The Beast Inside Me

Chapter sixteen

Hugo

The fear in her eyes hit me harder than the fight against a mere wolf. Her eyes open wide, staring at me like she couldn’t recognise her own mate. Something to fear.

“Iris” I breathed out “say something” I whispered.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Instead of looking at me she looked past me, into the darkness of the trees.

Slowly, turning my head to where she was looking, a figure stepped out, barely. Not rushing or hiding, just .. watching. Like I was something interesting.

My head looking between the figure and my mate, my body could sense the danger looming around us.

This person wasn’t just a rogue.

“You’re a long way from your territory” I growled.

His lips twitching ever so slightly.

“I could say the same about your little mate here” he said calmly, his voice low.

The word mate feeling like a dagger to the chest, I looked back at her.

“You know him?” Surprised, I looked between them again.

“Hugo..”

“Do you know him?” My voice sharper this time. Silence.

All I got back was silence and that was my answer, she knew this person.

Something inside me ripped open. My senses spiked, sharpened to a point where the sounds burst my ears, my eyes focused sharply.

This forest wasn’t just a normal forest anymore. Every breath, every shadow and shape, every shift of weight. The slow, steady breathing from the man on the tree line, to the fast panicked breathing of her.

“How long have you been betraying my pack?” My voice dangerous.

“Hugo.. please-“ she whispered.

“How long Iris?” I roared, her name sounded bitter on my tongue.

I watched her, properly this time, watching every crease on her face. Every hitched breath she took. The way she couldn’t stand to even look at me as she whispered the words.

“He’s my father” she whispered, to quietly. It all clicked into place.

“You’ve got to be kidding me” shaking my head as I stepped away from them.

“All this time, you were working for him to rip us apart from the inside? I made you my Luna” my voice rising again, disbelief in my voice.

“Hugo please I didn’t have a choice!”

“You always have a choice! You just didn’t choice me, your mate” I snapped.

She kept quiet, her eyes spilling with tears and she looked at me with pleading eyes and guilt.

A hollow laugh left my chest. I dragged my hands down my face.

“Unbelievable”

“My mate” I muttered “working with her own father- trying to tear my pack apart. You kept that pretty quiet, didn’t you?”

“I’m not working with him, please you have to believe me” she said quickly, desperately. Trying to get me to listen to her.

“I chose you, to protect you. Every time.” My anger barely being held back as I felt myself slip. I couldn’t lose myself yet.

A laugh left my chest again, as I looked at her again.

“Well, this has been rather entertaining, hasn’t it? We’ve finished the introduction as to who I am. Now I think it’s finally time to end you once and for all.” Her father spoke up again, my eyes instantly locking on him.

“End me? I’d like to see you try” I spat at him.

“Hugo.. Hugo..” I heard whispering, deep inside my head

“I’m here Hugo” the whispers got louder, closer.

I fell down from the pain in my head, pushing on my temples.

“AHHHHHH” I roared, feeling like I was about to explode. The sounds of cracking echoed across the dirt.

“Let me through, stop fighting me.” I heard the voice again, louder and clearer this time. Like it was right beneath my skin.

“I- don’t- know what- what you are” I choked out, my fingers digging in again as another wave of pain slammed through my head.

“Yes you do” it said calmly “you’ve always known, Hugo”

“I can’t!” I roared, but my voice was wrong, different. A growl. My body began to jerk violently, my bones snapping and reforming. My hands digging into the dirt, fur spreading along my fingers, my nails extending.

“Please, make it stop” gasping for air.

“Stop fighting me”