[Zlataslawa]

Chapter 4



Abby’s arms shook as she held her weight tensely in anticipation of what was to come. She listened as wolf-man Connor mewled and whimpered behind her, his huge member nudging at her entrance. Abby had just enough time to suck in a breath before he was penetrating her already sensitive core. She screamed and her arms gave out. He was so huge and he’d not given her time to adjust. She bit down on her arm to try and muffle her scream as he buried himself deep inside her, her entire body shaking.

His clawed hands left her hips to bat lightly at her shoulders and neck. He leaned forward and she felt his heated breath on her cheek just before his hot, rough tongue rasped up the column of her neck.

“I’m okay. Just give me some time to adjust. You’re a bit bigger than the average bloke.” Abby breathed. Connor whimpered, sounding identical to a wounded puppy. “Seriously, I’m fine. I just need a minute.” Abby patted his paw. “ Maybe not quite so rough from here on out?” Connor licked the shell of her ear and Abby smiled. Simply having time to get used to him was helping a great deal. Thank god she’s stuck with yoga for so long. She had a feeling it was about to come in very helpful.

He returned his paws to her hips and began to move, pulling out just a few centimeters and then pushing back into her again. Abby was reduced to whimpering and panting once again as his enormous cock moved more and more inside of her. It was overwhelming and she had to consciously remind herself to relax. Wolf or no, it was Connor and he’d never hurt her on purpose. She pillowed her head on her arms and gave herself up to him. He held her against him, back to front. Abby reached down and lay her hand against his big furry paw again. He licked her ear once more and despite all the fear Abby felt and the uncertainty, she laughed. Abby could have sworn the low rumble that she felt deep in Connor’s chest against her back was his own wolfish laugh.

Connor gave her another lick to the back of her neck and then behind her ear, his wolf’s snout cold a wet as he nuzzled, sending shivers down Abby’s spine. Abby circled her hips in his grasp and he slowly increased the pace of his thrusts. Connor grunted and growled into her ear sending thrills rippling through her.

Abby writhed beneath him, at first whimpering but then pushing back to meet his thrusts. As his pace quickened Abby felt her already sensitive core begin to flutter and tingle. She wriggled beneath him and he seemed to be able to read her thoughts. Oh god! She wanted him to touch her with those werewolf claws of his. No! She needed him to touch her with his claws. Now.

His hand moved from her hip to her center. She could feel his fingers right where they were joined and then his thumb ghosted over her clit. Abby threw her head back and gasped. The tingling intensified. Connor was pounding deep into her, his hips slamming against her backside.

She just needed something more. His thumb moved back over her clit and the elongated sharpened fingernail that was halfway to a claw scratched along the sensitive little bud. Abby screamed and came harder than she ever thought possible. The world darkened around her as her orgasm threatened to overwhelm her. Her inner walls pulsed and rippled along the huge length of Connor’s cock.

And them something strange happened. Connor’s paced slowed. He pushed deep into her, moved his hand from her between her thighs to her hips and pulled her back against him. Hard. His almost-claws digging into her hips so hard she could feel the flesh rend slightly.

Instead of the pleasant lessening of pressure Abby felt Connor growing impossibly thicker inside her, just past her entrance. Abby writhed and squirmed. She felt the panic crashing in on her. She was locked onto his cock.

Oh she was an idiot. How could she not have seen this coming? Connor whimpered and nuzzled her. His warm hands released their painful grip on her hips and his long furry arms wrapped around her. He lapped at the back of her neck and shoulders. He licked the side of her face and the back of her ear.

Slowly the panic subsided and Abby’s breathing calmed. He’d knotted her, like a proper mate. She’d seen it in her work at the zoo. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of the possibility of this happening. She’d seen animals knotted long periods of time. She wondered how long they’d stay like this. Werewolf knotting was uncharted territory.

He held her against him and began to rock his hips against her once again. Abby moaned with the extended pleasure and Connor’s small grunts became small whimpers and then small howls of pleasure as he continued to take her. He kept this up for another five minutes before he shuddered and released inside of her, a full howl breaking from his throat and careening up towards the moon. Abby sighed and threaded her fingers through his big wolf hands.

The panic almost returned when she thought about having cubs. A moment after that she remembered her cycle and knew she’d be okay. She relaxed back against Connor’s warm furry chest and reached back to pat his whiskered cheek.

“I’m okay. We’ll be okay, Conn. I promise.” She almost thought she felt a wolfy grin pass through him. He held her close to him and wrapped his long limbs around her until she felt completely cocooned. She drifted off into a warm pleasant slumber in her wolf’s arms, exhausted and satisfied.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

Two hours later, Connor was still dozing with Abby in his arms. He slipped from her finally and when he woke, still in his huge, monstrous form, not quite man but not fully wolf. He gently picked Abby up, cradling her against his warm furry chest. Abby mumbled in her sleep but he didn’t understand her. He sniffed the air. They needed shelter soon. It was going to rain. His hackles rose. Not just rain. There was a storm brewing.

He carried her to a small stone structure. He didn’t know where he was exactly, but it was cozy looking. He heard thunder in the distance. He wrenched open the heavy door with one arm and ducked in. Lightning flashed in the eastern sky.

He gently laid Abby on the floor. She shivered and whimpered his name. He pulled the door shut as the first drops of rain started to fall.

He returned to Abby and again wrapped her in his arms, shutting out the chill. He nuzzled her neck and licked her cheek before settling in himself to wait out the storm. With in a few minutes he was sleeping soundly too as the storm began to rage.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

It was another clap of thunder that woke Connor and Abby some four hours later. Connor took a moment to realize where he was. Everything from the night before seemed foggy and muddled, like he’d been in the middle of a very intense dream. His back was cold, like he was exposed to a draft, but his front was pleasantly warm, something soft and pale was in his arms. He hummed appreciatively and rubbed his cheek against the warm softness, pulling it closer, his mind still hazy and sleepy and unsure if he’d fully wakened or not.

He glanced around at his surroundings. His eyebrows knit together. This was a weird dream…

Connor was in a stone building, but it was really small. There was an iron door and the ceiling was slightly vaulted. The floor was a bit dirty and he could feel the grime clinging to his skin. He looked over and noticed three stone slabs raised off the ground. What kind of place was this?

The warm soft thing in his arms suddenly moved. Abby. This dream got weirder and weirder. Abby stretched and yawned before sitting up. As she stretched again, Connor noticed myriad scratches and bruises littering her body. And she was naked. Abby… In his arms… Naked. And covered in bruises and scratches? What was going on?

He looked down at himself and was shocked to realize he was just as equally naked. Oh my god! Did he do that to Abby? Why was he naked? Why was she naked? Did he force himself on her? Oh god! Did he rape Abby?

Holy crow! What had happened? He had to remember. Connor panicked, wracking his brain for any information from the night before. Had he done something to Abby? The question kept shouting at him in his brain. All he could remember was going to the cemetery to check out an anomaly and then… nothing. He looked around and knew they were in some sort of crypt or mausoleum. They had gone to Highgate after all. Where else could they be but in a crypt.

Panic drove him and he pulled away from Abby with an agonized cry.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

Abby had kept her back to Connor and had not noted his panic. She’d been happily lazing in his arms, relieved that he was back in human form. She heard him hum in satisfaction and felt him nuzzle at her hair with his cheek. Everything seemed so right. They belonged together. It just worked. Abby smiled to herself, surprised at the conclusion she’d reached. Connor Temple was her match. She would have never believed that a few months ago. She sat up and stretched. There were practicalities to see to now though. No time for anymore dawdling. They could have a more serious talk about their relationship later.

She jumped in fright when Connor’s cry startled her, breaking her quiet reverie.

She turned to him with eyes wide in reaction to the sound of utter despair that had escaped him.

“Connor? What’s wrong? Connor?” She tried to go to him and he pushed her away, his eyes only seeing the numerous bruises and scrapes that covered her body.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. What ever happened, I didn’t mean to… to hurt you. I’m so sorry… I was me wasn’t it? That did…” He motioned pitifully to the marks that covered her body. “That did all that to you? Was it me? Abby there’s something seriously wrong with me.” Connor had reached the far wall of mausoleum and sank down against the wall.

Connor curled up on himself in an attempt to cover his nakedness and refused to look her in the eyes.

Abby inserted herself into his personal space, kneeling in front of him, and grabbed his arms.

“Connor! Stop it! Look at me!”

Connor looked anywhere other than at naked Abby, biting his lip and trying to blink away his tears. His entire body was shaking as Abby placed both her hands on his face, gently forcing him to look at her.

“Connor, you didn’t hurt me. I’m okay. You were just a bit stronger then you realized at first is all. We were good together. I know something is wrong. You’re a werewolf, Connor.”

“What? No! No I can’t be.”

“Connor, you of all people, with all your silly knowledge of lore and scifi theories, you should recognize this. Think… Would I lie to you? About something like this? You are a werewolf, Connor. But you didn’t hurt me. Even with the mind of an animal, you could never hurt me.”

“But you’re naked. I forced you to have sex, didn’t I?”

Abby could see the raging despair threatening to take over Connor.

Still holding his face, she pressed her lips to his. She moved form his lips to his forehead, his eyelids, the tip of his nose and back to his lips once again.

“Connor. You did not force me. Yes, we had sex. But it was not forced. Do you hear me? It was good and beautiful and perfect. Connor, you’re amazing and I felt pleasure from every moment of it.”

“But… I can’t remember. It’s not what I would have done. It wasn’t me. I don’t remember a single moment of it, Abby.” Tears brimmed in his eyes again.

“Well, when we get all this sorted out, which we will, we’ll just have to do it when you can remember.” She smiled reassuringly at him.

Connor felt the panic that had gripped him loosen just a bit. It was still the second night in a row he’d woken up with no memory of what had happened to him. That alone was terrifying.

“Connor, I’m here. We’re in this together now, okay? We need to get back to the ARC. Let’s call and get someone to pick us up because god knows where my keys are. They can bring us clothes…”

Abby glanced around. No mobile phone. Damn! Looking back at Connor she could tell his expression reflected the same sinking realization.

“Abby, the phones are with are clothes, aren’t they? I don’t know where that is. I barely remember climbing over the wall to get here.”

Abby put a finger to his lips. “It’s okay. We’ll find them. Don’t panic. You stay in here. I’ll be back.”

“Abby, you can’t go out there like that. I should…”

“Connor,” Abby spoke firmly but not unkindly. “You don’t remember last night at all. I’m smaller and I can hide better if someone comes along. It’s a horrid day outside so there’s hope that the cemetery won’t have many visitors today. I’ll be right back. I promise. Just stay here.”

Connor nodded and Abby moved to the door.

Abby carefully shifted it open. It was very heavy and creaked a little in protest. It looked like it was still early enough that the cemetery was empty of visitors. Abby dashed from bush to bush for cover as she searched for where her cloths and mobile might be. Blessedly, it had ceased raining for the moment, but the sky looked like it had more in store for the people of London.

Just when Abby was starting to worry she wouldn’t be able to find at least one of their mobiles in all the wet mud from the storm she heard a ringtone drifting through the cemetery. It was the most divine sound in that moment. Abby ran in the direction of the sound, still trying to keep as much cover as possible.

She snatched it up and answered the call, hoping that the water-logged phone would still work properly enough for some communication.

“Cutter? Can you hear me?”

His answer was laced with static but she could just make him out.

“Are… two okay? Where… you? Anom… Been ringing… all… “

“Cutter you’re breaking up, but I hope you can hear me. We need someone to come get us. And we need clothes from our flat. Did you hear what I just said?”

“Where are…? Clothes from…”

“Yes, clothes. We’re still at Highgate. We’re hidden in a mausoleum. It’s labeled The Family Vault of William and Caroline Harris, also of Miss Harriet Hartwell.”

The phone died.

All she could hope was that Cutter had heard her and would be on his way soon.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

Nick had only made out a partial address from Abby so it had taken him a while to find them in the rainy, muddy cemetery. He had been shocked at finding them completely naked. He thought they only needed a change of clothes because they’d been wet from the storm. Nick handed them their clothes through the partially open door.

“When you two are dressed, I expect a full explanation on what the hell is going on,” he’d ordered.

Abby nodded curtly before shutting the door. She’d helped Connor into the baggy jeans and t-shirt, then wrapped the jacket Nick had brought around him. Connor hadn’t said much since she’d manage to convince him that he was a werewolf. It was a lot to process. Abby opened the door and let Cutter inside, then she began her explanation.

Connor looked up from the spot on the ground he’d been staring at for the better part of the last half-hour as Abby had explained nearly all of what had transpired over the last two days to the professor. The only thing she’d left out was the fact that Connor and her had had sex. He was glad of that. It wasn’t really any of their business anyways.

“Before you shout at us, you need to know that something has happened to Connor. He’s okay, I think, but it’s going to take the whole team to figure out what to do. We’re going to have to tell Lester.”

“What are you talking about, Abby. He looks fine.”

“Cutter, Connor’s a werewolf.”

Cutter leaned forward and sniffed Abby. She leaned back and looked at him curiously.

“Well, you don’t smell high, but then again, I don’t know how long it’s been since you did what ever you did.”

“We’re not high, Cutter!” Abby said, perturbed. “It’s true. That wolf thing that bit him did this. We all saw it. Connor was missing all of the night before and last night he turned into a giant wolf right after I got off the phone with Lester. Why else do you think we’re naked in a crypt in the middle of Highgate Cemetery?”

“I don’t know! But werewolves don’t exist. It’s not possible!”

“As not possible as gorgonopsid lurking in the Forest of Dean? As not possible as a predator from the future prowling around a zoo? As not possible as a sarcopterygian popping up in the middle of the Indian Ocean?” Abby glared at Cutter.

That had been the end of the debate at that point. Cutter had agreed to at least hear them out when they explained everything to the rest of the group.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

Sat in Lester’s office with no boxers on under his jeans and an equally panty-less and bra-less Abby standing next him, Connor felt utterly wretched.

“We have to find the alpha. If we don’t find him I may be stuck like this for the rest of my life. I can’t live like that. Please. We’ve got to find him tonight, it’s the last full moon!” Connor pleaded.

“Yes I agree, before it kills someone else,” Lester stated. “However, we can’t have two of you running around endangering everyone.”

“What!” Connor yelled. “If you think I’m going to stay here and twiddle my thumbs while everyone else goes on the hunt—“

“Don’t you mean paws, or claws or whatever it is you have in that state? No. Stephen and Cutter will head up the hunt tonight.”

“But it has to be me!” Connor pleaded. “According to the legends if I don’t kill him I’ll be stuck like this. I can’t… I can’t stay this way forever.” Connor turned his puppy eyes to Abby, knowing she would understand. “I can’t.”

“Connor could be our best ally here. He can find him. Maybe sniff him out or something. He’s not a danger. I spent all night with him last night,” Abby defended.

“Well, you might be okay with putting your own life at risk, but I have the entire population of London to think of. I’ll not have a wolf running around as part of the ARC team. I mean, what do you want, an ARC badge on your collar? There are dog control laws to consider.”

“Oh, come on. I can’t just sit here. I have to go find him. It. The thing that bit me. It’s the only way. You have to listen to me,” Connor begged.

“Connor, you have your moments of brilliance, but unfortunately for you it’s interspersed with disaster. Now disaster plus werewolf? I cannot allow it.”

“What are you going to do? Lock me up?” Connor asked, anger flashing in his eyes. They couldn’t do this.

“That’s a fantastic idea actually.” Lester pressed his intercom button. “Loraine, how far along are the menagerie cells? Any of them creature ready?”

“What?” Abby and Connor both yelled at the same time.

“I think one is ready, sir.”

“Good. Could you call for Lieutenant Morris? I’m require his assistance, alone with…” Lester looked at the group in front of him. “Four of his men.”

“Now wait just a minute, Lester,” came Cutter’s drawl. “Connor’s a valued member of this team. You can’t just throw him in a cage. He’s proven he’s not a threat.”

“Cutter, were you there last night? Abby, are you telling me that if I were to have the medical staff examine you that they would find absolutely no marks on your body from wolf-Connor?” He fixed his stare at Abby who couldn’t hold his gaze and quickly looked away. “No. I thought not. Connor, it’s for your own good.”

“For my own good. That’s why you called for the soldiers?”

“I called for the soldiers in case you resist. They won’t be necessary if you agree.”

“I can’t. Lester, it has to be me. Don’t you get it? I’ll be stuck this way.”

“Then I’ll buy you a lamp for the cell so it’ll feel like home. My decision is final.”

“Connor, don’t worry. Stephen and I’ll take care of the creature. You’ll be fine. We’ll figure this out,” Cutter promised.

Connor stood. “No! You can’t do this. You can’t lock me up. I’ve done nothing wrong. You have to let me help you.”

The soldiers arrived just as Connor opened the door to leave. Lester sighed in exasperation.

“Lieutenant Morris, would you be so kind as to detain Mr. Temple. He’s been bitten by a creature and is possibly contaminated. He needs to be quarantined. The completed cell in the menagerie should be fine.”

Lieutenant Morris shifted into a ready stance as he eyed Connor warily.

Connor looked at the door, his escape so close. He made a break for it. He shoved Lieutenant Morris out of the way and back into his men. He was stronger than normal. Now it was time to find out if he was faster than normal.

As he fled the room, jumping over Morris’ men, he heard the soldier shouting into his radio to send back up and stop Connor Temple. Oh god! This wasn’t happening.

He ran headlong into another group of Morris’ men. There were more of them and within seconds he was pinned against the wall, arms outstretched, legs kicking uselessly.

“Let go! I have to find him! Let me go!” Connor fought and struggled desperately, hope dying in him along with his strength.

The soldiers flipped him around and pinned his arms behind him.

“Don’t be too rough with him. Just get him to the cell and leave him there,” Lester drawled.

“Lester!” Abby yelled. “This is wrong! Let him go.” Abby stormed after the soldiers that were dragging Connor away. “Get your hands off of him, he’s not going to hurt any one. Stop it. He’s a human being.”

Abby was grabbing at the soldiers in the back of the group dragging Connor. She watched in horror as Connor wrenched one of his arms free and made to punch the closest soldier to him. The soldier dodged the blow and retaliated, his fist catching Connor on the cheek, splitting it open. Connor grunted but continued to resist. Abby was shocked; that soldier had just punched Connor.

Abby saw red. She lunged at the soldier that had retaliated against Connor. She caught him by the hair with a growl.

The soldier turned abruptly and used his bigger size to his advantage against Abby. He flipped her easily over his body and pinned her against a wall. Abby started to cry out but the force of her body impacting the wall knocked all the breath out of her.

“Get him down to the menagerie right now!” yelled Lieutenant Morris as he turned to deal with Abby and the soldier pinning her. “Miss Maitland, would you please show some restraint. As Lester has stated, it’s for his own good ma’am.” His hand was on his weapon as he spoke.

Abby shoved hard against the soldier that had her pinned and then grabbed the underside of his arms. He got just enough skin beneath his arms to affect the nerves. She dig her nails in with all of her strength and pulled straight down. The soldier howled in pain and released his grip on Abby. She managed to duck around the shocked Lieutenant Morris and barrel into the new soldier that was dragging Connor away.

Connor was still continuing to fight. Abby hoped she’d be able to get him a break and he could make a real run for it. She had to be faster. She could hear Lieutenant Morris calling for back up as well as Cutter shouting at Lester.

Abby reared back to hit the bigger man but he was faster and better trained than she. He swept her leg and the next thing Abby knew, she pinned beneath him. She tried to bite him and he raised his fist to strike her.

“Stop!” The cry came from Connor. He saw the soldier about to strike and turned for her. “Please? Stop. Please. I’ll go with you. I’ll cooperate. Just don’t hurt her.”

“Connor, I’m trying to help.” Abby stated.

“You can’t help me.” He looked over to where Lester, Stephen and Cutter had ceased their arguing to stare at them. “No one can.” Connor stood, his shoulders slumped and set in defeat.

“Connor?” Abby asked.

“No, it’s not worth you getting hurt. I’ll go and cooperate.”

Abby looked at Lester and Morris wishing that looks really could kill. “This is wrong. You all know it.” She looked blatantly at Cutter, then to Lester and Stephen. “If this dooms him to remaining this way, it’ll be all your fault for not listening to him. You all underestimate him and you always have.”

Abby turned to look back at Connor. The beaten expression on his face broke her heart. “Thanks, Abby. It means a lot.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, Abby. Lester’s right. What if I hurt you? I can’t stand the thought of that. I saw the marks I left on you last night. No. It’s best if you just… just stay away from me. Do me a favour though, Abby? Please go home. Stay away from this. If I can’t be out there, if I can’t protect you, then please just go home… just until the full moon has passed. Please?”

Abby felt the heat rise in her cheeks, she nodded without thinking. She knew the others were looking at her, wanting some sort of explanation from her. She couldn’t give them one. She wouldn’t give them one. It wasn’t any of their business.

“Whatever you need from me, Connor. But I know, more than anyone else here, especially after last night, you won’t hurt me. I don’t care what anyone says, not even you, Connor. You’d never hurt me.”

“Just be safe then,” he whispered quietly. Then he turned and walked away with the soldiers, including a still furiously flustered Lieutenant Morris. He paused at the corner and gave her a watery smile and halfhearted wave. And then he was gone.

Abby’s vision clouded. It wasn’t fair. Connor was the one person who could track the alpha down. As good a tracker as Stephen was he couldn’t smell out his prey. Connor, in his wolf form, could.

She rounded on the others, especially Lester. Her feet were moving before she was even sure what she was going to do. Her little pixie sized body was in their boss’ personal space a heartbeat later. She stood on her tiptoes and put her finger on his chest. She didn’t yell.

“You,” she said in a deadly quiet voice barely above a whisper. “You should be ashamed of yourself. How dare you do this to him. How dare you let it come to what just happened. He deserves more than this. You should all be ashamed.”

She turned from them before they could respond and left three shocked faces staring after her. As soon as she was around the corner the tears started to fall. She pulled in deep breaths through her nose in an effort to get control of her emotions. Abby wasn’t prone to tears, but this was beyond anything she’d ever thought she’d have to deal with in her job.

She ducked into the ladies to try and get a handle on herself. She pulled the stall door closed. As she grabbed for the tissues to wipe away her tears an idea came to her. They would all assume she’d gone home. Oh this was brilliant. She’d just wait until no one was watching for her and then she would go to Connor. She’d stay with him. If he wouldn’t let her in, then she would wait until he changed form and then go in anyway. The wolf would never tell her no.

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

Connor walked with the guards down to the semi-completed menagerie. He didn’t say a word and he didn’t resist. Still, the soldiers must have continued to be angry with him. They shoved him along and kept a tight, bruising hold on his arms. Connor knew, even if it was based in legend, that if he weren’t the one to kill the alpha, he’d be stuck like this, turning into a werewolf, every full moon for the rest of his life.

Before he knew it he was at the door to the cell he would occupy. The soldier, the one who had nearly hit Abby, shoved him so hard into the cell that he stumbled and tripped on his own feet. Clearly the man was still upset over what had happened.

The heavy door clanged shut and he heard the guard laughing.

He sprawled out on the floor. He heard the lock click and then everything was quiet. There was a bare light above tucked into a steel cage for safety from what ever animal might be stalking around the cell. Connor checked his watch. The sun wouldn’t be down for hours yet. He had nothing better to do but lay here and feel sorry for himself.

He rolled over and curled into a ball. The likelihood that he would be locked up in this cell every month for the rest of his life settled in on him. Waves of fear and depression washed over him. He had been heartened by the fact that Abby had defended him, but the glow had gone the minute the soldiers had started fighting with her. She was such a tiny little thing. He couldn’t have lived with himself if she had been hurt because of him.

The cell was utterly devoid of anything comfy or cozy. No furniture, nothing… just four cold hard walls and a cold hard floor. Connor shivered. It was going to be a long night made even longer by the thought of all his long years stretched out in front of him, facing this cell three times a month for the next 12 months, and then the 12 months after that, and on and on, until he died.

Connor was never one to hide his emotions well. He felt the tears dampen his cheeks and he welcomed them and the despair they brought.