw a dark smudge on the mirror. Frowning, she reached forward to clear it when the smudge morphed into a large purple bruise on her pale skin. Her eyes widened. "Jase!" Reaching up, she tentatively prodded the mark. "Did you have to give me the love bite of the century?"

He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that. I guess my instincts took over a bit too much."

She opened her mouth to argue but instead sighed and let the subject go. In all honestly, she found herself secretly liking it. "It's fine. My t-shirt should cover it tonight and the lights are pretty low."

He smiled at her before placing his hands on her hips and slowly drawing her nearer. He kissed her gently but as his hands began to travel, she laughed and stepped back. "Tell me, Mr. Evans, are all werewolves this randy or is it just you?" When his finger traced the mark on her skin, her eyes rolled back into her head slightly before she mentally shook herself and swatted at him. "Stop it! If you can't keep your hands to yourself then you can get out."

He looked at her in disbelief. "Are you being serious?"

She gave a stern nod. "Yep, go on. I'll be out soon."

Her chuckled as she pointed in the direction of the door before gathering his clothes, dropping a quick kiss on her lips and leaving. She beamed silently as she gently stroked the bruise before reluctantly dragging her gaze away and redressing.

Running a towel through her hair, she opened the door and made her way into the bedroom. Jason was stood next to the window and she strolled over to his side to peer around his shoulder. The sky was bright blue and clear as people wandered across the grass, making their way to their various destinations.

Danielle sighed. "It's a gorgeous day."

"That it is."

"Can we go outside for a bit? It feels like it's been ages since I've had the time to enjoy some air."

He turned to smile at her before nodding. "Of course." Threading their fingers together, he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before heading outside.

The cold air was refreshing as it hit her and she took a moment to savour the clean atmosphere. She relished the quiet as they stepped out of the house, enjoying the escape from the constant chatter that seemed to follow them wherever they went. Taking a deep breath, she sauntered side by side with Jason to the clearing where two young children were sat on the grass. They were quietly speaking as they approached before Jason crouched down in front of them. "Hello."

The girl looked up with wide eyes as the boy grinned and stuck out his hand. "Good afternoon, Alpha!"

Jason chuckled before lightly shaking it. "Good afternoon, Sean." He grinned and looked up at Danielle. "Danielle, I would like you to meet Maverick's charges: Sean and Anna."

Sean immediately stuck out his hand again. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

She smiled as she crouched down next to Jason and gently grasped his hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Sean."

She jumped as another small boy ran over. Sean's face immediately lit up. "Kevin!" The two boys began to play before squealing as Jason joined in and began to tickle them. Danielle turned around when she heard laughter to see Carolyn and a dark haired woman with short hair making their way over. Standing, she went to meet them.

Carolyn greeted her with a grin. "You look happy." Danielle felt a blush colour her cheeks as the pair laughed. She noticed the hand placed loosely around the dark woman's waist and Carolyn, after having seemingly noticed where Danielle's attention was focussed, beamed. "Danielle, this is Nicola."

Nicola smiled causing a dimple to emerge. "It's nice to meet you, Danielle."

"You too."

Carolyn continued to tease. "Nicola, is it me or is Danielle positively GLOWING?"

"I think you're right..."

"Alright, alright," Danielle's cheeks were positively burning. "Knock it off!"

Carolyn smirked before her features softened. "I'm glad you're alright. I was worried once I'd heard what had happened."

Danielle pulled a face. "Oh God- does everyone know about that?"

"Well, I wouldn't say EVERYONE..."

"Fantastic."

Nicola offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. People will forget about it soon enough. It's not a big deal."

"You're beginning to sound like Jason. He keeps on saying that no one will say anything and that Carolyn and him will shut people up if need be."

"He's right." Carolyn gave her shoulder a brief squeeze in encouragement. "We're not going to let anyone bother you about this. You're not harmed and neither was anyone else so it's not an issue."

Danielle's eyes wandered over to where Jason was playing with the boys. She felt her heart swell as she saw the joy on their faces as they rolled about on the grass. "I hope you're right."

"I am."

Danielle cast a quick smile at the woman before her attention was caught by the young girl sat on her own on the grass, staring intently down at a sketchpad. "Excuse me."

Leaving the two women, she walked over to Anna and carefully sat crossed legged on the grass next to her. The girl remained silent. Danielle tried to catch her eye. "Hello." She paused in her sketching before continuing. As silence threatened to drag on Danielle tried again. "What are you drawing?" She didn't think she was going to respond until she took her pencil away from the page and uncertainly showed the pad to Danielle. Danielle peered across to have a bright smile light up her features. "You're very good."

It was true. Anna had been sketching a large oak tree in the distance with amazing detail. The gnarled branches stretched across the pristine white paper, the dark grey colouring making them seem cold and unwelcoming.

Danielle looked at the little girl face to see her eyes diverted to the floor before she continued to sketch. She rubbed her hands together in thought. "I bet that this is a bit scary, huh? It's difficult when you don't know anyone."

The girl's eyes flickered up to her face revealing a pair of vivid amber eyes before dropping back to her drawing. She gave a small nod.

Danielle fought back a victorious grin as she looked up at the blue sky. "I know how you feel. When I first moved away from everyone, I was REALLY afraid. I didn't know what to say to anyone." She kept her gaze fixed as she felt Anna's shyly looking at her. "I was worried that no one would like me."

"Did they?" Her voice was incredibly quiet. If Danielle hadn't been waiting for a response, she was sure she would have missed it.

Danielle decided that it probably wouldn't be beneficial to admit that she was pretty much an outcast. "Eventually I got the courage to talk to people and everything turned out OK." Anna bowed her head as Danielle faced her once more. "You know, I haven't been here for long myself and I've met a lovely group of people. People like... Madam Alpha and her...mate."

The girl cautiously peered up through her eyelashes. "Really?"

"Really." Danielle took in the girl's honey coloured hair and freckles before her eyes drifted over to the young boy with the same features playing with Jason. "You're brother seems to be doing alright."

Anna frowned slightly. "He's always been popular."

"Well I think that you are lovely and I'm sure other people will like you too." When the girl pulled a face, she barely managed to suppress a giggle. "How old are you Anna?"

"Eight."

She was about to try and think of something else to say to bring the young girl out of her shell when a familiar dark brown wolf wondered over. The sunlight caused his fur to shimmer in the light and highlighted chocolate coloured strands as he sauntered over. He was clearly panting but it made him look as if he was grinning. Danielle couldn't be completely sure that he wasn't.

Anna looked up in wonder as the wolf sat in front of them. She had reached out but had just stopped her hand before she made contact. Her eyes immediately went to the ground and she began to draw her hand back when the wolf nudged her hand with his snout. Her eyes were wide before she hesitantly placed a hand on his back and carefully patted him. A shy smile came across her face as she ran a hand over the fur before pulling her hand back and resuming her sketch.

Danielle rolled her eyes at the animal. "Show off."

Jason's grin widened. Danielle looked at him speculatively before lifting a hand and hesitantly holding it out. Taking a deep breath, she placed it against the tuft of fur on the wolf's chest feeling Jason's eyes on her the entire time. The dark fur was incredibly soft under her fingers as she stroked it, the coat tickling her palm as she moved her hand. She jumped as she felt him move his snout to nuzzle her hand before slowly running her hand over his snout to rub his ear. As she remembered the last time she had seen him as a wolf, she smirked and lowered her voice so that Anna wouldn't hear. "I hope you didn't strip off in front of the children." He huffed and she laughed lightly.

They spent a moment basking in the sun when Jason's ears perked up and Danielle felt a presence behind her. Turning, she looked up to find Maverick looking down at them. She shielded her eyes. "Hi."

"Hello. I was wondering if it would be possible if I may speak to you, Danielle."

Jason seemed to stiffen with the words as his eyes locked on the man above them. A silent conversation seemed to be occurring between the pair as Danielle watched before Maverick gave a swift nod and Jason nudged Danielle's palm. Unsure of what had just been said; she frowned as Maverick offered her his hand. With a quick glance towards Jason, she took the hand and allowed him to haul her up.

Danielle's attention was caught by Anna who was looking at the group around her uncertainly. The dark haired woman kept her voice gentle. "It was nice to meet you Anna, hopefully we'll get to speak again soon and you can show me some more of your drawings."

The young werewolf seemed pleased as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'd like that."

Maverick placed a gentle hand on her golden hair. "I will be back soon, cub."

Anna nodded before flipping over a page in her sketchpad and starting something new. Maverick gestured towards the path winding around the house and Danielle began to follow it. After a quick word with the pair left behind, Maverick caught up and they began to silently walk next to each other.

Danielle found herself at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say to this man? To the man that had saved her life, that had taken her to the hospital and then disappeared without a trace? She absentmindedly chewed her lip as they made their way around the house.

Maverick was the one to initiate the conversation. "How are you?"

"I'm alright." The corners of her mouth turned up. "I'm, er, sorry about fainting on you earlier."

He waved her off. "It is perfectly understandable."

"Yourself?"

"I am well, thank you." He seemed to hesitate before speaking. "How are you in general?"

"What do you mean?"

"In regards to your life: are you still working at that club?"

A sense of embarrassment came over her. For some reason, she felt as if she wanted to make this man proud- to have this man's approval. "No, up until recently I used to pole dance at a different club. I work behind the bar there now."

He gave a small nod. "And you are well? Healthy?"

She licked her bottom lip nervously. "I'm OK. I had to have a transplant and I have to take pills for it but I'm still in one piece... thanks to you."

He shook his head. "I merely held you together. It is the doctor's that deserve your appreciation."

"But if it wasn't for you I would never have gotten to them." An awkward silence descended over them. They had just rounded the corner of the house to find some small huts around the perimeter. Moving forward, Maverick sat on the wooden porch and Danielle carefully lowered herself next to him.

A man from a few doors down running out of the door and into the forest, throwing off his top as he went was what caused the silence to break. Danielle looked at Maverick. "This is still so new to me. It seems like no one bats an eyelid here when people just start randomly running or changing into wolves."

He laughed lightly. "You have to remember that the majority of people grew up in this environment- it is normal for them."

"What about being a Shaman? Is that normal?"

"It is considered rather rare."

"What do you guys even do? I mean, I now Jason said about 'Spirit Walks' and stuff but what does that even mean?"

Maverick traced the lines on his palm with a finger. "With a Spirit Walk, the person goes into a deep meditative state to deal with certain issues or to gain access to lost memories. I would have suggested that I guide you through one but it seems that my reappearance in your life has triggered what was blocked." He took a deep breath before his amber eyes lifted to meet hers. "Danielle, I know that I may be asking a lot from you... but I was wondering if you would give me a chance to be in your life. I know that I may have lost that right... but I see you as... a daughter figure of sorts. I know that it may seem strange to you but ever since I first saw you, I have always seen you as someone who needed my protective, if necessary my guidance. I cannot offer you much but please know that if ever you need help- of any form- whether it be in regards to werewolf customs or just in general, I am here for you. I should have been there for you sooner."

Feeling the severity behind his words, she nodded solemnly. "I... I'd like that."

He exhaled as he uncertainly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

They spoke in low voices as the time went on and the sun slowly began to cross the sky. Danielle learnt all about Maverick's old pack, how he became a Shaman as well as his mate while she answered Maverick's questions on how she had moved away, started afresh and had made some good friends along the way. She had just finished giving the account of when Jason had first come to her rescue when he came over.




Inner Animal Ch. 12



She grinned as she saw him wander over dressed in fresh clothes. "Speak of the devil..."

He ran a hand through his now dry hair. "Thanks. Have you two managed to talk about things?"

Danielle glanced at the Shaman by her side before returning her gaze back to him. "Yeah, we have." She smiled until she noticed the watch on his wrist, anxiety gnawed at her. "Jase, what time is it?"

He pulled back his cuff to check. "It's just turned six, why?"

"Shit!" Standing up, she suddenly remembered how hungry she was when her stomach gave a loud grumble. Colour blossomed on her cheeks but she ignored it. "I need to get to the club!"

"I'll drive you down."

"But, you've already done so much,"

"Danielle: it's fine. I just need to go and get the car."

She cast Maverick one last parting look before quickly following Jason towards the cabin. As he walked, she struggled to keep up with him. "How are you walking so fast?!"

His eyes seemed to sparkle as he cast a grin over his shoulder. "Do you trust me?" Her nod was immediate. He stepped back to pick her up bridal style before running.

She had to clamp her lips together to stop herself from swearing. The trees blurred past as his powerful legs travelled through the forest with ease. His breathing was deep and sure next to her ear and he sped through the undergrowth, seeming unfazed by the twists and turns needed to escape the reach of the long branches and rough underfoot.

Finally, after what could have been no longer than a couple of minutes, they arrived and he carefully placed her on her feet. Her legs felt like jelly and she had to wrap her arms around his neck to steady herself as she tried to regain balance. She felt as though she was still moving and she was reminded of the sensation of getting off a high speed treadmill.

She heard him chuckle as he held her for a moment while she got her breath back. "Arrogant... bastard..."

His laughter grew louder as he guided her towards the large garage and chose a car. She was embarrassed to admit that she had to spent the majority of the journey with her eyes shut willing herself not to throw up on the nice, very expensive, leather interior and trying to focus on what he was saying to her: something about him taking Hollie and his mother out for something to eat later and apologising for not inviting her along.

Never had she been so happy to arrive at 'Club Tease' and after taking a moment to reassure herself that her feet WERE flat on the pavement, she took an unsteady step into the building. Her stomach grumbled once more and she chewed her lip as she thought of what she could eat when Mark, who had been reading the paper, held up a wrapped up tray of chips. Danielle positively drooled before rushing forward and taking it from him. "Thank you!"

He held up a hand in acknowledgement before turning the page on the paper, looking it over before lifting his head to meet her eyes. "Take some time to eat that while I start setting up. Your uniform has been put in the changing rooms- it's hanging up on your locker."

She stuck her thumb up as she savoured another chip before making her way into the back. After ignoring the various, very suggestive teasing she got from the other girls over the huge love bite, she pulled on the black t-shirt and shorts (unfortunately she hadn't managed to avoid showing off skin altogether) before pulling her hair in a ponytail and slipping on some dolly shoes. Sticking her tongue out at the girls, she made her way over to help Mark.

It had been rather anti-climactic in the end. Midnight had been nervous about the change but with Mark by her side, the change had been fairly flawless. They were already so used to working around each other that they served people fairly swiftly and with ease. As the swell of people began to reduce, they shared a quick high five before turning to watch some of the performances.

As Carley was stepping off the stage to be replaced with Sally, Danielle took the opportunity to move one of the empty crates into the back. Lifting it up, she nudged the fire door open with her hip before placing it down on the building pile. She was just brushing off her hands and taking a minute to enjoy the cool night air when she felt a pair of eyes on her. Looking up, her eyes ran over the area around her. A chill came over her and she rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms as goose bumps came over her skin. Her breathing seemed loud in the quiet surroundings as she desperately peered about. A loud shout from inside made her jump and her head whipped around to see a large man being dragged away by security. Gulping, she looked out once more before withdrawing back inside, closing the door behind her.

So there we go! Please let me know what you think and leave a rating.

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 13



Hey guys! Here's the latest chapter- enjoy!




Danielle was beaming from ear to ear as she made her way over to the waiting Audi which seemed to stand out like a sore thumb in the usually derelict area. Pulling open the door, she was quick to place her rucksack on the space next to her feet before addressing the man behind the wheel. "Good morning."

Although she couldn't see his amber irises due to shades that were perched on his nose, she felt his gaze on her face and tried to suppress the warm shiver it inspired. "Good morning, you seem chipper."

She shrugged. "I feel as though I'm having some kind of sleepover..."

He raised an eyebrow. "You aren't expecting me to plait your hair or anything are you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't mean like that! I'm just happy that I'm finally going to have the opportunity to stay around yours without having to worry about letting someone know where I am or having to run off to work or anything."

"Hm, very true."

She bit her lip in silent contemplation before giving in. "Jase, I've got to ask: what's with the sunglasses? Are you a celebrity trying to escape the press or a criminal on the run?"

The corners of his mouth turned downwards as, she could only assume, he gave her a dry look. "Our eyes become rather sensitive while it is this close to the full moon. The glare from the windshield is bothering me."

"Wow..." Sinking back in the comfortable leather, she tried to think back on the sky the night before but couldn't remember seeing the familiar circle in the sky. "When is the next full moon?"

"Early next week."

She felt her eyes widen. "And, erm, what exactly should I expect when it happens?"

"You mean Hollie hasn't told you?"

Danielle took a moment to quickly mentally berate herself. "I kind of didn't think of it at the time..."

"You had just found out about werewolves and you didn't ask about what happened on the full moon?"

"I was overwhelmed, OK? I hadn't exactly composed a list of things to ask- should I have asked about silver as well?"

He shook his head as a smirk danced across his lips. "No, silver isn't an issue." His shoulders settled back against his seat as he appeared to absentmindedly stroke the rough texture of the wheel under his hands. "Our lycan instincts become more prominent- we act on our baser urges. Our senses become keener and we become stronger. Many young werewolves find that they can only deal with the overwhelming change by transforming while many of us who are older are more used to the difference and tend to change to fully enjoy the opportunity to be more in touch to the other side of ourselves."

She pursed her lips. "So let me guess: a lot of fighting and a lot of sex?"

He chuckled. "While things can be rather... tense, fights don't often break out that often." He leered at her. "It's mostly just the sex."

"I knew it!" Laughing, she leant over and kissed him before reluctantly dragging herself back and pointed towards the stretch of road in front of them. "Onwards then!"

He chuckled. "Onwards?"

"What can I say? You're rubbing off on me."

Shaking his head, he put the car into gear. Danielle drummed her hands against her thighs as she watched the world go past. "So how was the dinner with your Mum and Hollie?"

"It was good. Hollie told us all about her latest duties as Madam Alpha..."

She noticed that he seemed to stop himself from continuing and frowned. "And...?" When he remained quiet, she shifted her torso so she could better see his face. His jaw was tight. "What's wrong?"

His hands visibly tightened on the wheel. "It's nothing."

"Come on, Jase. What is it?"

Her question was met with silence as his eyes remained fixed to the road. She was about to question him some more when he finally responded. "She brought up the subject of whether I was planning on changing you into a werewolf." His voice was bitter. "It seems to be her favourite topic recently..."

She bit the inside of her cheek as she took in the tension of his shoulders. "Why is the idea of me turning so much of an issue to you?"

After another agonising pause, he took a deep breath and loosened his death grip. "How much has Hollie told you about being turned?"

She bit her lip as she thought back. "That when humans are bitten, their DNA changes and that's painful. She mentioned how it doesn't happen very often anymore."

He gritted his teeth. "You more informed than I was expecting." He sighed. "I wouldn't want to put you through that. I have seen what humans go through- the agony they have to endure. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Especially not you." Moving one hand away from the wheel, he lifted one of her to his lips to place a chaste kiss on the back of it and hold onto it for the rest of the journey. She decided to let the subject go in the meantime and instead squeezed his fingers. The rest of the trip was spent with small talk as Jason kept his attention on driving.

It wasn't long before Jason was pulling into the garage and stepping around the car to open her door for her. She smiled at him as she took his offered hand. "Are you going to do that every time I'm in the car with you?"

Grabbing her rucksack, he swung it over his shoulder before shutting the door and pressing the button on his keys to lock it. "Of course." As he moved to place the keys in the box on the wall, he called over his shoulder. "Where do you want to stay? The cabin or the house?"

She tapped her lips with her finger as she thought. It was difficult, while she immensely enjoyed the seclusion and cosiness of the cabin, she was eager to enjoy the comfort and scenery while she had the chance. "I think I'll go with the house- I just can't stop thinking about that view."

He linked their fingers as he rejoined her. "I know what you mean."

Their walk was leisurely as they made their way through the forest towards the large building. As Danielle caught a glimpse of one of the huts, she turned to Jason. "I was meant to ask: what's with the huts? I thought that everyone lived in the estate?"

"Some of the huts are used by scouts- werewolves who search the forest for danger or bring information back to us from other packs. As such they need quick and have easy access to travel. Others are used by small families- young werewolf couples who are starting out in life or want more privacy. While the pack is like a family and we all try to look out for each other and help in raising all of the pack children, sometimes it can seem overwhelming- especially to someone who is new to the environment- and it can be beneficial to allow them to have their own space where they can have some peace and a place to escape to."

Danielle's eyebrows rose as he spoke. "This place blows my mind sometimes. I mean, it's all in the same area but it's like you've got communities in one great big... community."

He nodded in understanding as he opened the front door for her and folded his sunglasses so that he could hang them on the front of his shirt. "We are naturally very sociable creatures. It can be very difficult for a werewolf to be alone as we tend to gravitate towards our own kind in our need for contact and intimacy. Look at Maverick, he was alone for a while before meeting his mate and taking on two young children. With or without intention he created his own small family unit. It is very rare for one of our kind to not be a part of a pack- in fact it has been suggested that for one of us to do so could drive us to insanity."

A crease appeared between her brows. "What makes you say that?"

"Some of the older generations have witnessed unstable werewolves. For some reason, they just can't cope. It is believed that the wolven instinct just becomes too overwhelming when not balanced by human thought and reasoning and so the person becomes more animalistic- wild."

A shiver went through Danielle's spine at his words before his mother walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel. Her face lit up once she saw them. "Danielle!" Reaching forward, she wrapped the ex- pole dancer in a hug which Danielle awkwardly returned. "How are you? I hope my son's been looking after you."

Danielle looked up at Jason, who was stood awkwardly at her side, with a grin before answering the woman. "Yes, he has."

"I'm glad to hear it. He does take good care of those he loves- he's a lot like his father in that way..." She noticed Jason roll his eyes. Unfortunately so did his mother as she snapped the tea towel at him. "Don't you give me attitude, mister! You're not too big to have your bum smacked."

"Mum!"

"You know I'm right!"

As the two began to bicker, she scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. "Anyway, it was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Evans."

"Now now: I'll have none of that 'Mrs. Evans' malarkey! You can call me Lizzie."

Feeling her cheeks colour, she nodded. "Right. Thank you Lizzie."

The woman gave a sharp nod in approval before making her way back into the kitchen. "Much better."

When she was out of sight, Danielle looked up at Jason with an eyebrow raised. "The women in your family aren't exactly shy are they?"

He chuckled as he placed an arm around her waist and they continued walking. "No, they're not. They certainly give the men a run for their money."

"I'm glad to hear it."

As she felt Jason's comforting weight across her shoulders, she tried to ignore the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. DID Jason love her? His mother seemed to think so and the way he looked at her, as though he was constantly trying to memorise every part of her face, made her heart flutter and made her think that there might be a chance he did. But did he? Really? He had never said as such but, yet, neither had she and she had no doubts as to how she felt about him.

She peeked up at him through her eyelashes, to see his eyes focussed on the corridor in front of them but his eyes, as though he had sensed her thoughts, drifted down to her face and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile as he tugged her closer.

They were mates, so surely that had to mean something but what if it just meant that he was obligated to feel a certain way about her? She swallowed thickly as she was reminded of Jenna's accusation of her being a 'walking incubator'. Was his wolf side influencing how he felt about her because it recognised her as being part of his mate and nothing more?

Damn, she really needed a manual on how to deal with all of this...

They managed to avoid any further interruptions as they made their way up the stairs and into his room. Immediately, she found herself drawn to the large window and sighed contently once she took in the large landscape and felt her building worries begin to drift away.

She heard a small thud behind her as Jason put her bag down before feeling his chest press against her back followed by his arms winding around her stomach. Resting her hands on top of his, she sighed. "It must be nice waking up to this every morning."

He hummed in agreement. "It is. I'm surprised though, I would have thought that you'd have preferred the cabin."

"I do in a way but I don't very often get to look out a window and see something like this."

"What do you mean?"

"Well ours are pretty grimy- no matter HOW hard you try to clean them and if you open the window all you see is the road or, if you're really lucky, a drug dealer."

He grunted next to her ear. "You shouldn't joke."

She glanced back at him. "Who said I was joking?" Seeing his frown, she placed a quick kiss to his lips and pulled away. "Have you seen Anna recently?"

His frown deepened. "The last time I saw her, she was near the huts, why?"

"Well, I've kind of got her a present. I noticed how much she loved drawing and I thought that maybe it'd get her to open up more."

His frown melted away to reveal a fond look. "Have I told you recently how sweet you are?"

"You clearly don't know me very well."

He smirked before pulling her into his arms where she rested for a moment. As his phone began to ring, she laughed lightly. "One of these days, I'm going to get that phone and hide it somewhere."

He groaned as he dragged it out of his pocket. "Are you interested in going out for dinner tonight?"

"It sounds good to me."

He tucked her hair behind her ear before letting his fingers linger on the necklace. "I'll book a table."

Warmth filled her at the gesture before he gave a quick apology and answered the device. Smiling softly, she went over to her rucksack and pulled out the simply wrapped gift before zipping it back up and making her way to the door. Blowing a quick kiss over her shoulder at the man, she left and began to make her way down the corridor. She had just rounded the corner when a slim woman who appeared to be in her mid twenties stepped in front of her path. Her light brown hair fell in loose waves down her back as her amber eyes narrowed. "You."

Danielle sighed. "Yeah, I seem to be getting a lot of that recently..."

"It's your fault that Jenna was thrown out of the pack! She's right- you don't deserve to be here! You're just some freaky accident."

Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. "I'm guessing you're her friend..."

"I'm not disillusioned like everyone else. I can see you for EXACTLY what you are: a stupid, dirty stripper."

"OK, once again I'd like to point out that I used to be a pole dancer- not a stripper. Secondly, what makes you think I'm stupid? Do you suddenly know my IQ? Or did you just once again wrongly assume you knew something about me?"

"You probably tricked the Alpha into thinking that you're his mate, either that or just whored yourself out."

Danielle rubbed between her brows in an attempt to fight off the approaching headache. "I'm sorry but how did you think that you could call me stupid when you're clearly not the brightest crayon in the pack yourself? How could I have tricked Jason when I didn't even know that werewolves existed? And to say that I 'whored myself out'? You're basically insulting him by saying that's all he cares about in a mate is sex with them."

She opened her mouth to speak again when she paused. Noticing that her eyes were fixed behind her, Danielle risked a glance over her shoulder to see Carolyn heading down the corridor. The woman's lips narrowed. "This isn't over."

Danielle began mumbling under her breath. "Of course it isn't..."

Turning on her ridiculously high heels, the woman strutted away leaving Danielle shaking her head in incredulity. Were these women incapable of wearing sensible shoes?

Carolyn eventually reached her side. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can I ask who I have the honour of offending now?"

"Her name is Kayla. She's the daughter of one of our betas."

"She looks like she should be hanging out with Paris Hilton."

Carolyn snorted. "There is a little group of them that do stick together. They consider themselves the socialites of the pack."

"Oh yay." Sweeping her hair back from her face, she readjusted her grip on the present. "Anyway, I've got to go- I'll speak to you later, yeah?"

"Of course."

Wondering what she must have done in a past life to deserve having a bunch of psychotic bimbos after her, she made her way out of the house and followed the path. Once she caught sight of the huts, she smiled and quickened her step. She almost missed the small girl bundled up on the step. Back-tracking, she carefully lowered herself next to her. "Hello again, Anna."

Anna glanced up from where she was huddled before lowering her head once more. "Hello."

Danielle tapped her feet against the wooden panelling as she tried to think of what to say before holding the present out in offering. "I've got you something."

The girl stiffened momentarily before pulling herself out of the foetal position so she could face Danielle properly. "For me? Really?"

"Yep."

She looked awed as she carefully took the parcel from her. "No one apart from Mr. Maverick and his mate have given me presents before." Reverently, she began to open the present by taking off the cello tape and unfolding the wrapping paper gently. Her fingertips stroked the box softly before lifting the lid and running over the various coloured pastels.

"They're chalk. I figured that you could use them in some of your drawings."

Her eyes were wide as she looked at Danielle before lowering them to the side of her and throwing herself at the woman. Danielle jumped as the small arms wrapped around her in a hug before hesitantly patting her on the back. Seemingly embarrassed, the young girl withdrew. Her cheeks were rosy. "Thank you, miss."

"Call me Danielle."

She gave a small smile. "Thank you, Danielle."

"No problem. Where's your brother?"

"He's playing with Kevin on the Xbox."

"It sounds like those two are good friends."

She gave a small nod. "They are."

"Have you managed to make any friends yet?"

Anna twirled a strand of her hair as her eyes lowered to her feet. "No."

Dani tilted her head. She was about to speak again when she noticed the gathering group nearby. Kayla was hovering with a group of other women; all of who were sending her deadly glares and whispering. Sensing trouble, Danielle turned her attention back to Anna and straightened her spine. "Well maybe you just need to speak to people more. How about we go to the communal area and you can have a say hello to people."

She appeared unsure but once Danielle offered a comforting smile, she relented. "OK."

The woman rose and waited as the girl grabbed the box and lifted herself up. Danielle risked another glance at the group nearby before hiding her uneasiness and offering Anna an enthusiastic grin.

As they made their way over to the communal area, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she felt the hatred projected at her back. Fighting off the urge to shiver, she led the girl inside and away from the hostile environment.

The corridors were quiet apart from the din that was resonating from the common room which seemed to only get louder the closer they got to it. Opening the door, she felt the tension release from her shoulders as she saw the grinning faces of kids playing on the console and the chatter of adults scattered around the room. Crouching down, she faced the shy girl. Her gaze flitted about the room as Dani tried to get her attention. "Just say hello. You never know, you might get on with them really well."

She seemed unsure but once she saw her brother who was gesturing eagerly for her to join them, she made her way over and carefully sat down.

"I see that you are trying to help integrate Anna with the other children."

She picked herself up as Maverick spoke to her, pulling her sleeves over her hands. "I thought that it would be good for her to try and make some friends."

He nodded. "I know what you mean. I have been concerned about her for some time- she always seems so isolated from everyone else. I confess that I am worried I am to blame."

"What do you mean?"

His amulet shifted against his dark top as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I believe that by not joining a pack for as long as I did, I have not properly shown her the ways of pack life. Sean has adapted well, he adjusts quickly to new people but Anna... Anna has always been a quiet child and I worry that she is struggling with the change. I feel responsible."

She looked towards the small girl who was whispering to Sean. "You shouldn't. You couldn't have known how she'd react." A smile came across her face once she saw Anna hesitantly take the controller from Kevin. "Give her some time, Maverick. I think she'll be OK once she gets to know the people around her."

"Do you say this from experience?"

Danielle smirked. "Oh yeah." He chuckled and she grinned along with him. "I don't suppose you know whether Jason's still in his room, do you?"




Inner Animal Ch. 13



He suddenly went silent as his eyes focussed on a spot in the distance. "He is in his office but he is speaking to his sister so you may have to wait."

Confusion filled her initially before she realised what he had just done. "OK, seriously? With the werewolf telepathy thing? I really need to find a way to do that..."

A sparkle seemed to enter his eye. "I'm sure you will some day."

She gave him a dubious look before giving a quick wave in Anna's general direction and making her way back into the corridor. A cool chill seemed to resonate through the tiled walkway and she ran her hands up and down her arms as she tried to get warm. Her steps, while muffled by the rubber of her soles, seemed to echo through the empty corridor as the distant noise of the common room slowly faded away. Giving herself a mental shake to get rid of the growing unease, she eventually reached outside of Jason's office when she heard soft voices through the door. Torn, she lifted her hand to knock and warn them she was there but when she heard a particular loud response, she pulled her hand away and hovered uncertainly.

Danielle glanced down the corridor to see if anyone else was nearby as she shifted her weight from foot to foot and stuffed her hands in her pockets. Realising that no matter how much she wished for someone to stroll by and give her some indication of what she was expected to do, and resigned to the fact that they weren't going to, she was just about to tap against the wood when Jason's low voice called out. "Come in, Danielle."

Pausing in her movement, she frowned, her hand automatically dropping down to the brass handle and twisting it. Peering around the door, she was shocked to find Hollie with her head bowed, looking incredibly small in the large cushioned seat. A tissue was pressed against her face as Jason was sat in the chair in front of her, crouched forward so that he could meet her gaze.

Danielle lingered in the doorway. "Am I interrupting?"

After a long moment, Hollie lifted her chin and set her shoulders back. If it weren't for her blotched cheeks and red eyes she would have looked like the definition of composure. Clearing her throat, she hauled herself up slowly like she had aged dramatically in the space of a few hours. "No, it's fine. I was just leaving anyway."

"Hollie," Jason's voice was rough. "Just remember what we talked about. We don't know for sure yet."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed but she gave a firm nod before turning on her heel and wordlessly making her way past her.

Danielle took a moment to wrap her head around what she had just witnessed before her eyes fixed on the man who was now sagged in his seat; his arms hanging over the back of the chair and his head thrown back and up towards the ceiling. "What's going on?" 

His chest lowered as he deflated loudly before seeming to reassemble himself. "It's nothing important."

Raising an eyebrow, she straightened her stance and crossed her arms across her chest. "Don't give me that, Jase. What's going on?"

His amber eyes swept over her features as he seemed to be having an internal debate before sighing deeply. As he ran a hand through his hair causing it to stand up in jagged tufts, she made her way over to the chair Hollie had just vacated before lowering herself into it. She met his gaze levelly as he peered over his clasped hands.

"It may be nothing yet." When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand to placate her. "I promise you, if something happens I'll let you know. I don't want you worrying something that might not even be an issue."

The corner of her mouth turned down in disapproval but she didn't press it. "Are YOU alright?"

In all honesty, he looked exhausted. His usually tanned complexion had paled and dark circles marred under his eyes. His brow was constantly creased as though he was deep in thought and his lips were thin. He rumpled his hair once more. "Yeah, I'm..." His voice trailed off as he saw her face before he slumped. "I'll be fine once this passes."

Danielle gave a wan smile. "I'm here if you need me." Her ivory skin stood in stark contrast against his darker tone as she placed her hand on top of one of his before he turned it over and wrapped the limb up in his long fingers.

Giving it a small squeeze, he held onto it. "How has your day been so far anyway?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "It's been alright. I managed to convince Anna to try and make some friends."

"I'm glad to hear it. Have you had anymore problems?"

A flicker of Kayla's angry face swam across her mind. "What do you mean?"

He wasn't fooled. "What's happened?"

His face was rigid in its sternness and she idly looked down at her nails, trying desperately to ignore his steely gaze. "It's nothing that you need to worry about."

"Danielle..." Her wrist dropped as she dragged her attention back to his face. When her eyes darted towards the floor, he used his free hand to lift her chin. "Tell me."

Her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip nervously. "It's nothing major it's just... There was a small... confrontation earlier between me and Kayla. Carolyn stepped in and she left. It's no big deal." His mouth tightened before his eyes flickered to the mark on her shoulder and back. Immediately her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What...?"

He looked down at their joint hands. "I was rather hoping that by the mark I left would help to show my claim on you and act as a warning to the other members of the pack."

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought that it was just something that happened in the heat of the moment."

With his free hand, he rubbed the back of his neck. "It was. To be honest, I'd been considering asking your permission to do it before but during that time in the shower, I couldn't stop myself." The hand moved to run over his face. "I could have bitten you..."

"Hey," she tilted her head to try and see his face. "It's fine, you wouldn't have."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I have faith in you, alright? I trust you, Jase."

He moved so that he had both of her hands wrapped in his. "Dani, it's not as easy as that. I have to fight all of my instincts when I'm with you. All I want to do is," A pained groan escaped his lips as he shook his head. "I can't even begin to put it in words how much I want to. The urge will be even stronger next week."

Danielle began to put the pieces together. "That's why Hollie is so persistent in asking you whether you'll turn me."

"She knows how strong the need to mate is." He used one of his hands to rub two fingers against his forehead, his eyes closing shut with a grimace. "Speaking of which: I need to ring someone. I've booked us a table for seven, is that alright?"

"Yeah, that's great. I'll go so you can make your call."

With a final departing squeeze of his hand, she dragged himself up off the chair and began to make her way towards the door.

"Danielle?"

She glanced back over her shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Thank you, for having faith in me."

She grinned. "Don't start going all soft on me." The grin soon softened into a smile though as she took in the genuine warmth in his eyes. "No problem."

***

Jason ran the pad of his thumb over the screen of the phone as he tried to suppress the agitation that was threatening to escape. Taking a deep breath, he scrolled through his contacts before placing the device next to his ear. Drumming his fingers on his thigh as he waited, he straightened once the familiar male voice answered.

"Chris, we need to talk."

The voice on the other end was grim. "Jason? Has something else happened- is Hollie alright?"

"Yeah, she a little upset but she's fine. There's been another possible sighting a couple of acres away and it shook her up."

Chris exhaled harshly. "She's struggling to cope with this. She hasn't said it out loud but I can feel it through the bond: she's terrified." There was a pause. "I will assign a couple of my betas to watch over her."

Jason gave a quick nod as he heard the news. "Good, I will update you if I hear anymore. My driver is taking her back to your pack as we speak so you should see her soon."

"Thank you. I'll update you if I hear anymore news."

"So will I. Goodbye brother."

"Goodbye."

Snapping his phone shut, Jason ended the call to his brother- and stepped away from his chair. Making his way over to his desk, he opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a glass and a bottle of scotch before pouring himself a couple of fingers worth and gulping it down. He took a moment to savour the burn at the back of his throat as he perched himself on the edge of the desk, looking towards the door thoughtfully.

No one was going to bring harm to his pack or family, he wouldn't allow it.



So there you go! Sorry if there is a random letter in there somewhere I am uploading it awkwardly! Please, PLEASE let me know what you think!

Love love!

Raven Moon x



Inner Animal Ch. 14



Hi, so here's the latest chapter of Inner Animal- the end is in sight guys! Enjoy! 

*

Danielle sighed softly as she shuffled closer to the warm body next to her. His arm moved tighter around her shoulders as he held her against him and she breathed in the warm spicy smell of him. Lips pressed against the crown of her head. "Good morning."

She grinned as she looked up at him from where she was pressed against his chest. "Good morning."

Sunlight streamed through the window, settling over the dark furnishings of the room and illuminating Jason's rugged features. Lifting a finger, she traced the straight slope of his nose and his brow. He watched her face carefully as she took the time to learn him as the sun steadily rose. The silence was soothing as they looked at each other, their heads rested against the soft pillows as they shared the same air.

After a long time, Danielle's lips parted. "Did I ever thank you for dinner last night?"

"You did."

She beamed. "I have the funny feeling that that restaurant is going to become a regular of ours..."

"I hope so because that implies that we'll be together for a seriously long time."

"So you aren't TOO eager to get rid of me just yet than Mr Evans?"

"No, not quite yet." He chuckled. "To be honest, I was surprised that I was able to get you away from Anna: she seems rather attached..."

A warm smile came across her features as she thought of the small girl. "You know, it didn't hit me until after the first time I spoke to her, she's kind of like my sister or the closest I'll ever get to one anyway. I want to be able to make sure she's OK- that she's safe and doesn't end up down the same path I did."

"I never thought of it like that."His face softened as he cupped her cheek. "She means a lot to you."

"Yeah, she does- both her AND Sean. I just think she needs my help more at the moment than he does."

"I told you that you were sweet."

"And once again, you don't know me very well."

"I MEAN it." His thumb brushed against her cheekbone. "Danielle..."

Familiar melodic tones filled the room causing Jason to sag against the pillow in despair as Danielle glared in the direction of the device on his bedside. "OK, SERIOUSLY?"

He sighed. "I need to get this."

Lifting the soft cushion by its corner, she smothered her face as she gave a loud groan. She felt a gentle kiss be pressed against her shoulder before hearing the shuffling of sheets as the weight next to her disappeared.

Slowly peeling her make-shift blind fold away, she watched as Jason moved about the room, tugging on his t-shirt and struggling into a pair of loose fitting jeans. His phone was pressed against his ear as he spoke quickly; his strong hand dwarfing the delicate mobile.

Her head rested against the palm of her hand as she propped herself up so that she could watch him better when suddenly a loud knocking drew her attention away. Jason's eyes flickered towards the door and he made to move towards it when Danielle held her hand up and, after slipping on her dressing gown, went to answer it.

She soon wished she hadn't.

"Jase!" Her hand moved in front of her line of vision to cover up the very exposed male as she turned her head to the side. "Why the hell is there a naked man at the door?!"

Heavy footsteps approached next to her as the man in the doorway looked between her and the Alpha who was now at her side. He gave a quick bow of his head as he addressed the other werewolf. "My apologies, Alpha. I am afraid when I could not reach you telepathically I had to come to you personally."

Danielle was at a loss for words. "And you couldn't get dressed before you came on over?"

Jason chuckled as he went to grab a pair of shorts from nearby and threw them at the man who quickly put them on. "It's a part of our culture, Danielle. We are used to not transforming back to our original clothed states after being wolves." He returned his attention to the waiting werewolf. "What's wrong?"

His eyes moved nervously towards Danielle before he cleared his throat and answered. "We have found some more tracks around the perimeter. The scent is the strongest it's been. By our prediction he has been here a few hours ago if not now."

Jason swore loudly. Danielle clutched her dressing gown tighter around herself as the tension seemed to hover like a thick fog in the room. She could almost SEE Jason's authoritative mask snap into place. "Have a large group of scouts search out the scent but keep some by the house just in case. Alert Harry, Aaron and Dean that they need to meet me where you picked up the trace. Where did you locate it?"

"Near the edge of the forest- north west of the house."

After a swift nod, he stepped towards, and out of, the doorway. The sudden movement knocked Danielle into motion. "Wait, Jase- what's going on? Who's here?"

His eyes were pleading as the scout ran off. "Danielle, please, I need you to trust me: stay here."

"Jason,"

"Danielle, PLEASE." When she swallowed back her words, his tone softened and he moved to place a tender kiss against her forehead. "Just, please... do as I say. I will explain when I get back."

A large lump formed in her throat as she watched him leave, the door shutting behind him with a soft click. Overwhelmed, she looked around her as she tried to gather her thoughts before making her way over to her rucksack and pulling out a pair of jeans and a thick jumper that covered her hands.

She had just managed to find a pair of socks and put them on when a quick tapping, acting as more of a warning than a request, rapped against the door and Carolyn hurried in. The woman appeared agitated but her features were set in grim determination as she gave Danielle a quick once over before offering up a small smile. "Morning."

"What's going on, Carolyn?"

The Madam Alpha strolled around the room but her eyes seemed to linger over the various doorways and windows. She seemed to consider her words carefully before answering. "I'm not going to insult your intelligence and pretend that nothing is going on. You deserve better than that." Her eyes fixed on the distant glimpse of the city out of the window. "As you may have heard, a while ago Hollie was attacked by an ex pack member. He was unstable as it was, many of the women in the pack would feel threatened in his presence and many of the males felt as though they had to be constantly on guard. Jason was the one to pull Zach off her and he banished him. To be honest I'm amazed he didn't kill him- it must have taken a hell of a lot of control."

The ex pole dancer stared at her rigid stance for a long time before she filled in the blanks. "He's back isn't he?"

"We're not sure yet. At the moment we are just using precautions until we know one way or the other."

"But there has to be something that makes you believe he might be?"

Turning, her amber eyes met green. "Danielle, I don't want to worry you anymore than necessary."

"I want to know EXACTLY what is going on. Tell me."

Carolyn's head bowed at the order before a crease formed between her brows. Shaking her head, she lifted it and met her gaze once more. "There have been a few possible sightings around the area as well as traces of his scent." Her focus seemed to wander as they spoke before she physically flinched. "I need to get you to the safety room."

Sweeping up her rucksack off the floor, she waited expectantly for Danielle to make her way out of the door before following her out and shutting it behind her.

Carolyn led her across the right wing of the house and to the other side. Her steps were quick across the wooden flooring; occasionally giving people who were passing a quick nod of her head in greeting. Danielle's mind was racing a mile a minute as she tried to keep up with Carolyn's long strides, only realising a second too late that she had failed to acknowledge anyone who said hello.

It wasn't until the woman made a sharp turn that Danielle was forced to focus before being ushered into the library. Carolyn quickly checked the corridor before shutting the door and making her way through the high arches of the ancient room. Shelves filled with a variety of decaying books framed either side of them as they made various turns before coming to a stop in front of a wall filled with dark green tomes. Midnight looked at the werewolf next to her in bemusement as she stepped forward and pulled a book from the shelf which revealed a panel. After quickly sliding it across, she lifted her index finger to her lips and bit her skin. Danielle could feel her eyebrows steadily rising as she looked at the complex looking machinery before Carolyn squeezed a drop from her finger to fall down the glass tube. Nothing happened.

A frown marred the Madam Alpha's features as she tried again before her face cleared and a small, almost indulgent, smile came across her face. "Danielle, can you please cut your finger?"

Danielle drew her attention away from the weird display to meet her amber eyes. "What?"

"I need you to cut your finger so that we can both give it blood."

"What are you...?"

"This is a special kind of door invented by werewolves. It only allows those to use it who have a specific kind of DNA, I need to combine our blood so that we will be allowed access."

"What...?"

"Danielle," Her voice was stern. "It is incredibly important that we get through this door for your own protection. Now, please: cut your finger."

At a loss for words, Danielle floundered for a minute before looking up hopelessly. "And how am I meant to- OW!" Her thumb throbbed as Carolyn withdrew her fingernail before giving the woman a small glare. "A little warning next time, please..."

Lifting her thumb, she placed it above the device as they both squeezed out a few drops before a resounding click echoed from the other side of the wall. A large section swung inwards to reveal a large room with an open floor plan made up of earthy colours. Two women were already inside, both of whom had looked up immediately at the intrusion.

Lizzie beamed as she wiped her hands on a tea towel. "Good morning, dear." Hollie once again curled up in her position on one of the sofas.

Danielle's attention was drawn to the retreating woman at her side. "I need to go: stay here and wait until we come and get you. If we need to pass any messages on, we'll communicate with you via Hollie or Elizabeth."

"Lizzie, dear!"

Carolyn shook her head in amusement before leaving; the heavy thud of the door shutting behind her echoing throughout the cosy room.

Fighting against the sudden claustrophobia, Danielle tried to concentrate on the two other people in the room. "How long have you been in here?"

When Hollie failed to respond, Lizzie sighed and answered. "About half an hour."

"Why are we in here anyway? Where is here?"

As she lifted up a placating hand, Danielle bit back her questions and moved over to the gestured sofa. Hollie remained silent as she stared off into space. Lizzie soon joined them before smoothing the creases out of her black trousers. "We are in here just as a safety measure so that if anyone is on the premises then we, as potential targets, are not at risk. Knowing that we are here will help my son to concentrate and do what needs to be done."

"What do you mean by potential targets?"

Her wise eyes ran over the mute Hollie before fixing once more on Danielle. "Usually relatives or mates of Alphas are targeted in attacks to distract the Alpha from properly defending both himself and his pack. There are only a handful of people who have access to this room which ensures that we are not at risk. This was why the suite was originally created; it was to help during a time where packs were constantly fighting with each other as well as among themselves." Feeling the beginning of a very prominent headache, she rubbed her temples. She felt a hand pat her knee. "I'll put the kettle on."

Danielle's eyes drifted over to the silent woman at her side. Her face was bleached of colour and her eyes appeared fixed on a spot in the distance. The fists that were twisted in her t-shirt were clenched tightly; her knuckles turning white with the strain.

As Lizzie came back with tea, Hollie seemed to blink back into awareness before taking the cup hesitantly and cradling it in her hands. A few minutes later her vacant expression returned.

Jason's mother seemed to hesitate a moment before placing herself back down and offering an unsure smile to the room. "We just have to wait."

***

Jason's eyes fixed on the trees in front of him as one of his scouts rattled off a report. With a swift nod once the young man finished, he walked down the row where the werewolves waited for his instructions. "Who was the one who found the prints?"

An anxious Lincoln stepped forward. "It was me, Alpha."

"I want to see them for myself. The rest of you scout out the rest of the forest: look for any disturbances or signs of someone making a shelter. Cover everywhere."

Lincoln seemed to fall over himself in his rush to lead Jason away from the group and past the first line of trees. The cold bit into his exposed hands before he stuffed them in his jacket pockets and as he breathed mist danced in the air before him. The birds were quiet, the only sounds that could be heard were the quick fluttering of wings as they darted about in the bare branches; their restlessness immediately had him on edge.

As they came to the spot where the man had found the paw prints, the alpha crouched down and inspected the mark carefully. After deducting that it was fairly recent, his eyes ran over the surrounding area. A snapped branched caught his attention and he lifted himself up to have a closer look. Erratic claw marks scarred the bark.

"Lincoln!" He sensed the man quickly scurry to his side. "Go to the spring; if you find anything, report back immediately."

As he hurried of, Jason crept forward slowly, all the while muttering under his breath. "What are you up to Zach?"

***

The day had dragged on to the point where it had almost seemed never ending. Another problem had been presented as well: there were only two double beds in the hideout. After insisting that Lizzie should have a bed, Hollie and her decided to share.

It was three hours after they had all gone off to their rooms and all Danielle could hear was the steady breathing of both herself and the woman next to her in the darkness. Hollie had been silent for the remainder of the day, seeming to be having an internal struggle and unable or unwilling to drag herself out of her thoughts. It was as if Midnight could see the guilt and worry coming off her in waves. She would flinch at every bang of a door or clearing of a throat.

As she felt said woman shuffle next to her, she tried to break the awkward tension in the air. "Are you alright?"

The woman froze before deflating with a sigh. "Not really."

Reaching over, Danielle flicked on the lamp. "It's OK to be scared, Hollie."

Hollie pulled up a pillow and propped it behind her back. "I know it's just..." She thumped the duvet next to her in aggravation. "It's my fault he's here now! If I had just fought back- if I had taken care of it before Jason intervened, he wouldn't be bothering us now!"

"No, you're right he wouldn't: he'd be bothering someone else who may not have had anyone to help them and stop him from doing what he was going to do to you."

Her eyes dropped to the duvet before she tapped her head against the wall behind her. Exhaling loudly, she seemed to become lost to her thoughts. "I should have seen it coming. I mean everyone knew he was messed up- he was quiet all the time, he'd never speak to anyone unless he absolutely had to and he used to just watch us all like he was mapping out our movements in his head.

"Of course, at the time, no one wanted to say anything. I guess we all felt sorry for him: he was originally human, you know? Apparently when Harry found him he was frantic, he was just muttering aimlessly to himself only to lose his temper and lash out. It turned out that some bastard werewolves were after some entertainment and killed his family in front of him before biting him.

"We thought that if we gave him some time he'd get himself sorted, get his head together. He was OUR responsibility- he was on OUR turf but he just... didn't. If anything he just got more erratic.

"He was obsessed with games: chess, poker- you name it. It was as if he had to prove that he was better than anyone else, that he was more intelligent, that he deserved to be better than an omega. He couldn't stand that Jason was better than him at poker; I remember the tantrum he had when Jason beat him- I really thought he'd lost it.

"I thought that maybe I could look out for him; maybe get him back on track. One of the 'macho' thetas had knocked him down and I was helping him back up when it was like he just... snapped. You could see it in his eyes." Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "Luckily, Jason came along and got him off me... you know the rest."

Danielle brushed took a moment to register all that she'd learnt before brushing her hair out of her face. "Wow. Hollie, I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "It's not your fault."

"No, seriously I mean it. He was messed up; you were just trying to help someone who you thought could use some kindness."

Her eyes met hers directly and a small grateful smile broke across her face. "Thank you."

Danielle tapped the back of the woman's hand before pulling her own back. "No problem." She pulled a face. "I have to admit though, when I was joking about having a sleepover, this wasn't what I had in mind."

"What do you mean?"

She shook her head, an amused smirk across her face. "It was just something I said to Jase when he picked me up. It doesn't matter."

"Have you never had one before?"

"No, I mean there was never an opportunity. I grew up living in boarding schools- there was never any need for one and it isn't like anything they show you in films. After that, well I didn't get the chance. When you work in the clubs you're too tired to bother or you're just not in the mood for one at the end of the night."

Hollie sat up straighter. "You've seriously never had a sleepover?"

Danielle was hesitant at the sight of Hollie's eager look. "No...?"

"It's like a female rite of passage." She teased.

"Well I've been kind of busy!"

She grinned for the first time that day. "Alright, well you've got to at least play one of the games."

"Right..."

Hollie rolled her eyes at her lack of enthusiasm. "OK, we take turns on asking each other questions. First of all: What is the worst song you've ever had to dance to?"

"Seriously, you want to know about my time at the club?"

"Come on!" She hit her in the face with a cushion causing her to blink in surprise. 

"OK, OK!" A laugh broke out as she tried to fend off her attacks. "It's 'Video Phone' by Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. I had to wear this outfit..." She shook her head to banish the memory. "It wasn't good."

Hollie's smile seemed to wobble as she tried to stop herself from laughing. "Seriously, what outfit...?"

Midnight held up a hand. "Trust me; you really don't want to know." She bit her lip in thought before shrugging. "Erm, first kiss?"

She grimaced. "I was fifteen. He kissed like a fish." She pushed her cheeks together and proceeded to do a goldfish impression.

"...Nice..."

"When did you lose your virginity?"

Danielle's face flushed and she covered her face with her hands. "It sounds really bad!"

Her confession only seemed to grab Hollie's interest. "Tell me!"

She peeked through the gap between her fingers. "A week after my sixteenth birthday." At the look of pure disbelief on the werewolf's face, she elaborated. "Gimme a break, I was in love!"




Inner Animal Ch. 14



They spent the rest of the night joking around until the sun eventually began to peek over the horizon and the women fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had taken a while for Danielle to wake up fully. As she squinted against the brightness of the new day, she found herself disorientated by her new surroundings. Sitting up, she looked at the room around her before her attention was caught by Hollie sleeping next to her.

"Ah, alright then..." Yawning as the memory of the events of the day before came back, she stretched before rotating her legs out of the bed and making her way over the her rucksack in the corner of the room. Pulling out a long cardigan and a pair of thick socks, she slipped them on before treading out into the main room.

Lizzie was already there and dressed as she read a romance novel; a cup of tea held absently in her hand. Once she noticed the other woman, she smiled. "Good morning, Danielle."

The twenty three year old gave a small wave as she made her way over to the kitchen and to the kettle which she quickly flipped on as she searched the cupboards for a bowl and cup.

Lizzie chuckled at her clumsy antics. "I am assuming that you are not much of a person, dear?"

Danielle grinned as ran a hand through her knotted hair. "Something like that. Usually my sleeping pattern is so wonky I don't really get the chance to have a lot of energy in the day."

She nodded in understanding. "Well maybe something good may come out of this after all. It's the cupboard on the far left."

"Thanks." After another quick scout, she found the teabags and milk before finding a box of cornflakes on the side.

Carrying her breakfast over to the table, she sank into the chair and was about to tuck in when she realised she'd forgotten something.

"You need a spoon." Danielle looked towards Lizzie who was still reading her book, appearing completely unfazed by the early start. "They're in the drawer behind you."

Momentarily surprised, she turned to grab one before starting with her meal. "You know, this may sound a bit daft but it's easy to forget that you guys, well, aren't HUMAN and then you do things like that."

She laughed lightly. "It is second nature to us, my dear, you will get used to it eventually."

Bemused, she went to lift the spoon when a thought suddenly struck her. "Lizzie?"

"Yes?"

"There's been something that's been bugging me for a while now... But, erm, why are you in England?"

With a brief frown, Lizzie lowered the book. "What do you mean?"

"Wolves aren't native to this country so don't you guys kind of... stand out? Or do werewolves just live in the UK...?"

"Ah," She returned her attention to the novel. "There are werewolves all around the western hemisphere; it is just that some cannot be seen in their wolf forms so easily." When Danielle continued to be confused, she explained. "Hundreds of years ago our species was very arrogant. We originated from America but many extremists believed that they should be able to rule over the humans and so travelled, biting humans so that we became the dominant species. However, they failed to take into account that not many humans that are turned survive the process and so, while they did in fact spread the... infection, if you will, they failed to build numbers."

She nodded. It made sense. "Well then how come werewolves don't just move to America or places where wolves are?"

"Most do, in the past we have done so ourselves, but then issues with territories emerge and many become bound to the place they were changed due to certain responsibilities in the human world as well as their pack."

"So you're seriously telling me that there are werewolves all around the world? Even in places like Brazil?"

"Oh yes..."

Shaking her head in disbelief, she shovelled another mouthful of food into her mouth when Hollie appeared in the bedroom doorway. "What time is it?"

Lizzie was the one to answer. "It is half past nine."

Wiping her eyes with the back of her fist, Hollie was about to speak again when a loud groaning sound filled the room.

Immediately, both werewolves looked towards the far wall where it began to swing inwards. Quickly catching up, Danielle straightened as she waited to see who would enter.

As two men walked in, Hollie was the first to react as she ran across the room, her face positively beaming. "Chris!"

Throwing herself at one of the men, he immediately caught her as she peppered kisses all over his face. The man was tall and muscular with dirty blonde hair and an easy smile but Danielle's attention was more captivated by his companion.

"Jason." Hurrying over, she placed her hands on his jaw as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Dark circles sat heavily under his eyes which appeared dull with fatigue. Stubble coated his chin as her eyes ran across his worn features. He appeared to be giving her the same inspection as his gaze lingered on her face before his hands moved to brush her hair back. Her eyes flickered closed in relief as she felt him place a lingering kiss to her forehead.

After taking a moment to savour the feeling of his warm presence, she opened her eyes to look towards the other couple. They both seemed to be watching their interaction with interest, alongside Lizzie who strolled into her field of vision. After the matriarch had taken a moment to observe the four of them with what appeared to be fond affection, her attention focussed on her son. "Has everything been sorted?"

Danielle looked up into the alpha's face to see it look grim. "I cannot say for sure yet."

Her brows furrowed in worry. "What does that mean?"

He looked down at her, where she was still wrapped in his arms, before gripping her hand in a tight hold. "I want us to go to the cabin where we can speak more privately. Why don't you and Hollie get dressed and then we can go?"

Her stomach knotted in anxiety as he slowly, almost reluctantly, released her hand. Hollie's eye caught hers to show the same worry. As the women stepped away from their respective partners, they made their way back to the bedroom which Danielle closed behind them with a quiet click.

When she turned back to face the room it was to see Hollie looking pale, with her hands frozen on a jumper she had pulled out of a suitcase.

"Hollie?" The woman seemed to blink out of her trance to meet her gaze. "Do you know what's going on? I mean surely with the werewolf telepathy thing...?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry but this time I'm just as clueless as you are."

Dismayed, Danielle grabbed her bag and made her way to the bathroom to allow Hollie the chance to change in private. After throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, she wrapped her thick cardigan around her tightly as she stared in the mirror. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks were almost translucent in their paleness as she took in her panicked expression. The bruise on her shoulder stood out against her pale complexion and she covered it with a shaking hand before pulling her cardigan over the mark. Taking a deep breath, she tried to gather some composure before unlocking the door and preparing to face the situation head on.

The men looked up as she walked back into the room, Jason going so far as to once again pull her into his arms and hold her close enough that she could hear his steady heartbeat beneath her ear. Automatically, she felt herself begin to calm. Hollie didn't take much longer and once everyone was ready, Jason began to lead them out of the safety room with a brief nod of his head.

The house was surprisingly quiet as they made their way from the library and through the main corridors. There seemed to be a pregnant pause lingering in the air, almost as if someone had stopped time so that the estate was cast in a bizarre limbo until someone took action. Danielle wasn't sure if she was imagining it until she looked towards Hollie who seemed to be looking around her with the same apprehension.

The other pair stood closely, their hands clasped together tightly as their thighs brushed against each other. Hollie seemed to be stood in Chris' path so that he could fully guard her against the phantom threats that seemed to hover in every corner and shadow.

It was like there was an itch under her skin, the feeling that something just wasn't quite right, that kept her on edge and had her gravitating closer to the man at her side. Unease plagued her as she walked.

Eventually, after what had seemed to be a very tense journey, they reached outside of the building. Lizzie quickly bid them farewell before departing, leaving the four of them to their own thoughts. Danielle took a minute to breathe in the air as she tried to banish the feeling of the walls closing in that she had felt as she had made her way through the house.

Realising that the others were still moving, she quickly fell into step as they made the short walk through the forest to reach the cabin. 

Once the tall wooden structure came in site, Jason hurried forward to open the door as Chris ushered them in. After a long look outside, he shut and locked the entrance behind him.

Jason was pacing the hard floor as Danielle turned to look at him and once he was sure that they would not be disturbed, he began. "He's not here."

Hollie visibly deflated. Chris placed his hands on her shoulders. "It's not as simple as that, love."

She stiffened once more. "What do you mean? Is he here or isn't he?"

"We've searched the forest and the rest of our territory and, as of yet, no one has seen him but there are signs that he has been here recently. I do not believe that he has finished his business here by any rate..."

"And you are sure it is him? There is no doubt in your mind?"

"I'm afraid not."

Her throat bobbed. "What are we going to do?"

The Alpha's gaze met the other man's. "Chris and I have discussed it and we have decided, for your own protection, it is best that you stay with his pack while we try to find out his plans."

"No, no Jase- I'm not going to leave you to deal with this on your own. It's my fault as much as yours."

"Hollie, please: it is my responsibility to deal with him. I should have dealt with him properly before."

She shook her head in disbelief before making her way over to the window. Chris followed her over and they began to speak in low murmurs.

Jason turned his attention to Danielle. "I want you to go with them as well."

The dark haired woman took a moment to stare at him wide eyed. "No, no way."

"Danielle..."

"No Jase! I'm not going to run from the bogey man, okay? Besides, I've got responsibilities here and anyway, don't you think it's going to look a bit suspicious if I don't turn up to work after spending time with you?"

"I don't care about that!" At his shout, she jumped and the other couple looked over. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to visibly force himself to calm before continuing. "I don't care about that Danielle. All I care about is keeping you safe."

"And I will be." When he went to turn his head away, she placed her palm on her cheek and forced him to look at her. "I will be. Wasn't it you that once said that you'd 'never let anyone hurt me again'? I trust you, Jason."

His argument was weakening. "It's not about that..."

"We'll be alright. You will sort this and everything will go back to normal." As she continued to stroke his cheek, he gradually stilled under her touch. It oddly reminded her of calming a wild animal that didn't know whether to run or not. 

His amber eyes met hers as he caught the wrist of the hand on his face. He seemed to search her face for a long time before exhaling loudly and giving a small nod. Kissing her palm, he linked his fingers with hers.

She cleared her throat to bring her thoughts away from the tender moment. "I don't get it: if you were so worried about us getting hurt, why did you take us from the safe room?"

Hollie looked up from her conversation with Chris to listen in on the answer. The men looked at each other and after, what Danielle assumed to be a quick conversation, Jason explained. "We're worried that someone is helping him from the inside. Certain things just don't add up like how he has managed to elude scouts for so long without knowing the schedule and how he has been able to survive in the cold with no money while in human form."

His sister frowned. "How do you know that he hasn't just stayed as a wolf all this time?"

"We found human footprints as well as wolf. Besides, no one from the pack goes anywhere but the forest in their wolf form as they know that we own it and aren't at risk from exposure. To spend all his time there- it would be inevitable that he would be discovered. He would have to change back into a human to find somewhere to stay."

"Well if he's being so elusive, how are you going to catch him?" Her voice got higher as she spoke. "Jase, if he can hide with the humans we've got no chance!"

Chris hushed her as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Your brother and I have spoken to a small group of trusted men who are going to be keeping an eye out. Sooner or later, he will make a move and then we will have him."

"Then what will you do once you have him?"

Jason was silent for a long time. "I will try to reason with him and if that does not work..." His voice trailed off but the answer hovered in the air.

"How are you planning on...?"

A rapid knock cut Hollie of as four sets of eyes snapped to the door. Being closest, Chris moved away from the group before inhaling deeply. His eyes met Jason's before he quickly opened the door.

Carolyn looked flushed and she tried to catch her breath. "There's a fire near the back of the house."

"What?" Hurrying forward, Jason ran outside with the others quickly following. Large black clouds of smoke billowed up towards the sky and the overbearing smell of burning tarnished the clear air.

"I've raised the alarm, people are making their way to the front of the house but I need help with the head count." Her face was grim. "Jason, I'm sorry but we couldn't put it out- it's spread too far."

He fisted his hair as he stared at the rapidly spreading fumes. "My mother, where is she?"

"She's gathering the children as we speak."

With a swift nod, he began to follow Carolyn to the rest of the pack.

Danielle's throat felt tight as she watched the house steadily going up in flames. From the corner of her eye see saw Hollie sniffle before Chris held her close. This place was such a huge part of the pack's life- it was the home that Jason and Hollie grew up in. She couldn't imagine how they must have been feeling to see the place so full of memories of family- of their father- be destroyed so easily.

It didn't take them long to reach everyone else. Danielle noticed Hollie move to her mother, who looked equally as crestfallen, and hug her tightly as Lizzie offered soothing words. Jason and Chris began to make their way through the crowd. Danielle was about to join them, when Maverick's panicked face caught her attention.

Forcing her way through the crowd, she reached his side. "What is it? What's wrong?" Sean was crying as he was held tightly to Maverick's mate's side as she looked wildly around her.

"Have you seen Anna?"

Her heart turned to ice. "What do you mean? When did you last see her?"

"They were playing hide and seek and Sean hasn't seen her since!"

It was like the world around her began crashing down. The thought of that little girl that reminded her so much of herself- the sister she'd never had, for her to be missing...

As windows began to shatter in the distance, members of the pack yelled out and ducked.

Danielle's eyes were fixed wide, her stomach in knots. "Anna!" She tried to lift herself up so she could see over the erratic group. "Anna!" There was no answer. "Oh God..."

She looked towards the giant burning building in front of her as more and more people spilled out from the doors. She wasn't amongst them.

Her mind was racing when Jason was suddenly by her side. "What's wrong?"

"It's Anna- have you seen her?"

He paled before he looked around the gathering of people. His eyes lost focus briefly before her addressed her. "No one's seen her."

Danielle felt sick as the fear overwhelmed her. Her attention was once more drawn to the house. "I've got to find her."

He opened his mouth to respond when she bolted from the others and towards the house, throwing herself through the archway. The last thing she heard was Jason shouting her name.

*

So there you go. Like I said before, this story is nearly finished (there is probably one or two chapters left. Anyway, please leave a rating or a review and more will be up soon!

Love love!

Raven Moon x 



Inner Animal Ch. 15



Hey guys! So we've reached the end of the road but I hope you enjoy the last part and please let me know what you think!




"Danielle!" Jason went to follow Danielle inside the building when he was held back by a pair of strong arms.

He fought against them until hurried words reached his ears. "Jason, JASON! If you follow her in there all you will doing is putting yourself in danger! Danielle isn't stupid; she will get in and out of there quickly." When Jason struggled some more, he continued. "Jason, your pack needs you! Your pack needs you..."

The Alpha deflated as he saw the gathering circle around them filled with worried people; their eyes large and anxious. Bitterly, he shrugged Chris' hands off before looking towards the falling building in front of him, his heart feeling as though it was gripped in a tight fist.

***

Danielle's head whipped around as people ran past her with panic etched across their faces. The place was turning into pure chaos.

Fighting her way through the crush of werewolves desperately trying to flee, she tried to make herself heard over the screams echoing in the hallway. "Anna!"

As her shoulder was jolted, she grabbed the wide-eyed woman who was carrying a hysterical child. "Have you seen a young girl? She's about this tall with blonde hair,"

The woman had been shaking her head ever since she had been stopped before yanking her arm out of Danielle's grip and running with the rest of the crowd towards the doors.

Danielle continued to push her way through the throng of people. "ANNA!" As she got further along the corridor, the smoke got denser causing her eyes to sting and coughs to be wracked from her lungs. Gripping a wall, she called out through her wheezing as her head throbbed.

Seeing a doorway that led outside, she flung herself over and fumbled with the handles until the cool air hit her. Breathing deeply, her throat became raw as she dry heaved. Once the irritation cleared enough so that she could see once more, the sight of a sketchpad near the forest caught her attention; its pages flapping erratically in the harsh wind.

Danielle set off into a sprint. "ANNA!"

Her feet stumbled across the grass as she launched herself towards the woods, her eyes frantically scanning the greenery around her. She almost sobbed in relief as a small figure plummeted towards her. "Dani!"

Catching her in her arms, she squeezed her pseudo-sister tightly to her chest. "Thank God you're OK."

As Danielle began to soothe the crying girl, a high pitched scream rented through the air. Anna stiffened in her arms as she looked towards the forest.

Taking a steadying breath, she pulled the girl away by her shoulders and met her worried gaze. "Anna, I want you to go to the front of the house and stay with Maverick."

Her eyes widened and she moved to clutch at her shirt again. "No,"

Danielle's grip tightened. "Anna, do as I say: I'll be there soon." When her mouth opened to protest again, she cut across. "Go!"

Her bottom lip wobbled but she ran away and, after a parting glance, headed towards the rest of the group.

After she'd disappeared from Danielle's sight, the woman clenched her fists tightly and faced the line of trees. As another shriek echoed through the foreboding greenery, she flexed her aching fingers and began to make uncertain steps forward.

Her heart was pounding as she made her way deeper into the forest. The snap of branches under her feet seemed too loud in the desolate surroundings. Tree limbs stretched over her head, acting as a cage against the outside world- the birds had long since scattered at the first sign of trouble. She was totally alone. There was nothing but her and that screaming.

"Can you hear me? I'm on my way- we're going to get out of here!" Silence was her reply. The cries had cut off with the same efficiency as the screech of a disconnected record player. "Hello?"

The sound of her racing heart seemed to fill the emptiness around her and a lump formed in her throat. Glancing back over her shoulder, the trees obscured the path she had taken.

Shakily, she pressed onwards. Her movements were unsteady as she moved further and further and into the mass of trees until gradually, after what had seemed like a lifetime, they began to clear and she came across a small plane.

Her attention was caught by the slumped figure on the ground and she bolted over before dropping to her knees. A steady stream of blood was spilling from the woman's body and as Danielle moved to roll her over, the matted hair fell away from her face to reveal eyes fixed in terror on a rapidly cooling pale face. Her throat had been ripped out.

Yanking her hands away, she scrambled backwards as her breaths left her in uncontrollable bursts. Her skin crawled as the empty stare fixed upon her and she quickly turned her head away; bile rising up into her mouth.

Hearing laughter through the trees, she struggled to stand up; her eyes looking everywhere for the source. She needed to get out of there NOW.

She stepped one way only to have the sounds of boots trudging on uneven terrain blocking her. Moving again the sound of snarls did the same.

Hollie's words came to her in stark clarity: 'He was obsessed with games: chess, poker- you name it'

A desperate and defeated sob caught in her chest as she slowly turned towards the intense gaze aimed at the back of her head. Amber eyes seemed to glow in the murkiness and as her eyes met his, a slow grin emerged. She'd walked right into the trap as he pounced all she could think was one thing: checkmate.

***

Jason paced in agitation and the steady thrum of voices linked in the background. His mind was preoccupied, he had yet to hear from Danielle and every minute that passed without any news was driving him insane. Fire fighters had been called in to tackle the inferno, leaving Carolyn trying to answer some rather uncomfortable questions.

As he heard the group beside him begin a new line of topic, he finally snapped. "God damn it, WHERE IS SHE?"

Harry frowned. "Can't you trace her?"

"The bond's not strong enough!" He spat out bitterly. A heavy ache had settled in his chest as a he desperately tried to sense Danielle only for the minor bond they had begun to build to let him down. Frustrated beyond belief, a growl started to rumble through his lips and the rest of the pack took a cautious step back.

A small part of his brain recognised that Chris was once more trying to reason with him as he fought not to tear everything apart in search of her. "Jason, you need to calm down. There are people looking for her as we speak and getting yourself into this state isn't helping anybody."

"And if the situation was reversed: would you be 'keeping calm'?!"

Chris' shoulders set back and his own wolf threatened to emerge. Hollie quickly stepped between them. "Enough!" Placing a hand on each man's chest, she kept them apart. "Arguing isn't going to solve anything. Chris back off- BACK OFF! Jason... Jason?"

The man was frozen as a sudden wave of pain ran through his body before he felt himself turn completely numb. Hollowness struck him deeply. Something was wrong with her. Ice cold fear clasped his heart and squeezed it leaving him breathless. "She's hurt." As the room dropped into silence, he erupted. "He's fucking HURT HER!"

As a heavy tension filled the room, Jason's phone began to ring. Picking it up, he placed it against his ear.

"Don't ask any questions and I won't tell any lies. Win the game or else the bitch dies,"

Jason snarled as he gripped at the mobile like a lifeline. "I am not playing games with you, Zach! Where is she?!"

Tutting came through the other end. "You really need to learn to control that temper of yours."

His chest was heaving as he fought against his urge to argue. "How do I know she's still alive?"

"Nice try. If she was dead you'd feel it." He sighed dramatically. "You see that is what is wrong with you pedigrees, you're so OBVIOUS when it comes to claiming something as your own. Now, are you going to be quiet and listen or am I going to have to rip her throat out?"

Swallowing back the lump in his throat, he spoke. "...Fine."

"Good boy. Did you hear that, sweetheart?" A muffled yelp could be heard in the background and Jason clenched his fist so tightly, the knuckles turned white. "Now, here's the game: if you manage to find me, you may have a chance of saving her, if not well... I'm certain you can work it out. Be on your own or else I will snap her pretty little neck. Oh and Jason, I'd hurry if I was you- I get bored very quickly. Maybe we should play a game of call and respond, how well do you know her screams...?"

"Don't you dare touch her!!"

"You'd best hurry then, Alpha. I'm not exactly known for my patience..." The call ended with a click leaving Jason trapped in a tornado of emotion. The others were looking at him with mixed expressions of panic and concern as his mind span. Racing out of the house, Jason looked about frantically as he tried to think.

The fogginess of the stale air disorientated his senses as he closed his eyes and tried to differentiate the different scents around him.

His eyes snapped open as they locked on an area to the right. Allowing his lycan senses to take over, he ran through the trees and towards the source of the smell. Branches shook in his wake as he bolted past, curled dead leaves crunched under his boots as he threw himself forwards before skidding to a stop.

A bloodied t-shirt rested against the base of a large tree trunk. Yelling out in frustration, he tore the clothing apart, his shout echoing through the scarce woodland.

As his phone began to ring he steadied his hand, panting in exertion. He fought not to destroy the device as he answered it. "What?!"

"Having problems are we? Well, I couldn't make it too easy could I? Why did you think I started the fire in the first place?"

The call abruptly ended and Jason snarled. The phone crumbled in his grip. Danielle was out there somewhere with Zach in who knew what condition and the sense of smell which he relied on so much was clouded by the rancid stench left after the fire. ALL of his senses were dulled in the murkiness left behind, making him feel oddly... human.

After several more failed attempts to find him, he knocked a tree over in his frustration. His wolf form was on the verge of emerging and he fought to hold it back. What he needed now was human logic. If he couldn't trace Zach, he'd have to find another way.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried to calm down. The werewolf wasn't stupid, mad but not stupid; he knew how to manipulate his scent. He knew how to cover his tracks if he didn't want to be found. Jason needed to try and outsmart him- to think on what he may have missed.

Continuing to breathe deeply, he ignored the various scents pulling him in different directions and tried to focus. As the answer suddenly came to him, a victorious smile lit up his face. Zach may have covered his own odour but he hadn't masked Danielle's.

Focussing on the connection between them, he allowed it to take over as he tried to get a fix on her location. Fear and panic nearly suffocated him as he took in her emotions and tried use them to aid his weakened lycan abilities. The other traces in the air fought for his attention but he powered onwards, allowing the basic need to find his mate to take over.

After a pregnant pause, his senses snapped to attention as an alluring fragrance overwhelmed him: Danielle.

Plummeting towards her, his heart raced as the smell became more twisted and darker the closer he got. Terror gripped him as he burst through another line of trees to come across a clearing. Danielle was convulsing on the cold hard ground; her back arched as she shook, her eyelids fluttering. His stomach dropped: she'd been bitten.

Just as he was about to make his way over, Zach stepped out of the shadows, cast by the long limbs of the branches, and smirked. "Hello Jason."

In the blink of an eye, Jason was in front of the other man. Zach easily avoided the move. "Ah, ah, ah: remember what I said about that temper of yours."

Jason followed Zach's movements as he slowly circled the Alpha. The start of a beard was forming on the man's chin; his hair was wild and shaggy. Crazed amber eyes were locked on the Alpha, occasionally flickering, showing the thin line between his human and lycan states. His bared torso was dirty and crusted in mud while the loose fitted jeans that hung loosely on his hips were torn. His feet were covered in scuffed old boots; the laces undone and caked in dirt.

"What is it you want, Zach?"

He grinned exposing his sharp canines. The wolf was closer to the surface than he had originally thought. "You pedigrees are all the same. You all think you're so high and mighty- that you're all so SPECIAL. But look now, Alpha, look what a 'meagre' wolf can do."

"Zach, this has got nothing to do with her."

"But it has though hasn't it?!" He snarled. Claws sprung free in his outburst causing blood to leak down his fingers. Gritting his teeth, they retracted, his fingers continuing to be stained by the remaining wounds. Stretching his hands as they healed, he refocused on Jason. "After all of your prejudice against us- against those who weren't born lycan you go and claim a HUMAN!"

"All of this is in your head! We never treated you as anything other than one of us."

"It is OUR kind that is the problem! It is OUR kind that sees humans as merely play things to be used for entertainment and for any of those turned," He scoffed. "We are an inconvenience: we are an abomination..."

Jason shifted his stance as he kept Danielle in his line of sight. Her fingernails scraped at the grass beneath her uselessly as she tried to find purchase against the clearly unbelievable pain coursing through her veins. "If this is why you feel then why turn her? Why put her through the same?"

"Because you deserve to SUFFER! You deserve to see how it feels to go through the change alone and scared." His eyes shifted once more and Jason realised that he was now speaking to the wolf. "And if she survives the change, I'm going to make you watch her die."

With a growl, Jason launched himself at the man who easily deflected the move. Arms strained as they became locked in a fierce battle. Bones were crushed, ligaments torn as they clawed and grabbed at each other. The wind whipped past them as their movements became quicker, sleeker as injuries healed and they adapted to each other's strategies. Time had no meaning as breaths began harsh and blood flew.

Despite all of this, despite all of the sounds of battle, the only thing that held Jason's attention so unequivocally that it almost drove him to give into the feral urge to change and tear the other werewolf to pieces: it was the sound of Danielle's heart quickening and her breathing becoming shallower and shallower.

Finally, after an unexpected attack which dislocated the other man's shoulder, Jason had Zach pinned to a tree. His breathing was harsh as he tried desperately to smother the urge to transform. Snarls escaped him with each exhale as his hand had a firm grip against the beta's throat. Zach's eyes were wide as he looked up at him before slowly turning his head to expose his neck: submission.

Battling with himself internally, Jason's grasp tightened causing a whimper to escape the other male. Smothering his primal desires, he forced out his words. "Zachary Harrison, I hereby banish you from these lands. You are not to return for as long as you shall live otherwise the penalty shall be death upon sight and without trial. You are not to purposefully seek out or speak to any members of this pack or else you will be put to death. You have an hour to leave to these lands and shall be escorted out of the area." He moved his mouth next to the trembling beta's ear. "Do not take for granted my mercy for I shall not show it again."

Dragging himself away, he turned his attention back to Danielle. Tears ran down her temples as her mouth opened in a silent scream. His anger built with each step closer as he saw her suffering, the decision to spare the unstable man resting uncomfortably on his shoulders.

Just as he was about to reach Danielle's side, he felt the air shift behind him. The tread of feet closed in and without a moment's hesitation, he turned and snapped the man's neck. Zach dropped to the floor, his eyes fixed on a space in the distance. 

Diverting his eyes away, he concentrated once more on his mate before lowering to his knees. Checking her pulse, he found that it was erratic and faint. His head dropped and a pained groan left him. His voice was raw. "Danielle, can you hear me?"

There was no response.

"Danielle, please- please open your eyes. I've been waiting for you my entire life and I can't lose you now." As he looked down into her pale face he thought of all the humans that had gone through the same process only to never open their eyes. Sickness churned in his stomach at the thought of never seeing her smile again. Running a hand over her clammy forehead, another wave of agony swept over him as he realised that he had never had the chance to tell her how he felt. He wished he had just ignored that call earlier; wished that he had just waited a few more moments to confess his feelings for her. "I love you, Danielle. Please, just come back to me."

Sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her away.

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NEXT AND FINAL PART

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Danielle woke up slowly. Her body felt sore as she forced her eyes open before shrinking away from the intense brightness in the room. Taking a moment to adjust to the vibrant colours around her, she smiled as Jason's face came into view; her heart lightening at the sight of him. Her throat felt like sandpaper. "Hi."

A familiar hand swept through her hair causing some of the tension in her shoulders to release. His woodsy scent was divine as he leant closer and she took a minute to inhale the comforting aroma. A smile tugged at his mouth, his eyes seemed bright. "Hi," After placing a kiss against her forehead, he pulled back to inspect her features. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, how long was I out?"

"A couple of days," He admitted. "Is there any pain?"

Her eyes drooped slightly before she forced them back open. "No, I just ache. Do I have a concussion or something?"

A frown marred his brows. "Not that I'm aware of: why?"

"Everything is just so... bright."Lifting a hand sluggishly, she covered her eyes. "Where are we, anyway?"

"We are at Chris's pack. Our pack is currently staying here until the house is repaired or we have secured some other accommodation." His gaze softened before his eyes lowered to the thick duvet pulled up to her chin. "Danielle, I've let you down."

As she tried to remember a reason for his guilt, dropping her hand from her face as she thought, she failed to come up with anything. All she remembered was the unbelievable agony that had consumed her when Zach had bitten the area where Jason had left his mark. Feeling tremors begin to break free, she reached for Jason's hand.

He squeezed back tightly before looking at her once more. Tucking her in more tightly, he cradled her hand in his. "I promised you that I would never let anyone hurt you and Zach..." He exhaled sharply as struggled to meet her eyes.

"Jase, it wasn't your fault- I'm alright."

"I should never have allowed him to inflict that on you- he should never have been in the situation where he could..."

Silence began to engulf the room until Danielle finished off his sentence. "...Turn me."

His lack of response confirmed what she had suspected ever since the moment the torture had set in. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced the words out of her mouth. "I'm... I'm a werewolf aren't I?"




Inner Animal Ch. 15



His grip on her fingers tightened as he forced his head up to meet her face on. "I'm so sorry."

As shock stalled her mind, her hand shook slightly as she clung back to him just as tightly. Her mouth opened before shutting once more with a soft click. Looking into his eyes, she was suddenly reminded of the trademark colour and lifted her free hand to her eyelids. "What, what happens now? Do I have to have something to do with Zach or...?"

His irises flashed in anger before sorrow seemed to seep in. "Zach is dead, Danielle. I tried to spare him but he left me with no choice..." When her mind continued to spin, he cupped her chin to ground her. "I'm going to look after you. I will help you to adjust to the best of my ability." Resting his forehead against hers, he breathed deeply. "You are my mate and I will do whatever I can to help."

Her hand rested against his face. "So is it official now? There's no doubt?"

He pressed his lips to hers and the overwhelming sensation caused her nerves to tingle. As he pulled away, she felt herself following the motion before he steadied her with a hand to her shoulder and a light chuckle. She cleared her throat. "OK, now I get where you were coming from..." As she sagged against the warmth and support, a sudden thought struck her. "Anna! Is she alright?"

He was quick to soothe her. "She's fine, she joined the rest of the group and tried to tell us where you were but he must have moved you."

She gave a small nod. "Can I see her? I know what you've said but I just need..."

His hand brushed the hair from her face. "I understand; she has been waiting for you to wake up so I should imagine that she is as eager to see you as you are her."

His eyes flickered towards the door before it quickly opened and a girl shaped bundle launched herself at Danielle. She huffed as she caught her before holding her tightly against her chest. Ignoring the ache in her muscles, she drew back so that she could look at the girl properly before offering her a reassuring smile. "I'm so happy that you're alright!"

Anna beamed before her eyes widened and she stared intently at Danielle's face. "You look different..."

"Do I?"

Her eyes locked on hers before her mouth dropped into a comical 'o'. "Your eyes are like mine!"

Maverick, who had been lingering in the doorway, chose this moment to enter the room. "That is because she is one of us now, cub."

The girl looked up at her mentor in awe before returning her attention back to Danielle and tilting her head. "Really?"

He gave a low laugh. "Yes, really." Reaching their side, he looked down at Danielle with a wide smile. "It's good to see that you're finally awake."

"It's good to be awake."

Jason grinned from where he was watching the group in the corner. Maverick merely shook his head with a smirk. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit sore and tired but apart from that I'm not too bad. I'm just trying to get my head around it all."

He nodded in understanding. "I see; we shall give you some time to recover."

Anna began to pout. "But!"

"Anna..."

At his tone she lowered her head with a frown but gave Danielle a hug. "Bye Danielle."

The new werewolf squeezed her back just as tightly before releasing the girl who made her way out of the room. Maverick beamed down at her before placing a large hand on the top of her head. As he began to mutter under her breath, she felt the ache in her bones begin to subside and the discomfort ease. Releasing a breath, she felt the tension release from her as he slowly withdrew his palm. "Thank you."

"No problem." After a quick squeeze of her shoulder, he followed Anna out.

Just as Danielle was about to lay back down, two more familiar faces appeared. "Oh thank goodness you're finally awake, my dear."

A tired smile came across her face as she looked up at the older woman. "How are you, Lizzie?"

She waved the question away. "Oh pish posh: I'm more concerned about you than anything else."

"I'm fine..."

Hollie, after giving her hand a quick squeeze, she moved to speak with Jason, leaving Danielle and Lizzie to speak more privately. Lizzie took to the opportunity with vigour. "How are you REALLY?"

Biting the inside of her lip, she looked towards her partner who seemed to be fully distracted by the conversation he was having with his sister. It was a new experience to be able to hear every breath and shift of the air around them as they conversed as well as each syllable that was being said. Trying to block them out, she tried to come up with a suitable answer. "Honestly? Overwhelmed. Yesterday, I was constantly feeling as though I was missing out on things. You guys were all 'tuned in' with each other and I felt like I was second guessing all the time. Yesterday, I was HUMAN and now..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to summarise how she was feeling. "Now everything is so much clearer. It's like before my head was under murky water and now everything is so bright and different. It's a lot to take in..."

She nodded in understanding before patting Danielle's hand gently. "I can only imagine. I can assure you though, that my son will be with you every step of the way."

Glancing back up at the man in question, she caught his eye and smiled. "I know he will."

Warmth flowed through her and with stark clarity she realised that it was coming from him. Blinking in surprise, she felt the stirrings of unease before he quickly soothed her through the link and she couldn't help but calm.

Once she turned her attention back to the woman at her side, she blushed when she realised that the woman was watching their interaction in interest. "Yes, I think that you will be just fine."

Drifting away, she made her way over to her son as Hollie took her mother's place at Danielle's side. She looked torn as she struggled to meet the other woman's gaze. "When I heard what had happened..."

Danielle held up her hand. "Remember what I said: none of this is your fault."

She bit off the rest of what she was going to say as she looked towards the ground. After a long pause, she brought her head up; her face set in determination. "At least he's gone now. He can't hurt anyone anymore."

"Yeah: I guess there is that..." Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat at the memory of Zach's heavy weight pinning her down, his foul breath on her face as he mocked her; she fought to gather composure.

Hollie's eyes met her family's as Danielle tried to pull herself together before Lizzie cut across her thoughts. "Perhaps it would be best if we gave you some privacy."

The tension in the air was thick as the two women left leaving Jason and Danielle looking at each other. After several minutes of silent contemplation, Jason sighed and moved so that he was sat on the edge of Danielle's bed. His hand took one of hers that was laying flat against the bedspread, before cradling it as though it was made of the most fragile glass.

Clearing his throat, he frowned down at her fingers. "I don't want you to think that killing him was easy. I didn't want to... I told him to leave and never come back but..." He shook his head and silence reigned over the room. Danielle thought that he wasn't going to speak again when his broken voice pierced the air. "I've never killed anyone before..."

Her heart heavy, she hauled herself closer to him and freed her hand so that she could wrap her arms around his shoulders. Exhaling, he buried his face in her neck as she held him tightly. "I know you and I know that you would have done everything you could have."

He clung on to her tightly as she held him close before he pulled himself away. Running a hand through his hair, he offered a wan smile. "Unfortunately it is just one of the responsibilities that come with being an Alpha."

"It's OK to be bothered by it."

He nodded lightly. "I know just, just give me some time." Clearly eager to move past the topic, he cupped the side of her face. "I'm more concerned about you. How are you handling the change?"

The corners of her mouth turned up as she met his gaze. "Just give me some time."

As his lips met hers, she knew that things weren't perfect and she knew that they had a long way to go until they could each get used to the dramatic changes in their lives. But, most of all, she knew they'd get there in the end and that's all that mattered.

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EPILOGUE

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Danielle grinned up at the stage as the other women danced to the song echoing around the room from the worn out CD player. She stamped her foot in time with the beat from 'Grounds for Divorce' as they moved, a bright grin lighting up her face.

Life was pretty damn good. The pack's house was well on the way to being repaired and many werewolves were using the opportunity to extend the property for its ever growing member numbers. Danielle was planning on going back to school, much to her delight, and Jason was right by her side giving her all the support and financing she needed. Well... half of the finances- what could she say? It WAS the twenty first century...

As the chorus kicked in, Mark slammed his palm down on the surface of the bar and she sent a quick wink his way which he returned.

She was moving in with Jason as well which meant that Mark could have a proper room. After a long conversation with the pair, and once they'd gotten over their initial shock of the fact she was moving in with her boyfriend after only a month, she'd won the argument over rent which meant that she would still pay money towards the flat so that they wouldn't have to find a new roommate to cover expenses.

Hollie was a lot better now that she didn't feel as though she had to constantly look over her shoulder. The last Danielle had heard; she and Chris were now trying for a baby.

The pack had even begun to acknowledge her as the new madam Alpha which was still, admittedly, TERRIFYING but Carolyn and Lizzie were acting as her mentors and guiding her through her new responsibilities. Maverick was also there to offer some peace and perspective whenever she felt overwhelmed as well as little Anna and Sean who would drag her off to play.

She was even getting used to having to wear green contacts while she was around anyone human. For a long while it had been difficult to wrap her head around the idea that she was a different species but after her first transformation during the full moon there was no denying it. Jason had been a god send, holding her and offering words of encouragement as the pain had ripped through her (one of the unfortunate side effects of turning for the first time after being human apparently) which had helped her through it.

Her fur had been a rich black which had appeared blue in certain light. Everything had appeared sharper and crisper. With the moon at her back the urge to play was overwhelming and Jason, after a brief laugh, changed so that they could run into the forest together. She was still struggling with the blatant nudity though- which was ironic considering what she used to do- but she was getting into the habit of keeping a bag of clothes stuffed in a hollow oak tree that she could quickly put on when she changed back into her human form.

The only sour note was when Jason had realised who had betrayed him to Zach. It was still taking its toll on the Alpha even now and once he'd found out that it had been Lincoln who had gone behind his back, it had hit him hard. She was helping him to deal with it as best as she could and they would often spend long nights just talking about all that had happened.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she looked towards the dancers who were finishing the routine and clapped loudly with everyone else in the room.

Yeah, it was all coming together. And who knew? It turned out that Jason Evans wasn't TOO much of an arrogant bastard after all. He was just the person she had been waiting for all along.

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THE END

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So there we have it! I hope that you have enjoyed reading 'Inner Animal'. A very special thank you goes to all the wonderful people who left such encouraging and lovely reviews and feedback as well as those who took the time to give each chapter a rating.

Hopefully I'll be back with another story soon ;

Love love!

Raven Moon x