Summer of the Beast by Trinity Blacio Page A

your room to rape or murder me. Why would you help me, knowing what and who Alfred is?”
    “As I said before, Alfred will no longer be a problem after the fifth.” The elevator dinged and the door opened. “Please, there is no reason to be afraid. You're too small and human for me.” Frank snorted and guided her to his suite.
    Dana stood in the hallway with the door open. “Please help yourself to food or something to drink. It all should be still warm.” Frank sat on the couch, trying to make her feel more at ease. Her narrowed blue eyes gazed around the room.
    “Can you I ask you a couple of questions?” She poured herself a cup of coffee, walked to the window and stared outside.
    “Of course, and I'll answer as much as I can.” Cruse stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
    “Alfred bit me, said he needed me to be like him.” She turned to stare at him. Her hands shook when she lifted the coffee cup up. “What's going to happen to me?”
    Frank leaned up and studied her. “How long ago did he bite you, and where? Did he claim you, mark you as his?”
    “He bit me sometime early this morning, and I don't think he marked me.” She frowned. “He said I needed to be like him before he could do that. By the way, my name is Whitnee Rae.” Once more she glanced around the room and leaned against the wall, slowly sinking to the floor.
    “I would say you have about two hours before the change happens. It will be painful at first, but after your first shift, you should be fine.” Frank stood and carefully moved to her, kneeling down. “You're tired.” He scooped her up into his arms again and sat down in the chair with her.
    “Why did Alfred want you and how do you know him, Whitnee?” He tucked her blue hair behind her ear.
    She sighed and laid her head against his chest. “I don't know why I trust you, but I do. Maybe it's because I haven't slept in thirty six hours, who knows? I was at the Rolling Rock last night with my friends. They dragged me there. Alfred was there and my girlfriends picked him for me. Wait till I get a hold of them. Anyway, once we were at his place, he informed me that he knew I was a witch and that he was a wolf. I laughed at him. Never laugh at him.” She reached up and put her hand on her swollen face. “You're the one who's going to challenge him, aren't you?” Whitnee looked up into his eyes.
    “Yes, so he wanted to use your magic against me?” Frank glanced at his friends. All three of them were furious.
    Whitnee laughed. “Yeah, but he was a fool. My magic can't be forced, and it would have backfired on him. And I have a feeling that even if he did have my magic, it wouldn't have helped him.” She wrinkled her nose and sniffed. “I stink like him. Can I use your phone? I need to call my mom and dad.”
    He picked her back up and carried her to the bathroom. “Why don't you take a shower? I'll give you one of my shirts for now, and after that we'll talk about the phone call.” Frank turned and opened the dresser, grabbing one of his shirts.
    “You're not going to let me call, are you? I've just stepped into a different prison.” She took his shirt and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door, but not before he heard her mumble. “I should have fucking stayed home.”
    Frank turned and moved to the sitting room, waiting to hear the water start before he said anything. “I know my emotions are all over the place with her. What about the three of you?”
    “Damn it, she's so small! She can't be our queen.” Cruse snatched up a piece of cantaloupe.
    Frank frowned. “What are you talking about? I mean, I'm attracted to her, but I would never touch her. You have to be wrong. There is no way she's our queen.” Inside the wolf howled and demanded to take the female, wiping Alfred's scent off of her. Even the vampire half of him was struggling with wanting to claim her. “Damn it, this can't be happening!”
    “Who said the fates were always wise?”