Chapter 4

Two days later...

Bella and Connor stumbled out of the urine-stained stairwell and onto the second floor of the parking garage. Their laughter echoed through the structure, vibrating across the mostly empty floor. It was 12:30am and Bella's car was one of a handful still waiting for their owners. One of the fluorescent light fixtures flickered as they passed it.

"Oh man. That scene with the pitchfork was the best." Connor laughed. He mimed his eyeballs being impaled and made a gross squelching noise.

Bella cringed and laughed. "Oh my god, no! Face it, there was nothing redeeming about that movie at all. It wasn't even 'so bad it's good'. It was just bad. If we go to the movies again before you head back, I get to pick something cute and funny because I hate going home all creeped out."

"But I'm with you, Bell. Your big, scary werewolf will protect you," Connor teased. He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close with clear intention for a passionate kiss.

"Shh! Did you hear that?"suddenly Bella's whole body tensed. A shuffling noise echoed through their level, accompanied by something she couldn't quite place. Air movement? Breathing? She strained to hear the odd sound again.

Connor glanced up. "Probably some homeless—"

"See? It's that stupid movie making me all jumpy. Let's get out of here." Bella was already moving toward her car as she dug for the keys in her purse. She glanced up when she realized Connor wasn't following. He stood about ten feet back, sniffing the air, nostrils twitching.

"Connor?"

"Get in the car." There was no trace of humor about him now. His sharp tone made her more tensed .He stood with his feet apart and his posture low and balanced, preparing himself.

Bella, startled by the sudden change in his mood, stared at him. "What?"

"I mean it! Go! Now!"

Bella turned in the direction of her car but what she saw made her blood freeze. A massive, snarling beast bounded straight for her as another flanked them from the side, where it had hidden behind a pillar. She wanted to flee but terror kept her rooted to the floor. Another terrible roar came from behind. Something huge with black fur shoved her aside as it flew past, knocking her to the ground. It was only when she saw the destroyed part of Connor's clothing dangling from its limbs that she realized who the eight foot beast was. It was one thing to know about Connor — his status was why their families gave him the right to one day claim her as mate — but she had never seen him like this before. Until this moment she had only known werewolves in human form, never fully transformed. Shifting was a painful, dangerous process, not without consequences. Changing form was not something one did on a whim.

Bella regained her wits just enough to scramble behind her car just as Connor dealt a solid backhand to the first attacker. The whole car shook as the wolves collided with the other side. She covered her head with her hands and buried her face in her knees, but she couldn't shut out the sounds of battle. Violence surrounded her: smashed glass, enraged growls, the solid snaps of massive jaws, the wet sound of flesh being torn, and then the awful, final whine of a fatally injured canid. The noise stopped but Bella stayed still, shaking all over. She was aware of tears burning her eyes but all she felt was stark fear.

She didn't know how long she remained unmoving in that spot. Five minutes? Half an hour? Eventually, she unfolded her aching limbs and crawled, trembling, on all fours to witness the aftermath.

"Connor?" she whispered. "Connor?"

His body lay sprawled in a pool of blood. So much blood. His form, human again, was mangled by deep, angry gashes. His head tilted at an impossible angle. Bella crawled toward him, sobbing. She gently lifted his head - which moved far too easily — and rested it on her lap. She used her finger to trace matted hair off of his forehead.

"Connor? Connor wake up... Wake up please..."

With her vision blurred by tears, she looked up and around the empty garage. "Help... please... someone...Connor.. " Her quavering voice was far too weak to carry.

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