In truth, if you walked up to a human and asked what types of cold-blooded shifters they knew, very few would come up with anything but a dragon, and the beast that I had just unleashed was thousands of times rarer than even a jeweled dragon, usually believed to be the rarest of the rare.
So as I undulated through the weeds at the side of the highway, my forked tongue longer than a compact car as it flickered in and out of my snout, tasting the air as I navigated through senses most species had lost, I wasn’t surprised to hear vehicles screeching to a halt, some even crashing into the one in front of them as they stared at me instead of watching their progression. Yes, I heard all of it; the crunching of metal on metal, the screams layering upon themselves each time my overwhelming bulk glistened in the sunlight. Of course, I heard it, but that’s not to say I registered it.
My entire focus was on locating the source of the desperate scream for help echoing inside my head, on finding the Omega crying out for his Alpha to rescue him from danger he should have never fallen into.
On saving the husband and son of my heart.
It’s true that the vehicle I had left behind could have traveled faster than the fifty or so miles per hour that I slid along the ground, but it couldn’t have done it as the crow flies -or, more accurately as the serpent slithers. I wound through abandoned buildings, over fences and across backyards dotted with children’s’ toys, shoving obstacles from my path or simply crushing them at will as I followed my tongue.
The change in the air was gradual as I reached the city limits. The fuel emissions and other pollutants faded, bringing Paul’s scent higher in the atmospheric layer and making it easier for me to follow. Somewhere in the back of my mind it registered that I was back at the edge of the same abandoned industrial park that the fake text message had lured me to that morning.
Sylas!Paul’s terrified voice was louder in my mind, verifying that I was close to finding him.I know you probably can’t hear me but I love you. I’m so sorry I was stupid enough to open that fucking door!
My heart sped up at the fear bleeding through but I focused on sending comfort back to him.I do hear you, Tiger, and I’m coming. Just hang in there. And watch your language.I tacked the last bit on hoping it would help center him.
Shock. Amazement. Relief. The emotions flooding into my mind nearly overwhelmed me.Sorry.I can’t believe that worked!Even as Paul was expressing his astonishment, I could also feel the niggling of doubt in the back ofhismind that he was losing his sanity.
I’d imagine that the sight of a serpent larger than a semi-truck chuckling as it raced across the abandoned roads would have been one for the news, but it wasn’t important.
You’re not crazy,I tried to reassure him.I’m close but there are too many buildings to check. Do you know which one you’re in?
Motel,Paul’s response was immediate.There’s electricitybutI think it’s abandoned. There weren’t any other cars. They said my father is coming.He paused again.My stepmother is with the goon who grabbed me.
Oh, fuck.
Much like a freight train, it takes me several minutes to slow to a stop when I’m traveling at full speed and by the time I did, I was in an overgrown parking lot staring directly at a rundown motel with only one vehicle in the parking lot.
I see you,I reassured him quickly.Did they say anything else?
Just that my father has some business to discuss with me. I don’t think they’re going to do anything until he gets here.
Good.I studied the building for a minute.Are you by the door? Or the window?
The window,Paul responded immediately.The bi..woman is in the bathroom and the man is staring at me.
I snorted.Good catch. Get as far from the door as you can and face out the window, okay?
Slithering toward the building, I considered shifting before making my entrance but promptly decided against it. Without knowing if the bad guys were armed, I was better staying in the form that could take the most damage without needing back up.
Besides, the look on that asshole’s face when he opened the door was going to be fun.
Well, for me, anyway.
At least, until Paul realized that I really was the monster that nightmares are made of but, even if I had to live without him, at least I’d know that he and Bun were safe.
Scooping up a few rocks in my mouth, I spit them at the door and waited.
“What the fuck…” The door jerked open and the man standing there shrieked, the gun in his fist clattering to the ground as his jaw began to tremble and he promptly went as white as a ghost. He took a step back, too bad for him thatthatmeant he took a steptowardthe beast’s family.
I narrowed my eyes, watching as the sickly white color of his skin was replaced by a line of gray just under his hairline that started moving lower, his eyes filling with horror as he realized he was no longer able to move.
Glancing past the living statue in front of me, I saw that Paul had done as he was told and was staring out the window, but I could see him watching in the reflection on the glass. He gasped and spun around, his eyes threatening to swallow his entire face as he stared at the portion of my head -just my snout, really- that was able to poke into the room.
I braced myself for his reaction, for the fearful screams that I knew were coming, but instead of backing away, my brave Omega raced toward me, wrapping his arms as far around my thick neck as he could, his tears hot against my scales.
“Thank you,” Paul sobbed, pressing as close to me as he could get. “I can’t believe you found me.”
“Step back,” I hissed gently. “Let me change. You might want to look away.”
