From the moment she stepped into those trees once again, she was deemed his. No longer protected by the witch, she was his to ravish and do as he pleased. The deal he had made with the witch was broken, and he was allowed to do whatever the hell he wanted.

Klara was a powerful witch, she had felt the girl's soul and had seen early on what she was destined for the moment she stepped foot on Russian soil. She was quick to wind her magic around the girl, protecting her from the beast who craved the human so viciously, of course this had infuriated him but he was powerless against her magic. She didn't know why he'd chosen her, but he did and that wasn't something even the most powerful magic could change. She was destined to be his and he'd be killed before he let her get away, even then the beast would fight for her in the deepest pits of hell. He had fought for her the minute he had figured out she was to be his and he couldn't have her; that's where the deal came in. Despite the great lust he felt for the girl, he didn't like the idea of having this girl around and he didn't want her near, so he let the witch protect her, but his beast wasn't happy. So he gave her three strikes, if the girl is in his territory or in danger three times, she is his. The witch was supposed to protect her and that entailed protecting the human girl from even him.

Deep in the forest, Grey had no idea he was there, yet she unintentionally following him until she was officially in his territory, and only then did he make his presence known underneath the dim light of the moon.

"We meet again, moya l'vitsa." His words were smooth and he could see the fear glimmer in those eyes of hers for a second before it disappeared and was replaced with simply nothing - nevertheless that fear for him was there deep down and he lived for that. "You should know by now that the forest is dangerous at this time of night."

"I'm not afraid of you."

He growled out his words. "Ne lgi mne. I could sense your fear the moment you stepped into the trees. You cannot fool me."

There is a silence that settles over them and he uses this time to look her over. Even clad in thick sweatpants and a large coat, he can still feel the flame of desire lick up his spine. Her wild hair and bright eyes have him imagining what she'd look like after a night with him. His thoughts run wild with images of her bare legs wrapped around him as she cries out his name in bliss, her hair even more a mess from his hands pulling it and her eyes dark with lust only for him. The beast inside him raged at these thoughts. It wanted her desperately.

She was still silent so he spoke, beginning to move around in the darkness. "You know, you are a fool to come into these trees alone. A beast could take you as his and you'd never see the light of day again." There was something else in his words, Grey could hear it.

"You'd let them take me away?" She was playing with him, the predator now becoming prey. "You'd let a beast ruin me?"

He growled. "I cannot stop a beast once it has been unleashed."

His words made Grey shiver but she never let her fear show through. She titled her chin up and raised a brow at the trees. "Then show me, beast, what I have to fear. Come into the light."

He knew deep down that she wanted him to deny her request and disappear into the trees, her braveness only a façade, a protective shell to keep the innocent girl from being ruined. Deep down she feared him, she'd probably rather die than be with him, but even deeper down he knew she wanted him just as bad as he her. So he stepped forward, until his entire body was drenched beneath the light of the moon, watching her as her eyes widened just the slightest and burned a path over his entire being.

•

Her eyes took every inch of him in. Despite his large body being hidden beneath a thick flannel and jeans, she could imagine that every part of him was rippling with muscles. He was tall, broad shoulders and a strong jawline, his lips were pink and full, a sharp nose rested between those two blue eyes she came to know so well. His hair was dark, unkept and wild - just like him. He was mesmerizing.

Grey was silent, staring into the eyes of the man otherwise known as a beast, khishchnik, a murderer. All these thoughts were running through her head, but nothing could stop the rapid beating of her heart as he stepped closer, not from fear but from excitement. He stepped closer and closer, his bare feet sinking into the snow; he was trying to scare her. He wanted her to run away in fear, so he could chase her. He wanted her to be the prey to fit so perfectly to him. He wanted her blood to taste even sweeter after fighting for her.

She lifted her head higher, trying to seem brave but her façade faltered when he was toe to toe with her, his breath fanning across her forehead. He reached a hand out, tucking her golden hair behind her ear.

"You are afraid, I can hear your heartbeat."

"How could I not be even the slightest, standing before a murderer?"

He growled, low in his chest, his eyes narrowed on the human girl. "Watch your tongue. You'd be smart to turn around and go back to Klara now before you regret it."

"What are you going to do?" Grey stood her ground, red hot anger slowly filling her veins. "Kill me like you killed those little boys?"

"I'd do far worse to you, darling." The way he spoke the word 'darling', the way his lips curled into a grin made Grey shiver. Yet the image of those sinful lips covered in the blood of the innocent had her shivering with fear.

He shocked her when he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. Eliciting a gasp from Grey, he tightened his grip on her shoulders and pressed her body firm against his as he leaned forward.

With each word he spoke, his breath fanned across Grey's ear and slithered down her slender neck. "We've had this conversation before, do you not remember?" Grey's body was tense against his, afraid of moving the wrong way and angering him, or worse. "While the thought of ripping your pretty little heart out pleases me, I'd rather do much more. What I wouldn't give to get inside that head of yours, to possess your entire being, to hear you beg for mercy, to beg a beast to kill you. When I said I like to play with my food, I meant I like to see it suffer before I end its life."

Grey ripped away from him, spinning around when she was a good few feet away, only to find he was gone. She knew he was still there though, for his presence was one of a thunder cloud; causing so much turmoil without physically touching anything. She didn't realize she was crying until a sob left her lips and she sank to her knees.

"Why does a brave girl cry?" His voice was behind her, but she didn't turn away. "I thought she didn't fear anything."

"You've ruined me." Her voice was broken, a weak whisper. "I don't even know your name, but you've ripped apart my life more than anyone I've ever met. You haunt my dreams in the most amazing ways, yet I still fear the beast that you are. I am afraid of you, I admit it."

He approached her slowly, until he was looming above her kneeled form. He then leaned down just enough to lift her chin so she peered up at him. His gentle touch took her by surprise, even more by his soft tone. "I am not a merciful man, and neither is my beast."

Grey frowned up at him, utterly confused. "What?"

"Go back to your cabin. Do not enter the trees again." He dropped the hand under he chin and became rigid.

She stood and shook her head. "I can't."

"You will, or I will have your heart between my teeth." He snarled as if to add effect.

Despite her tears, she emphasized each word with the tiniest bit of venom. "I can't go back."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Petra blamed me for you killing her brother. . . I'm going back to America."

Rage filled the man before her. "Why did she blame you?"

Grey hesitated. "She just said if I had never come here, you never would've killed Ethen. The woman in the square practically said the same thing when you killed her boy."

"Why would they say that?" His eyes narrowed on the girl.

"Petra thinks we've 'bonded' or whatever it's called. She said that's the only valid reason that you haven't killed me."

He was tense. "Like I said before, I enjoy toying with my food."

"Well I guess you're gonna have to hunt down some new food." Grey gave a small smile, attempting to ease the mood but if anything, the air grew colder.

"I do not waste my food. I will not finish until I am fully satisfied." He walked closer to Grey, who backed up further and further. "And we are far from finished my darling."

With that, he closed the distance his large arm wrapping around Grey's waist and pulling her flush against him. Her eyes widened as his head dipped down to her neck and he inhaled. Grey was ready to push him away but when his lips then brushed across her skin, she froze, a delightful shiver making her toes curl.

"What are-"

Grey's voice was cut off when a burning pain ripped through her shoulder and down her spine. She cried out, pushing away at the man who's face was still hidden in the crook of her neck. His body was stoic and her attempts to push him away failed, his jaw still locked on the crook of her shoulder. She flailed until her body grew weak and she lost all fight, slumping against the beast's solid body. When he finally pulled his face away, his mouth was stained red, sharp canines peeked from behind those lips, dripping with the same red; her blood.

His eyes were on fire, as he looked down upon her with hooded eyes, filled with sensuality. Those eyes seemed to have captured the light of the moon within them, they burned so bright she felt like she'd go blind staring at them for too long. But they were enchanting and they left her breathless.

"Ty moya."

{bitch finally grew some balls and claimed her. *sigh*

Where are you guys from?? I'd love to see how big our little world is and where my writing has reached. ;))

all my love,
M xx}