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

mean—how long will this last? What does it
mean?”
    “It’ll last until he breeds you or you
die.”
    Crystal gasped.
    Ember pressed on. “Then again, I suppose
anybody could breed you. Know any cute guys?”
    “Oh my God!”
    A car horn honked, drawing Ember’s
attention. Crystal turned and stared at the door a moment until she
realized her friend must be waiting. “Oh! Beth’s here.”
    Ember sighed. “Great. You ride with her.
I’ll drive.”
    “No.” Crystal shook her head. “We told my
mom we’d go together. She’ll be pissed if you don’t.”
    “Got news for you, Princess,” Ember said. “I
don’t care.”
    Crystal balked and then lifted her head up.
“Please, Ember. I need you.”
    Ember’s eyes narrowed. She sniffed again and
sighed. “Fine. But just so you know, you’re acting nice now because
you’re in heat.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You’re going to be extra friendly and nicer
than usual. Horny too. If you don’t want to spread your legs around
the first guy you see that you like, you’d better keep your friends
close.”
    “What? No way! You make it sound like I’m
turning into a slut!”
    Ember shrugged. “The Beast’s bite will do
that. Why else do you think you’d be willing to screw a giant hairy
beast?”
    “No way. Now effing way!”
    “Effing?”
    Crystal blushed and turned as Beth honked
again. “Come on, she’s going to be pissed.”
    Ember shook her head. “You always worry
about everybody being pissed off at you?”
    “What? No—”
    “So it’s just your hormones then?” Ember
asked as she pushed past Crystal and walked out the front door of
the house.
    Crystal stared after her surly protector,
jaw hanging open at the woman’s words. Was she always worrying
about upsetting other people? She tried to be nice and thoughtful,
but look where that got her—made fun of and ridiculed. Crystal
closed her mouth and snorted before grabbing her purse and book bag
and following Ember out the door.
    Beth met her in front of her car, a
five-year-old Ford Fusion her mom had passed down to her. She
surprised Crystal by stepping in front of her and wrapping her arms
around her before Crystal could react.
    Crystal grunted and then inhaled. The scent
of Beth’s fruity shampoo and the lavender scent of her soap filled
her nose and made her relax into her friend’s embrace. Beth
stiffened for a moment and then held her tighter. Ember cleared her
throat, breaking Crystal out of the fog of comfort she’d let
herself fall into.
    “Isn’t that sweet?” Ember asked.
    “What? No, she’s my friend,” Beth stammered.
She spun to face her and looked her up and down, pressing her lips
together to show she disapproved of Ember’s clothes. “Isn’t that
your shirt?”
    “Beth, this is Ember,” Crystal said. She
emphasized the beginning of Ember’s name to stop her friend from
making the same mistake her mom had. “And yes, it’s my shirt. Ember
didn’t have any spare clothes.”
    “Okay, hi Ember. Now what the hell is she
doing with you?”
    Crystal’s eyes widened and Ember laughed.
“Whoa,” Crystal managed. “She’s, um, a friend of Hank’s.”
    “Hank? Is that the giant on the bike?”
    Crystal cringed and nodded. “Yes. Sorry
about that. I had to get out of there. He gave me a ride the other
night.”
    Ember snorted.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Beth
demanded.
    Crystal glared at Ember. “On his motorcycle!
After that party.”
    “That’s how you got home?”
    “Yes.”
    Beth pressed her lips together and nodded.
She turned to Ember. “So what’s with you?”
    Ember chuckled. “I like you.”
    “What?” Crystal blurted.
    “She’s feisty and has good instincts. Very
protective,” Ember said.
    Beth’s eyes widened and she glanced at
Crystal a moment before looking away. “Crystal’s my best
friend.”
    “Uh huh,” Ember said. She turned and walked
the final steps to the rear door of the car.
    Beth turned to Crystal,