Backstage at the Freak Show (Harem of Freaks #7) - Crystal Ash Page 0,14

didn't notice when the music stopped. My peripheral vision told me we were standing at the edge of the dance floor, but I barely paid attention to my surroundings. My focus was all on him.

His two different colored eyes were fascinating to look at and I couldn't tear my gaze away. He radiated strength and power, still holding my waist in a firm, but not restrictive, grip. I didn't even know what this man shifted to, but just the human side of him drew me in like a moth to a flame.

"Miriam," he voiced in a low growl after what had to be several minutes of just holding and staring at each other, "can I--"

"Please, Tak." I breathed eagerly, standing on tiptoes as I fully braced my forearms on his chest now. For some reason, this man was a mystery I was dying to uncover. I barely scratched the surface and needed to explore him deeper.

His hand on my waist slid up my back to palm the nape of my neck. I leaned into the rough, callused skin of his thumb tracing light circles at the base of my skull.

I lifted my face to his and watched his lips lower to mine through heavy eyelids. In that tense, brief moment before our mouths would meet, a hard banging sound made me shriek and jump against him.

Both arms closed around me like a shield as the exit door down the hallway burst open from the outside. A human, rage etched onto his face to match the guns, knives, and various homemade weapons strapped to his body, came toward us.

"I'm going to kill all you dirty animal fuckers and send you straight to Hell!" he screamed.

6

Miriam

Tak shoved me behind him, completely blocking my view of the human with his body. "Tak, no!" My voice rose to a panic. The human had enough weapons on him to arm at least ten more people.

"Miriam!"

I heard my name from behind me, then someone jerked me into their chest. The familiar smell told me it was Gabe, though it barely registered in my mind.

Where the hell was security? Tak getting killed to protect me was all I could think about.

"Tak!" I screamed again, fighting to reach him but strong arms held me back.

The large man's shift was immediate. His suit fell apart in ribbons as he stretched to the height of the ceiling. Black claws extended from his hands as grey, black, and brown fur covered his body.

"Holy..." Gabe whispered, unable to finish the thought as we just stared at him.

Tak looked exactly like a wolf, but was the size of an elephant. He fell to all fours, arms and legs the length of my body, and roared in the terrified human's face.

With one massive paw the size of my torso, Tak pinned him against the wall. Jaws gaping wide with rows of dagger like teeth on display, the gigantic wolf almost seemed to be smiling.

Don't you know you shouldn't go hunting at night, little human.

Tak's voice rang with a calm, almost soothing quality in my head. Gabe and I stared at each other, our looks confirming that we both heard it. I never heard anyone but Mel communicate like that.

The stench of piss filled the air and Tak seemed he had enough. Bringing his paw to the human's face, he gripped his whole head, claws curling around like that of a human hand.

With one quick snap, the human's head jerked to the side like a Ken doll, then he slumped to the floor as Tak released him.

Colt and the security team came running just as the large man began shifting back to human.

"Nice of y'all to show up," Gabe spat.

"What the hell happened?" Colt pulled me to him, squeezing me tightly as his fingers closed possessively in my hair. "I heard you scream, Mir. Fuck--"

"Tak saved us." My own voice sounded far away as I turned to look at the large, now naked man. "He probably saved everyone here. That guy was armed like a terrorist and said he was going to kill everyone."

"We'll take care of this," John, the head of security tapped Colt on the shoulder as he and his guys went to remove the body.

"Normally, I spill more blood, but," Tak looked at the human's body, then us sheepishly, "I didn't want to create a mess to clean up."

"What the hell are you?" Gabe demanded. Normally I would have chastised him for being rude, but the shock left me stunned.

"I'm an Amarok,"