*Axel*
It is taking everything in me not to laugh at her reaction. Is it wrong to convince her that werechickens are a thing? Maybe, but it’s entertaining, so I’m not sure I care very much. She is clinging to my arm, looking around like a kid being led through a horror house. I sneak a peek at her scared face and I have to mentally slap myself out of the attraction.
She is fucking gorgeous. There is an innocence about her. She brings out the desire to just protect her, even knowing she has been protecting herself all this time. Her blue eyes meet mine, and I grumble and turn away. Maybe if she finds me mean I can get her to keep her distance. The poor girl has got to be fighting this bond, just like I am. Though she has it a little easier if you ask me. How hard is it to rebuff an already hideous man as your mate?
I can’t help but wonder what she is feeling. Her destined mate is this beast who is dragging her through a new world s
*Axel* My tent flap flies open as Maggie storms in. So much for avoiding her completely. The dim lighting from the tent softens the angry features on her face as she stalks over to me with purpose. Gently, I lay aside my pen and paper and give her my undivided attention. “How can I help you?” “Ticket duty?” She seethes. I quirk a brow. “You have a problem with working for your room and board?” “No, but ticket duty? Really? I’m a shifter too. I can shift and do things and be a part of the show.” “Good for you,” I say, looking back down at my work. “I want to be a part of the show.” She demands. “I’ll think about it.” “Really?” “No.” “What! Why?” “Because you are not a member of our circus. We are helping you out. You aren’t staying, so why would I alter the show to accommodate you for a short time.” “I can’t stay?” she asks. I look up when her v
*Maggie* When I first met Axel, I felt a draw to him, like he would always be my safe space. Even now, with his face that he thinks is so terrible, I can’t help but think about being near him. I want to bask in his smell and be in his arms. I don’t know what it is, but something about him just irritates and calms me simultaneously. But I can’t allow anything to come of these feelings. Not when I’m here on a mission. Admittedly, I feel bad about what I have to do. I hate that after getting to know these people even in a short time, I will have to leave them. It’s been just me for so long that I’ve forgotten what true kindness feels like. But, I have a job to do and for the first in years, I’m so close I can taste it. The quaint life and the protection they have promised me is almost within reach and Axel and his crew are the key to getting me there. My pocket vibrates, and I pull out my small burner phone. Three new messages. Oh, j
Axel doesn’t even bother to look at me as he walks away. My head hurts from the whining my wolf is making and my knee feels sore from the tumble we just took. I wipe my pants off and freeze when I touch an oozy substance. Whimpering slightly, I look down and find I’m covered in egg. I turn to look for any survivors and find three. The chickens cluck around the coop like I’m not even there, so I take the chance and grab the only remaining eggs and sprint for the door, whipping it open and slamming it shut behind me. I breathe a sigh of relief at being away from them. I jump as a bird squawks and I run to the dining tent, clutching my little prizes as I have done so well. “Billy,” I call out, looking for the large grumpy man. There is no response, so I move deeper into the tent, looking around at all the random stuff that sits out. There are ribbons in mounds on the table, a map, and a bunch of random small wood carvings with
*Axel*The chains clink together in Billy’s hands as he stands, trying to convince me that maybe, just maybe, this time, the chains will work. He has tried chaining me four times. The longest time the chains restrained me is a whopping three minutes and fifty-two seconds. Billy knows as well as I do that more chains will only slow me down by a few seconds. I groan and slump down into the plush leather chair in my tent.“Those won’t work and you know it.”“It’s the best I can do. If we had a tiger cage, then I’d put you in it, but we house our tigers in tents like morons,” he says, trying to crack a joke.“Billy, I think I need to leave this time. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”“No! The show can’t happen without you. You have until the moon is at its fullest height to get away from here. It will be fine.”“You always say that and it
The power of the blue moon comes in flashes, crashing over me as a stark reminder that the time is near. With each nauseating reminder, my anxiousness grows. Sweat tickles my brow and the blood pumping through my veins feels cold. Billy steps close, handing me a glass of water. “It seems like it’s getting harder to control with every blue moon,” he whispers, looking at me with worry. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut and willing myself into control. He is right. Every blue moon has gotten harder and harder to control. I go out for longer periods of time and when I get back I feel like I’ve run a worldwide marathon. “I don’t think I can wait,” I whisper. “I feel like my wolf is going to crawl out of my skin and leave me behind in a puddle on the floor.” “Drink some water. You're on in a couple minutes and then you will take off. I will do an extra bit where you normally would.” “What are
*Maggie*I spent the better part of the night searching for Axel and Billy. The moment the show ended, I snuck into the woods, hoping to catch wind of them. Axel’s scent was nowhere in the air and Billy’s had long been gone, so I wandered, calling Brutus and making him join the fray. He searched further into the woods than I did, and I’m supposed to be meeting him in ten minutes by a dead willow tree just out of scent range from camp.Walking deeper into the woods to find our meeting spot, I hear the timbre of two voices, and I try to get closer. The words they are saying are too low of a decibel for me to make out, but I can identify a half-naked Billy looking mighty fine and a gaunt and exhausted looking, Axel. My heart lurches at the state of him as my feet propel me forward.Axel’s normally styled hair is damp with perspiration and his face is pale. Even in his disarray, he is breathtaking from this angle. I mar
Axel snores in the back seat while Billy drives. The rest of the crew is on the massive bus while we haul all the tent equipment and things in the trailer. Billy asked me if I would ride with him to help keep him awake, and since I’m supposed to make someone fall in love with me and Axel says I’m annoying. I’m thinking Billy is my best option. He is a touch older than me, but the five-year difference is more desirable than the 18 with the were-monkies. I thought about Freddie, but he keeps to himself. Always creepily watching everything. “I’m sorry about Axel being rude in the woods,” Billy says. “It’s fine. I’m used to his rude attitude now,” I say, sinking further into the seat. I hope he can hear me talking crap. “He has some weird aversion to you and I’m not sure what it is.” “Maybe it’s an alpha thing.” “Or maybe he just doesn’t like other werewolves.” “Does he have a reason not to?” “Do you really h
*Axel*I help as much as I can with the unloading of the tents, doing my best to avoid Maggie and her heavy glances. Ever since the car ride, I’m more resolved than ever to keep my distance from her. All it did was further prove how much power she and the mate bond have over me. A few kind words from her and I felt like I was the most handsome man ever produced in the world. No woman should have that power over a man, let alone a beast.Everyone is busy running around and finding the best spot for their personal tent. Billy and Freddie are having a heated conversation with hands animatedly flying about and their faces red. Freddie suddenly looks over at me and frowns, then turns his back on the still irate Billy, who shouts at Freddie as he shifts into his hawk form and flies high into a tree.I saunter over to Billy as he mumbles and grumbles about petulant young people who are selfish and have no respect for their elders. Which I f