Falling Into Ruin.

Beg Me

[Briar’s POV]

My heart begins to hammer in my chest as the man I thought that I knew starts to shift from man into beast right before my eyes.

“Je-jeffrey,” I stammer, trying not to show my fear. “What’s going…”

“Aw,” he murmurs, his voice guttural and garbled from the sharp teeth that are starting to fill his mouth. “Are you afraid, baby?”

Was I? Of course I was! How could I not be when a human was shifting into something else entirely right in front of me, but would I admit it to him? Hell no!

I needed to keep a clear head and think rationally, because I was certain if I made any rash moves, it would end up getting me killed, but what could I do to get him to let me leave?

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, hating myself for it, but wanting to appease him. “I’m sorry that I acted stubbornly.”

As I speak, I reach out and gently brush my hands along Jeffrey’s cheek, which has begun to sprout hair. It pricks at my skin and makes me want to recoil, but I continue to move in hopes this will calm the beast that is standing between me and freedom.

“I was just…” I continue, but stop as he smacks my hand away and tightens the hand that is wrapped around my throat.

“Do you think I’ll fall for your trick?” He chuckles, baring his teeth so slobber drips on my skin. “I tried to do this the easy way, but you continued to be stubborn. And now things have come to this.”

“What?” I squeak, not understanding what he was getting at. “I don’t…”

“You’ve been too persistent,” he chuckles, leaning close so his hot breath brushes my skin. “And because of that, I was supposed to kill you from the start, but I decided it would be a waste to do that before I got to have my way with you.”

Eyes widening, I take in his words as I try to make sense of what is happening. Was he really saying that we met because he was sent to kill me? But why? I wasn’t anyone! I was a nobody with no family who just wanted answers.

“If you stayed with me, you would have been able to live longer, but you left me.” He continues. “You left me!” He growls as his claws start to dig into my skin. “A mere human left a man like me!”

A man like him. How could he say such a thing? Was he even a man? No. He was a monster. A monster and possibly one that was related to my brother's death!

“Who are you?” I demand, repeating my question from before. “Didn’t you say you would tell me before I died?”

What the hell was I even doing? Stalling for time until… No. I couldn’t let that outcome take place; I needed to get him distracted and then…

The rest of my thought gets lost as the door beside us opens and a large man dressed from head to toe in black waltzes into the room without a care, and when his golden gaze comes to rest on us, I recognize who he is immediately.

The man from earlier. I hiss inwardly. Why was he here? Was he with Jeffrey? Were they working together to try to get rid of me?

“Whoops,” the man rumbles, his lips twitching into a smile of amusement. “Did I interrupt something?”

Was he serious? How could he ask such a question when he could see that Jeffrey was trying to kill me? Was he blind?

“Or,” the man continues when no one responds, “Are the two of you hoping that I’ll join in whatever kinky game that you’re playing?”

“What?” I hiss, shock rushing through me. “How could you possibly get that from this?”

Dammit! Why was I so unlucky this evening? Not only was I going to die, but I was also going to be mocked by this tall, dark, and handsome drink of water. Or… wait… Could this be the opportunity that I need to escape?

“Please,” I continue, grasping at any chance I could to live. “Please help me.”

At my words, the man’s gaze comes to rest on mine, and I feel like I’m being sucked into it. It’s the strangest sensation, but I don’t have the time to really think too hard on what is happening.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jeffrey finally demands, releasing me so I crumple to the ground. “Who told you that you could walk in before I finished with what I was doing?”

Instantly, I realize that my assumption from earlier was correct, but why did it seem like that wasn’t the case? Sure, the man wasn’t moving to try to help me, but he wasn’t moving to try to help Jeffrey either, so what exactly was he up to?

“Beg me,” the man says, taking not only me, but also Jeffrey, by surprise. “If you want my help, beg me.”

“Me?” Jeffrey growls, swinging his fist and connecting with the man’s jaw. “Who the f**k do you think you are to ask me to beg you?”

Once again, the man doesn’t speak as a slow smile of amusement appears on his handsome face, and when his gaze shifts to where I remain unmoving on the ground, I understand that that command wasn’t meant for Jeffrey but was meant for me.

“Please,” I whisper, not giving two shits about my pride. “Please help me.”

“Shut up and stay out of this.” Jeffrey hisses, kicking out so his foot connects with my ribs. “Can’t you see that the men are talking?”

Gasping, I curl in on myself as pain shoots through me, but I can’t give up, not yet.

“Please,” I repeat, lifting my gaze to the man’s once more. “Please, help me before he kills me.”

Dammit. What was I even doing? Begging a complete stranger to help me while knowing that he could just be messing with me. But f**k I was desperate to survive this and I knew I wouldn’t be able to escape without this guys help. And I didn’t know why, but something deep inside me wanted to trust that he would keep to his word.

“And if I do?” He asks, amusement coloring his words. “How do you plan on repaying me?”

“I’ll…” I begin wondering what exactly he could even want from me. I mean I had an idea given the way his eyes slowly trail down my body as he waits for a response, but I would just have to deal with what I was promising later. “Anything you want, I’ll do it.”

“Anything,” he repeats, his lip quirking into that devilish smile from earlier. “Do you know what you’re promising?”

“I do,” I confirm, slowly standing on shaky legs. “I know what I’m saying.”

I just needed to get out of this situation, and then I could disappear before having to make good on my promise. I mean, what were the chances of this guy finding me after we parted ways?

“Don’t forget your words,” the man says, shifting his gaze to Jeffrey’s. “Because I will make sure you make good on your promise. And," he continues, shooting me a look that sends a chill racing down my spine. "If you try to run away, I will drag you back kicking and screaming."