The Mark Of The Beast

18. Being Human POV: Shannon Alexis Chandler

I'm standing here in a room full of werewolves. Braidyn, Mad Max, Khyzer, The chick that has purple hair and smiles happily named Jerica. I wonder what's with this one guy being called Knoxville? I'm not getting an impression from him that he is anything like Johnny. Layla is the smallish of all the she-wolves I've seen and a girly girl by the looks of her not like Max and Jerica. Rhino is just big and means looking. He has shoulder-length dark hair and dark bushy eyebrows and dark scruffy facial hair that makes me wonder what a shave would do for him. Although his personality doesn't fit the way he looks. Braidyn introduced me before this little meeting got started. This little meeting I haven't even paid attention to. It's more so about James, Kelsey, Wes, and Sloane. Braidyn escorted me to this part of the packhouse because I've never been in this part before. Khyzer hadn't yet made it in here. So Braidyn took the liberty to formally introduce me to anyone I hadn't yet been introduced to. Hence Braidyn introducing me to Rhino.

Rhino was real polite and gentlemanly and sweet and sly flirtatious. Well, not that sly as it was obvious. He wanted us, meaning me, to sit next to him, but the table and chairs aren't exactly being used properly. Some of us are standing, others took a chair from the table to wherever they wanted to sit I the room. Khyzer is sitting at the head of the table. Just not at the table. He's sitting on top of the table with his bare feet propped in a chair, like such an animal and looking like an animal today more so than at other times I've seen. No shirt, dirt, and grass stains on his jeans. I guess he lost his boxers when he lost his shirt. He has black smudges and handprints scattered over his body. He has black in tribal symbols or tribal style tats on his shoulders and upper a going down his side. He more so just looks more than like an art sculpture of perfection that I'm used to him looking like.

Wear a fitted ball cap sitting on his head backward. The cap is mostly red and says "SMOKE'EM" in black lettering with a white outline. The back of the cap has a small "TKO" in the same black lettering with a white outline resting on his forehead. The cap is also dingy and covered in black smudges and such. What the hell was he doing before he got here? He needs a shower in the worst way right now. Eeww! Get a whiff of that..he smells like a musty, funky mechanic.

I've also noticed that Rhino and Jerica have a beef of some sort. Rivals maybe. Rhino and Jerica have been throwing cheap shots and verbal jabs the whole time they have both been in this same room together and Braidyn keeps throwing daggers at Rhino with his eyes. That must be Jerica as in Braidyn's mate Jerica.

Earlier when Rhino offered I could have a seat next to him right after Braidyn introduced us. Which is why I'm standing. I was just being civil and not so rude since I was being direct and formally introduced to Rhino, who initiated all the friendly small talk. Rhino feigned some general interest in me. I took it as harmless flirting but then I suddenly felt uncomfortable in my is skin, my whole body felt like my skin was crawling. Somewhere in my subconscious, I must have known. I'm not sure why my automatic response to my skin crawling discomfort was to look away from Rhino. I jerked my head around so fast to see Khyzer standing, leaning against the door frame, silently with his arms crossed. Appearing calm and casual by his body language. Except for that stone-cold but fierce death stare, I could see his jaw was clenched tight and a vein was bulging across his brow, his nostrils were flared even though his breathing remained calm and steady.

At first, he was staring directly at Rhino and minutes went by when finally I felt my blood in my veins run cold, as he cut those electrified baby blue's from Rhino to me. Shivers flowed through me uncontrollably the whole time he kept his gaze locked on me. He didn't say a word. He never made a sound. Power rolled off of him in waves. Time must have slowed down, a few minutes stretched on forever it felt like, under his ice-cold and intimidating stare, glowing like a live wire. Warning and daring, calculating, commanding. It was enough to make me squirm on the spot. I opted out sitting anywhere all together, hence why I'm standing over here, kind of away from anyone where I can see outback of the packhouse in the open field. Rhino backed off and turned his attention to the reasons why everybody is meeting in here.

The only solid wall in the room is the wall with the door we entered through. The other 3 walls are made of glass. The ceiling is glass too. There is a long dark wooden table right in the middle of and room. It is beautifully stained with claw feet and rounded corners and matching chairs. The carpet has square-shaped patterns outlined in off white. The individual squares are a multi-colored pattern of cream, brown, autumn orange, autumn golden yellow, Hunter green, and burgundy or red wine color. The one wall is a half cream color and the bottom half is burgundy or a red wine color with squares outlined in gold and brown trim on the top and bottom of the wall. There is a couple of paintings hanging on the wall. The painting is white wolves on a mountain and the other is wolves in the snow. I look to my right to look out the window. The sun is set low in the low in the sky. Slowly sinking behind the Forrest trees. It almost dusk. I take a couple of steps toward the window...or wall, whatever. I peer out to the ground of the open field. I saw Sterling and Draven along with a big group of boys their age go running out on the field and start messing with the 2 boys that have been throwing around a football all afternoon. Some were wrestling around, including Sterling and Draven. It was obvious that the slowly growing group of teenage boys were very hyper the way they were all bouncing and running around energetically roughhousing as boys do.

2 overgrown wolves are huge in size compared to regular wolves. One was light brown and the other was dark gray. They came darting out of the trees to my surprise. The wolves were so fast as they ran in the direction of Draven and Stirling. Draven moved just as the light brown wolf nipped at him but he did an effortlessly looking backflip causing the light brown wolf to miss nipping his leg. I gasped as my body jerked involuntarily before I realized that Draven has had things under control like he could predict what the wolf was going to do next. He automatically ducked down after smoothly landing the backflip on his feet. At that same time, the wolf jumped toward Draven but went right over him as he landed and ducked all at once. The wolf dug its front paws in the ground a little as it landed on the other side Draven but it spun around in dime and crouched defensively. Draven faced the wolf at lightning speed and the slowly started circling. Draven was kind of crouched in a defensive looking stance. Stirling was just dodging and blocking the dark gray wolf but Draven and the light brown went at each other. Effectively blocking the wolf every time it snaps at him, although Draven attempted some impressive kicks toward the wolf he failed to deliver since the wolf kept side jumping Draven's strikes.

All the boys have gathered around to watch excitedly. They have fist's in the air and the howls emitting from them and vaguely be heard through the glass wall ceiling. I was so captivated watching Draven fight with the giant wolf. It was a sight, unlike anything I've ever seen before. I watched on mesmerized and still in disbelief that I'm seeing this wolf and this boy, just 18 years of age, who hasn't even broken a sweat or got a scratch from going at it with a horse-sized wolf by the way.

Draven has managed to get himself in a straddling position on the back of the wolf, wrapping an arm around its neck, as much as he could reach his muscle bear right arm around its neck. Then Draven threw his body in a spinning motion toward the right side from the back of the wolf. The wolf went flying in the air with Draven's right arm deadlocked around its neck.

Out of nowhere, I feel Khyzer standing behind me. My body involuntarily jerked again, because I felt Khyzer standing behind me and because I was watching Draven and the wolf land on the ground with the impact that made dirt and grass fly everywhere. The wolf landed on its side and sliding and leaving skid ruts that stand out from the rest of the well kept grassy knoll. On landing Draven already had maneuvered to where he had one of his legs locked around the midsection of the wolf but he had it by the head and spinal cord area. The wolf struggled against Draven to no avail as Draven stayed still like a statue frozen in his combat hold on his opponent. A few minutes later the wolf stopped struggling and gin still in the hold Draven has on it. Stirling went flying to the ground on his knees and smacked the ground a couple of times then jumped up making the hand motions for "Time out", it looked like from here. Draven let go of the wolf, giving the wolf a push as it was getting back on all 4 feet and shaking its head. All the boys seemed to be cheering and happily celebrating.

I had my hands and my face pressed to the glass, I was so into it. Is that what the wolf in the word werewolf means? The huge wolves must Be they shift into? I noticed my breath fogged the glass so I wiped it with my hand. Then it got warm on the side of my neck. The heat from his body pressed against my back, I can feel his chest rise and fall with every breath. As he breathes on my neck.

"So that's what you've been over here watching." He said placing both his hands on the glass slightly higher than my head. He nuzzled deeper into the side of my neck. Breathing deeply, sniffing me. It tickles a little when I feel him exhale his deep breaths while his face is buried in the side of my neck. It didn't take any time for the ticklish-ness on my neck to awaken another feeling that gives me goosebumps and heats my core.

Still watching down at the open field, Draven and Stirling duck off in the tree's and a black wolf and blonde wolf come leaping out a few minutes later. The other teenage boys did the same when more wolves came out of the trees after the blonde and the black wolf came bounding from the tree line. They were all chasing and nipping at one another. Rolling around like they were all playing. When the last of the wolves shot from in the trees out on the open field. They let out some howls, some of the wolves pawed at the ground. The black wolf that assumes is Draven took the lead as the whole group if wolves took off like a herd of horses across the open field and into the tree line at the far back of the field.

Still getting a tingling sensation from our bodies touching. "Yes." I try to focus. "Is the black wolf...?"

"The black wolf is Draven." He said softly in my ear.

"What...um..they were..." I struggled to find my words but Khyzer cut me off, his voice still soft though. "They were sparing or just playing around, probably. Draven tends to put an end to his opponent, 4 legged or 2 legged, if he's facing off seriously. But teen wolves are rambunctious, to say the least. Look's like they are running for the night." His words tickled my neck as he spoke. I started grinding my teeth to contain the giggle that wanted to break out of me. Then he moved his hand from the window to slide the collar of my shirt as much as it would stretch and expose more of my left shoulder. Making me bite down hard on my bottom lip giving a hint of a metallic taste in my mouth. His warm breath on my bare skin just at the nape of my neck at my right shoulder sent my heart beating wildly. It was the way he licked that soft spot and gently scraped his fangs over the same sweet spot. I bit my bottom lip hard enough to bleed a little. I bit my lip just in time to hold back a loud moan when I gasped at the sparking sensation his mouth brought on from making contact with my sensitive skin. I have a feeling he knows how much he's affecting me. Thankfully his man funk was overpowering enough to bring me to my senses and remind me he's touching me with grimy paws. I grunted at him. He growled a short barely bossy growl at my change of mood. Nope, he has to got bathe before I have to bathe again. I cleared my throat "So what did you say you were doing today?" I turned around to face him and found myself with my back to this glass wall. Looking up at him peering down at me through his lashes. Something about the way he looks at me all the time. His eyes are always filled with lust and like he's gonna eat me alive all at once. At the same time it's like he's memorizing every little detail about me he can and possibly studying the gauged reactions he gets from me.

He raised his eyebrows and gave me a curious glare. "I don't think I said anything about, what I've been doing today..." he trailed off, taking in a deep breath. All his curiosity and amusement were displayed in his expression. He leaned his forehead against mine and whispered "Why?..."

"Why? Because you..." I pointed my finger at him and moved it around to point here and there trying to point out all the dirt and black spots all over him and his jeans."Your just so dirty and you smell like one of the Pep-Boys. I thought you were in your office doing Alpha work or whatever."

He laughed a little. "Yes, I spend a lot of time in my office doing Alpha stuff and I did go do a couple of things in my office. For the last couple of hours been in the garage doing routine maintenance on my car and tune up on my Harley."

"Harley? As in Davidson?" I'm surprised. Didn't strike me as a biker but I don't think I know any bikers. I saw bikers before just never met or been around any really to know more than what I know from Sons of Anarchy.

He nodded his head and leaned his face closer to mine our lips were almost touching. He is probably about to kiss me. "Yes, a Harley Davidson and she's badass because I show her a lot of love and take damn good care of her," he said to me in a husky low voice that had me anxious with anticipation. He nipped at my bottom lip igniting a heated sensation inside my core, my walls clench with want. It feels hot and wet between my legs. My mouth watered. Khyzer sniffed then moved a little more to the side of my neck and sniffed and instantly started that purring sound he makes like he's a lion, or a tiger, or a bear.

"Khyzer Sparks you say that like you mean it," I whispered. It was all I could manage. I was trying to keep my breathing steady and not sound like a flustered hot mess. Epic fail for I am Mrs.Obviously weak in the knees right now. I don't know why my body acts like this around him. It's not helping anything at all, this slowly losing self-control when Khyzer is near me. I don't know why or how he gets to me the way he does. I don't know why I fail to immediately say no and/or my logical reasonable explanation for saying no. I Dont want to say no. I want to tell this guy I just met who says he's an Alpha Werewolf that brought me here because there's a demon in me the devil wants to be returned to hell and hasn't stopped trying to put it on me since. My body betrays me every time he tries to put it on me or he calls himself doing. My body wants to act easy like it wants Khyzer to ravage me, the way his eyes do every time he looks at me.

He sniffed again but then he attacked my lips with his, kissing me hungrily, sucking my bottom between his, now the sparks ignite and start to fill me. I closed my eyes and kissed him back till I was suffocating and we had to break for air. "Maybe...I sound like I mean it...because I do, Baby-girl," he said breathy.

"What about the grass stains? I don't think there is grass in the garage. That flooring in there is concrete or cement." I pointed at some grass stains on Khyzers jeans. He rolled his eyes and chuckled and looked into my eyes. "When I finished in my office I wa head outside to go shift and take a run. Mad Max was headed out to go for a run to the training barracks to train warriors." I just stared back into his. I nodded to let him know I was listening.

"So we both shifted and had an aggressive race from the packhouse to the trail point, I beat Max to the finish at the trail point. That's where we parted ways. She went on to the barracks and took the walking path right there leading from the trail to the lake. I dove in and hung out n the water for a while. Clear my head and enjoy nature's peace and tranquility."

"Oh. Then what happened to you." I said shifting my eyes up and down, looking him over with a smirk.

"If you must know the woman. When Max was done with that training session she minds linked me to challenge me to another race. I had to shift back into a human form. So I threw on my jeans while I was soaking wet. We raced back to the packhouse on 2 legs. With Max, that s**t is like semi tackle football practice and parkour in the woods, and whoever makes it back to the packhouse first wins. We both got here at the same time which leads to the trash talk we talk to each other every day but then Max kicked my ass. I don't know...she was in some beast mode kind of s**t today. I don't know if she got pent up aggression or what but she was in no mood for any bullshit today." he rubbed the back of his neck and averted his eyes away for a moment. I was tickled and burst into laughter. "The Alpha got whooped by a girl." it was hard to restrain my laughter to just giggles. Khyzer gave me a half but he was still purring. "So my pet finds that funny."

I swallowed my giggles and closed my mouth in a tight line hoping to hold in how funny I did find it. I shrugged and broke out in a fit of giggles again.

He rolled his eyes. "And why do you want to know all about my day?" he raised an eyebrow and waited on my reply.

"I know your a werewolf and all but I didn't think you got so dirty and grungy. You haven't in the short time I've known you and you usually don't smell like a grease monkey-" I was saying but didn't get any more words said. Khyzer interjected. "Oh, yeah...Well what do I usually smell like?, and look at me when you answer me." he pointed to his eyes then said "Eyes." He didn't raise his voice any. His tone still smooth and sweet but there was command in his words when he told me to look him in his when I answered him. Something about the way he commanded without using a commanding tone. Kept my calm unaffected poker face for the moment but on the inside, his words were so thrilling. How close to the edge could he take me, I wondered.

"You don't usually smell bad, except for right now...I, uhm..." I don't know why it's so hard for me to say. I can't find the right words. I'm always nervous when he throws these questions at me. Questions are metaphorical shovels. Khyzer trying to dig a little deeper. "Just answer the question," he whispered.

"uh, I don't know. Like a very natural and earthy, maybe woodsy kind of scent...and you have that guy smell or man smell that mixes well cologne like diesel or bad religion. I don't exactly know what scent you smell like. I know you seem to smell like all that mixed together..." I licked my lips and forced myself to hold my voice higher than a whisper and to just blurt it out and get it over with. I start twiddling my thumbs. "I don't know what your smell is called. I know you have this scent, that is different, natural...nature... earth smell that must be a wolf thing or something. I'm sure the cologne I smell is Bad Religion because you wear a lot of Bad Religion. I don't know what kind of deodorant you use but you never smell musty like James or guys my age anyway. I don't what it is. I know it overpowers all the senses and makes it hard to focus, but it can make me feel like I'm safer than the apparent danger I could be in, being surrounded by a pack of werewolves. The smell of you always lingers in the room no matter how long you have been gone from the room. Your bedroom always smells like you. If it didn't smell so strongly with your sent I wouldn't be able to feel comfortable enough to get any sleep. I like the way you usually smell. I can't think of anyone I've been in close enough proximity too that has ever smelled, especially as far the male species, in general, is concerned, can't say I've had the pleasure of a scent like yours ever before-" I was interrupted again, this time by Khyzer claiming my lips with his. Taking advantage of how I was in mid-sentence when suddenly ran his tongue down his throat. My tongue went straight in his mouth line I have an autopilot setting turned on for automatically kissing back. As I massaged his tongue with mine I wrapped my arms around his neck. He had my back pressed against the glass. It was now too dark to see down on the open field outback. The moon and the stars lit up the night sky and illuminating the too of the trees, but the closer you look down to the ground. Only the outline of trees can barely be seen. To my eyes, it was too dark abd shadowy to mane out in detail in the dark from his far distance.

I couldn't see it right this minute anyway. Somebody had my back pressed against the glass and had trapped me here and list in the way he is deeply was suffocating me In this kiss. I explored his mouth with my tongue and I savored the taste of making out with Khyzer. Purr's hummed in his chest and low growls rumble me like the sound of faraway thunder, vibrating through my body. I feel his hand grip my hair tightly, not hurting me but kind of possessive like. The kiss got deeper and harder. I whimpered and he pulled his lips from mine so we could breathe much-needed air but there was an ache throbbing in my lower stomach. I tried to clench my trembling thighs. All while panting breathlessly.

Khyzer still had me by the hair. He panted also. He leaned his head against mine. His right to my hear, whispering in between pants. "Now that I got what wanted. I'm going to leave you breathless and take a shower like you want me to do."

To be continued...