"Fuck, Ava," Liam shouts into my ear, firm hands on my shoulders and squeezing me, attempting to draw my attention back to him as my body shakes with fear. "Ava, love, we can't hold him. His beast is in complete control, FUCK! He's found a way out of his bindings and somehow managed to get past the secure door. Ava, he's already taken down several of my men. We can't stop him!" Releasing me and taking my hands in his, Liam pulls me up until I'm standing, placing a set of keys in my palm. "Ava, take my truck and get as far away from here as you can get. We'll hold him off for as long as we can, but Ava. Fuck, I'm so sorry lass, he's too strong. His Beast, we can't stop him when he's fully in control."

"Liam, what's happening?" I sob. Griffin's voice, the Beast's voice, was so wrong. I felt no love or warmth coming from him, the pain he has experienced over since he was a child, and then the shooting... OMG, it's caused him to revert, all sense of humanity gone. He's going to kill me!

"Ava, it was never meant to be like this, we were meant to buy you more time, but his Wolf, his Beast, is stronger than any of us imagined. Griffin's no longer in control. Nothing and no one will be able to stop him from getting what he wants."

Liam cups my face with his palm, his face sobering with resignation. "And Ava, what he wants is you. We'll try and hold him off as long as we can, but you're going to have to make a choice."

Liam trails off, his gaze becoming unfocused again before clearing, the amber in his eyes glowing as he curses, "Ava, you need to run. He's taken out more of my men. There's no time left. You have to go."

Moving towards the door, I turn back toward Liam, "Where Liam, where do I go?"

"Ava, you need to go. NOW. Go anywhere, get away while you can." Liam pleads, his hands pushing at me, forcing me out the door.

"Liam, please," I beg, planting my heels, "I don't know what to do. I didn't want this. I just wanted to be free to make a choice. I never wanted to hurt him."

Liam swallows deeply, his adam's apple bobbing, he raises his yellow eyes to mine, sadness burning within their depth. "I know, love, just go Ava and hope that we can hold him off long enough for his humanity to come back. If he gets you now, FUCK! Just go. Please, Ava."

<Let me in.>

Chills run down my spine at that voice. I'm cold all over. My heart, I swear it's stopped. Blinking several times, my vision starts to cloud as the pounding in my skull becomes overwhelming, the Beast trying to push through my walls.

"Ava!" I hear Liam's voice again, but it's muffled, white noise filling my head as he tries to put my jacket over my shoulders and my feet in my boots. "Ava, love, you need to go. NOW!"

I'm frozen, panic overwhelming me. Liam stands before me. His figure is blurry as I struggle for air. Grabbing my shoulders, he pulled my face to his and smashed his mouth on mine, our lips meeting and pain immediately lancing through me—the excruciating jolt of electricity knocking me out of my stupor. Shocked, I try to push him away but only find air. Shaking my head, I see Liam standing several feet away, his arms raised in surrender. "Had to do something, had to snap you out of whatever was holding you frozen. Now for the love of all things good, RUN!"

The fear still fills my every cell, but the lingering pain of our kiss, makes adrenaline pump through my veins. The additional energy is assisting in pushing me forward, my feet moving as I exit the room, breaking into a run. Moving down the passageway, I can see the women rushing about, worried looks on their faces as they head towards the lower levels. Passing several of them, I bound down the staircase and out the front door. Twisting my head, I can hear panicked voices coming from all angles as fighting, shouting, and more screaming comes from the direction of the barn.

I run along the porch, my boots pounding on the stones as I rush to the rear of the property. Cautiously, trying to avoid a fall, I make my way down the stairs, turn towards the multiple car garage, and spot Liam's red truck.

I'm thankful to find it parked out the front. Running down the stone steps and onto the gravel road, I reach for the driver's side door and pull it open, again thankful to find it unlocked, and lift myself inside. Starting the engine and putting my belt on, I pause, and reach through the bond, hoping to find a flicker of Griffin on the other side but only feel the beast, his voice coming through immediately. <Run, little Doe. I'll enjoy chasing you. I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU!>

<I'm sorry, Griffin, I didn't mean for this to happen. Please come back.> I sob, tears building behind my eyes, pushing deep within our connection to find him, to see My Wolf. My heart breaks when I find that there's nothing there. Swallowing deeply and wiping the tears from my eyes, I shift the truck into drive and release the hand brake. Wheels turning on the stones, the vehicle launches forward as I turn the massive truck towards the front of the Ranch and onto the long driveway, giving it a little gas.

I tightly grip the wheel as I straighten. I scream when the chassis is rocked by an enormous explosion coming from the barn. Keeping control of the truck, I raise my eyes to look into the rearview mirror and can make out the shape of a gigantic black beast bursting from the side of the building, wood splintering in all directions, as it makes its exit. Using lightning-fast speed, its massive body darts up to the truck and leaps onto the roof, its enormous weight buckling the metal. Screaming again, I slam on the breaks, causing what remains of Griffin to fly off the top. His beast, unphased as it lands gracefully several feet in front of the bonnet, furry ears pulled back, and what should be yellow eyes, are glowing red as he glares at me, the true sign of the Beast.

<DOE!> He growls through the bond, eyes locked onto mine as he stalks towards the truck, blood and drool dripping from his muzzle.

<Griffin, please, I know you're in there.> I push back.

<Found you.> Dark head tilting, jaws opening, I can see his long tongue dart out as he licks the blood from his face. Sensing my unease, he lunges, front paws resting on the bonnet as he pushes his nose against the glass of the windscreen. <Come out, Doe, it's time to take your punishment. You've been a BAD girl.>

Frozen in fear, those words, the Beast's words, Viktor's words, fill my mind. Not waiting for me to respond, he bangs his face against the glass again. <Come out, DOE!> he growls, smashing the windscreen over and over, causing it to crack and making me scream again.

Noticing my panic, I watch in horror as he raises his head, an almost feral smile forming on his face, if that was possible. Coming closer, massive claws digging into the metal, he moves to crack the glass further but is stopped when he is knocked off the truck by another enormous white and brown wolf, the smell of grass and wood floating in. LIAM!

I experience true horror when I watch the battle, black and brown fur flying everywhere, their movement almost majestic in their viciousness. The Beast, however, seems to be gaining the upper hand. I know that Liam is only trying to buy me time, but I see within moments that Griffin's Beast will not be stopped. I scream again when the beast wraps his massive jaws around Liam's neck, and I know through the bond that he's about to bite down. On impulse, I send through the bond. <If you want me, come get me.> My heart skips a beat. I don't have to wait long for the beast to release Liam, his focus back on me. Shuddering as he lopes towards the truck, I slam my foot on the gas and burn out of the drive, my mind on one destination only. THE SPUR...

***********************************************

The wheels skid on the asphalt, squealing as they struggle to keep a grip on the road as I take yet another curve. The dangerous speed sends the truck swerving in what I hope is the right direction to the Spur. Trying to navigate in the dark is hard, but I allow my senses to direct me and feel that I'm close. Feeling the Beast through the bond, I know that he's not far behind me, his hunger for the chase palpable, and I know that it's only a matter of time before he catches me.

Seeing a sign showing the turnoff to the Spur, I take a quick right and floor the truck up the steep incline, gravel flying. Pushing the vehicle up the almost 40-degree angle to make the journey, I'm relieved when I see the tips of the rock formations peaking in the near distance.

I pump the gas again, the vehicle lurches when I hit the uneven ground, sending the truck's rear to fishtail and spin into a fallen log, the side of the chassis landing heavily in an embankment. I attempt to correct the vehicle, but I know it's useless when the right side wheels spin and don't make traction with the ground below. Sensing that Griffin's beast is only minutes behind me, I open the driver's side door and climb out, deciding to take the remainder of the distance on foot, slipping in the mud as soon as I hit the ground.

Pushing myself up, feet unsteady, I begin the trek, hoping and praying that I make it to the cliff face before he arrives. Thankfully, it only takes me a few moments to reach the rock formation, the moon full and clear as I wrap my coat around me tighter, placing my hands in the pockets and noticing something sharp in the left side. Reaching deeper, fingers skating around the sharp edge, pausing when I touch what feels like wood, clasping the handle, I gently remove the object from within the material.

Shuddering, partially from the cold but more so from the adrenaline leaving my body, I raise the item to eye level and see that it's a small but very sharp knife, the wood of the handle is old and hand-carved, the blade is a pure white stone, and held together with old twine. Sharpie, the object in my hand, is the knife from Griffin's memories, the same one that cut Isla's umbilical cord, the same one used to help end the pain of multiple wives. Isla, she must have slipped it into my pocket when we were in the barn. Placing it securely back inside my coat pocket, I continue my way to the cliff face, moving past the stone altar until all I can see is the vast valley below.

Inhaling the cool night air, wisps of frost come from my mouth as I release the breath within. I smell him before I see him, pine and musk, strong but slightly tainted with the metallic scent of blood.

<Doe> the Beast growls as he strides into the clearing, causing me to turn to face him, white steam pluming from his nostrils as he stalks towards me. <Nowhere to run now, is there Doe? Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.>

"Griffin, please, stop. You don't need to do this." I plead, tears falling freely down my face. "Please."

<Stop what Doe?> The Beast toys, voice cold, jaws widening, sharp canines on display, as he inches forward, making me take a step back, loose stones crunching under the heels of my boots.

"Stop this, whatever you're doing. Please, Griffin, you're scaring me." Tugging on the bond again, all I can feel is rage, hunger, and blood lust.

<You should be scared, little Doe. You betrayed us,> he growls, venom dripping from his thoughts. <You let them hurt us, you let them CAGE us!>

The hatred in his words and his thoughts is overwhelming. The memories of being locked away pushing themselves through the bond of his time at the facility, causing my vision to blur, my head pounding, and my knees wobbling as I inch backward.

<You, MATE, have been a BAD girl, and BAD girls get punished!>

"This isn't you, Griffin." I try again, my hand moving back to my pocket, my fingers wrapping themselves around Sharpie. "Those words are his, not yours, Griffin. You're not bad; you aren't evil. Please, Griffin, you aren't Viktor."

<I AM EVIL, AVA!> He yells through the bond, causing me to buckle with pain, <And you have been a BAD girl.>

Pulling out Sharpie, I raise it towards him, causing his head to tilt and his eyes to flicker ever so slightly, the red dimming. "Please, Griffin, I, I know you're good, I know what he did to you, those horrible things. It wasn't you; it was him. You aren't him, you're..."

Before I can finish, he lunges, knocking me on my back. As my body lands roughly on the edge of the cliff, I drop Sharpie and my head hits one of the jagged stones making stars burst into my vision. I can't breathe. I can't...

His massive body, fur matted with blood, climbs onto mine, his sharp canines grazing my skin as his maw nudges my neck, exposing the jugular, <Such a bad little Doe, how should I punish you? Should I bite your neck first, sink my teeth into your creamy flesh, tear open our mark?>

I whimper in response, my heart thudding, blackness seeping into my vision. I want My Wolf back.

Moving lower, my thoughts start to fade as I begin to slip out of consciousness. The Beast nudges my breasts, <Mmmm, so soft. Should I sink my teeth here, Doe? Rip the plump flesh from your body as I fuck you in this form?>

"Please, Griffin, I lo-" the words struggling to pass from between my lips as his weight on me ultimately constricts my ability to breathe.

Lowering himself further, nose digging into my stomach, pushing deep, he inhales.

I choke and gasp for air, the nausea from before threatening to return at the pressure applied by his sheer size. <Or should I bite here and take?>

The Beast pauses, growling low, prompting me to look down, his massive form stilling as he sniffs again, nostrils flaring. He raises his head, red eyes blazing back at me. I know he's made his choice.  

**************************************************

Dah Dah Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... Okay, so there is a slight cliffhanger - I say that, as I run away and hide. Keeping all my secrets to myself.

But I will be nice and let you all know that I do update EVERY 5 days, so Friday 6th will be the next posting (let us see if you readers can guess what part of the world I am posting from as its Sunday evening here now) 

I would like to once again thank my readers for their comments and votes - the last chapter blew me away - LITERALLY!!! I love the passion and support for the characters, not to mention the conspiracy theories. Some of you are right, and some of you are wrong - who is who? You will have to read my future chapters to find out.

In addition to the above, I would also like to point out that this book IS complete, and I will post the remaining chapters (every five days)... So for new readers who hate being left hanging by authors who become ghosts - never fear - you will get to finish BOOK 1...

Finally, as mentioned in a lot of my chapters - NEW readers will find my book based on reviews and votes - if you are reading and NOT voting, I BEG you, please VOTE for the chapters you enjoyed - you can go back and vote after the fact, but don't leave an author handing...

Happy Reading Peeps