The Beast And The Blessed

Sixty-Five: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

Killian shifted back to his Lycan, his joints popping loudly at the sudden change as he stood tall in front of me.

"Come out!" He demanded. The Alpha command was thick, and even I felt the need to step toward him at his order. His body shook with anger, and while I was excited to have shifted, I was in no way ready for a fight in this form. I had no training in my fur... I had barely learned how to walk.

My gaze moved to the mouth of the cave, wondering if our guards would come to assist, but there was only silence.

The magic in the air grew thicker.

I shifted, not worried about my lack of clothing. My training had all been in my human form, and I wanted to be ready to fight.

My fingertips touched Killian's back, and his fur bristled as a female peaked her head around the corner of the cave above us before transporting down to stand only twenty feet away.

We both took a step back at the action. The only person that we had known who was strong enough to do that was Joselin. Even then, her ability wasn't as clear. She flickered in and out, while the stranger before us popped from one place to the other.

The power she must have had to master that skill was terrifying.

She was breathtaking. Her long ebony hair was curly and wild. Her eyes were a pale, sea-green. I shivered when I met them and found them locked on me. "You have grown so beautiful, my dear."

on Killian's hackles rose. For me to have grown meant that

been doing better to control his anger and reactions, pissing off a witch with no backup, especially one as powerful as she

do not have to answer to you. You are trespassing in my home, but if my memory serves me correctly, this is not the first time." She laughed as she pulled her gaze away from me and landed on my mate.

in our coloring. While she had black hair,

failed to find a matching feature, anything that would

possible." My denial caused a flash of hurt to go over her

a matter of fact." She lifted her arms, palms up, to gesture toward her surroundings. But I refused to take my eyes off her as she spouted her lies. "I knew you

mother? Prove it." I whispered, feeling my confidence fade. I felt desperate to know if she was a threat

me herself before she died that they had found me and taken me in. If the wrong person learned that fact, they could use it against me. I wasn't

not bothered by my being nude. "We are connected by our blood. If you try, you can feel it. You may

on Killian's side as he eyed her with distrust. He shifted to place his shoulder ahead of mine to

my being. Having her here, someone

the connection between us. It helped to reassure me that she was not lying. But knowing she had been

through our blood, and nothing will ever be able to mute

I turned to look at my mate. Killian growled as the woman

That in itself should tell you how rare you are. Your father's wolf was a pale, golden color. When you first walked in here, and I saw that you had his eyes and hair, I figured that your wolf would be the same. I'm glad that you share at least that with me." Aurora smiled warmly at me before the magic in the

my torso to protect me as Aurora walked around us to take a seat

My voice cracked as

here." She smiled sadly as she continued to stare at

did you abandon