Changing will end the anguish.
“I…can’t.”
Do it now!
Remembering his first change to a tiger, he envisioned both animals coming together. In his mind the cats reared on their hind legs and joined in a weird circuslike parody of a dance.
“God help me,” he whispered. Pulling his body to an upright position from the sandy earth, he doubled over.
Alek watched tan fur cover his legs, race up his hips and across his chest. No stripes. Where the hell were his tiger’s stripes? Looking closer, he saw faded lines faintly mixed in the fawn color of tough hide parading down his arms to his fingertips. Claws emerged, hooked and deadly. Longer than ever before.
Pain subsided into a jumble of mixed emotions and feelings as the odd scent vanished.
This is what you are. The presence drifted away, carrying with it the strange odor that had swirled about his head.
He stood on all fours, alone in the middle of the warriors’ arena.
No longer in anguish and not afraid of what he’d become, Alek slumped down, his beast’s belly hitting the ground hard. Huge paws sat before him with a barely visible mixture of lines.
The animal’s tongue emerged and swept across his much larger mouth. The essence was him but different. His scent was the same but different.
What the fuck?
His eyesight adjusted to the added inches as he stood on shaky legs. He turned his much heavier head and took in the fuller girth of his animal. No longer a tiger, not quite a lion. I am one huge motherfucker!
Darting from the arena, he wanted to feel his new body, test its strength, agility and speed. He covered the distance to the ravine in record time and wasn’t even breathing hard. Alek skidded to a stop at the very edge and peered at the other side. His tiger had never been able to make the big leap across the way a lion could.
His new beast backed up a short distance. Pushing off with his muscular back legs, he charged the ledge and bounded over the gully with ease. He continued running and ended up at the lake on the compound. Plopping down at the water’s edge, he drank.
Tigers loved to swim, would his improved ubercat mind the water? He waded in and struck out for the other side. Hell yes, this is sweet. Surfacing, he walked to a strip of grass and sat on his haunches.
Nose in the air, he caught the alluring scent of three tigers. Bengal. His balls tightened but not in the way they used to. The aroma was heady but the urge to take one was absent.
The group moved out of the grove of trees and came to a stop with their mouths open, tasting the air and sniffing. Agitated, the felines seemed unsure of what to do next. Normally they preened, danced around his striped cat, seeking attention.
Not this time.
There was a difference in him. He smelled funny to himself.
First one then another female fell to the ground with her tail tucked between her legs in a submissive position. Recognition dawned in their eyes and they huffed out air and growled softly.
Alek didn’t want them anymore.
His mind drifted to the vamp lying in the safe room. His blood heated up and the scent of arousal wafted in the air. The three females made guttural sounds and rolled about the ground.
Nothing here for him.
Standing, he turned, plunged back into the cool lake and swam to the other side. The felines’ disappointed roars followed him. He came out of the water running at full speed back to the mansion.
It would be hours before the sun set and Viv rose.
His beast disappeared back into his body as soon as he entered the arena. The man’s body strode naked toward the house. Warm sandy soil sifted between his toes with each step. Normally he’d have clothed himself and bounded to the balcony but he wanted the sun on his skin, wanted to feel the breeze caress his body. He felt so freaking alive.
You’ve gone nuts.
Alek’s steps slowed. There was still the problem of needing royal sustenance yet gnawing thirst remained absent from his belly—and it scared the shit out of him. Another need blazed inside. Unlike the front of the mansion, the back door on the first floor of the house leading from the arena to the gym area always remained unlocked. His cock had risen like a barometer and pointed to the doorway he’d been heading to when suddenly the door flew open with a bang.
Torn from his reverie, he jerked to a stop. Jesus, he needed to pay more attention to his surroundings and less to getting his dick wet.
Warriors stomped through the opening and came to a sudden halt, noses in the air.
“Uh, you okay, man?” one asked, taking an involuntary step back.
“Don’t I look okay?”
“You…smell sort of funny. Damn near like a lion.”
“Well, it’s me. And why are your asses late?” Should have clothed himself. He wouldn’t be feeling so stupid and vulnerable. Damn if he intended to do it now and skulk away.