Claimed by the Beast - Part One by Dawn Michelle Page A

so, but maybe. It’s definitely not good
enough in my opinion. If you’re going to ride it, you need real
helmets. Both of you.”
    “I don’t see how you can make me do that,”
Ember grumbled.
    “You’re staying at my house? My rules,” she
said. She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, but you’re a very pretty
young girl, and I don’t want to see you in the hospital.”
    “You won’t.”
    Crystal got up from the bed and nodded.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get Beth to give us a ride in the morning and
we’ll get helmets before we ride again. Right, Ember?”
    “What?” Ember frowned and stared at Crystal
a long moment before she sighed. “All right.”
    “Great,” Brandy said. “And it’s getting
late. Crissy, I put some blankets downstairs on the couch for
you.”
    Ember bit off a short laugh, earning a glare
from Crystal.
    “I’m going to bed. I’ve got to be in early
tomorrow. Good night, girls.”
    “Night, Mom,” Crystal said and waited for
the door to shut. She turned to a grinning Ember and said, “You do
not get to call me Crissy. Ever!”
     
     

Chapter 10
     
    “You look nice today. Want any breakfast?”
Crystal asked the next morning when Ember came down the stairs,
wearing her trademark black skirt with a tight-fitting white top.
It took Crystal a moment to recognize it as one of her tops from
two years ago.
    Ember’s eyes narrowed and she stopped to
sniff and glanced around. “Your mom gone already?”
    “Yeah, she had to be in by six. She’s
working a double so she won’t be home until tomorrow morning.”
    “Good.”
    Crystal frowned. “Look, I’m sorry about last
night, I’m just—what’s wrong with my mom? Are you still pissed
about the helmet thing?”
    “Irritated,” Ember admitted, “but that’s not
it. You’re ready for him and he’ll know it. He’ll come
tonight.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    She sniffed again. “His poison sped up your
cycle. You’re ready for him.”
    “My cycle? What, you mean my period?”
    Ember nodded.
    Crystal’s eyes rounded. “Oh my God,” she
muttered before rushing upstairs to the bathroom. She dropped her
clothing and sat down on the stool. A quick wipe later and she
stared at the stained paper. “What the hell?” she mumbled before
fumbling through the cupboard under the sink beside her.
    Crystal walked downstairs a few moments
later with her face flushed. “I just finished a week ago!”
    Ember looked up from the jar of peanut
butter and jerked the spoon out of her mouth. She tried to talk but
the sticky paste made her mumble her words.
    “Wait a minute,” Crystal said when she saw
the jar that Ember sat on the counter and pushed behind her. She
laughed, her embarrassment forgotten. “Peanut butter?”
    “So I like peanut butter—what’s your
problem?” Ember said while licking her lips.
    Crystal couldn’t contain herself. “Oh,
nothing.” She giggled. “I think there are some videos on the
Internet, that’s all.”
    Ember snarled. “That’s enough,” she growled.
“Did you use a pad or a tampon?”
    Crystal’s humor faded at the question. “Um,
kinda personal!”
    “Kind of important,” Ember said. “A pad
won’t hide the smell as much.”
    “Gross! I don’t smell! And what gives? I
just finished my period last week.”
    “It’s not a period,” the redhead said. “It’s
you coming into season.”
    “Coming into—”
    “You’re in heat.”
    Crystal’s jaw fell open.
    Ember smiled and turned to lick the last of
the peanut butter off the spoon before tossing it in the sink. “I’m
good, but I didn’t notice you until you came downstairs. He’ll be
able to smell you from a mile away, more if he’s downwind.”
    “I’m—in heat?” she repeated. “Like a
dog?”
    Ember chuckled. “He’s not like any dog
you’ve ever met.”
    “A wolf?”
    Ember shook her head.
    “What then?”
    “A beast.”
    Crystal heard herself whimper. “This is so
messed up. I don’t—I