Predator

Part Twenty Two✔️

"Alexei." She spoke softly. "Come back to me. Don't let him win."

A growl rumbled in the beast's chest and Grey watched a bone in his arm snap, claws replacing his fingernails. He was going full beast again and who knew what this beast would do to her with complete control.

Alexei could feel his control slipping. The beast was raging, it didn't want Grey to want his human side, only the beast. He wanted her to crave the beast side, he wanted to show her who she really wanted by filling the night with her moans. Alexei wouldn't let that happen, what with his emotions slowly turning into the beast's.

"Grey." Alexei groaned out, claws digging into her skin as his hip bone cracked.

"I'm here. Don't leave me Alexei." Her voice shook; she was terrified but she was a lioness who never admitted to that fear. "Don't let him take over. He hurt Maksim. He hurts people, not you."

A snarl tore through Alexei's throat as more bones broke and the beast grew closer to the surface. He was so focused on pushing down the beast and his own pain that he didn't recognize Grey's when she winced and tightened her grip on his face with her jaw clenched tight.

"I want you, Alexei, not the beast."

"I am the beast." He just about sobbed out as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"You don't kill for pleasure-"

"I let him."

And Grey's voice was drowned out by a cry of pain from Alexei that he didn't even hear her soft words.

"I can't love a beast."

Alexei felt the change begging to take over completely, that itching feeling of fur growing beneath his skin took over and in an attempt to scratch it away, his skin came with it. He stared at the bloodied fur on his shoulder before turning up to Grey who stood watching him, clutching her bloody hips. It was then that Alexei noticed the claw marks on her hips from his grip, the ground by her feet stained with her blood that trailed down her long legs. He hurt her; and for some reason, that hurt him - the human side of him at least.

"Get out of here Grey." His voice broke as he winced.

"But, Alexei-"

"I don't want to hurt you more! Leave! Go West-" He paused to breath as more bones broke and re-shifted, his finger pointing in the direction he spoke of. "You'll find Petra and the town there. Go back to New York."

Grey shook her head. "No. I'm not leaving you."

"You will leave me." Alexei looked at her, pleading with his eyes. "I won't be able to live with myself if I hurt you."

"It's not you!"

"I am one with this beast. I am as much a part of khishchnik as he is a part of me! Go!"

Grey grew angry, her hands moved to hold his cheeks as he cried out in pain again. She looked into his eyes, his human eyes as his body was halfway between man and beast. "I know there is good inside of you, Alexei. Don't let the darkness win."

He stared back at her, his body calming enough for Grey to think he won, that the beast was tamed but the snapping of his jaw beneath her palms made her stomach churn.

"Grey. Go!"

It took everything in her to not stay with him as he screamed and groaned through his shift. To force her legs to move was hard enough but making them run and not stop was draining her from just a few feet. Grey continued straight forward in the direction Alexei pointed, never once faltering from her straight path.

And as the trees disappeared and in their place was that abandoned barn in the backyard of Petra's home, a growl shook the earth, so menacing Grey swore it could've put the chill of winter back in the air. So she pushed on, not even realizing she was crying until she was banging on the back door with all her might. She didn't realize she was sobbing until the door swung open and she was looking a frightened Dimitri in the eyes.

"Grey?"

That was when the girl broke. She fell into his arms and let the sobs rip through her as he called for his grandmother and for Petra. She sobbed for herself, for putting herself in this situation and for Maksim who she left behind without a single glance. She sobbed for running from the beast, and she sobbed for staying this long. She sobbed at the thought of home, away from Russian soil, but mostly for the man she was falling for, the man who was cursed with a beast inside him that she feared with every fiber of her being.

"Poluchit' yeye vnutri!" The rough voice of Klara filled the air. "Do prikhoda khishchnik!"

In a swift motion, Grey was lifted into the air by Dimitri who was hushing her softly, whispering that everything was fine. She shivered at his touch that seemed cold and bland, nothing like his.

"Maksim. You have to go back for Maksim!" Grey was begging Dimitri as she was placed on the couch, just then remembering the eldest brother she found on the ground. Petra was rushing around locking doors and closing windows while Klara watched from behind Dimitri with tired eyes.

"Grey, calm down-"

"No!" Grey shoved Dimitri away as she continued to sob. "Please, you can't leave Maksim out there, he'll die!"

"Hush, girl." Klara stepped forward and used her free hand to cup Grey's cheek, the girl naturally leaning into her warm hand. "Oldest Volkov is strong. He survive."

"What if he doesn't?" Grey's voice broke and pity filled everyone's eyes.

"You still will."

Grey was silent for a moment, eyes taking in everyone before lingering on Petra who was crying. All of them were dressed in pajamas and their hair all messes, Grey realized it was the middle of the night and she filled with guilt as she turned back to Petra. She gave a sad smile towards her blonde haired friend before holding out her arms. Petra ran to Grey, wrapping their arms around one another as they both cried.

Petra kept repeating apologies over and over but Grey kept quieting her. "It's the past, Petra. Everything's fine."

Then Petra shot back, hands grabbing Grey's face. "Did he hurt you? I will kill him if he even tried to touch you, Grey, I-"

"I'm fine - I promise." Grey smiled at Petra before turning her eyes to Klara. "He's going to come for me before sunrise. When he does, I want you all locked somewhere safe -"

"Grey-"

"-I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me."

"He knows not touch my family." Klara just about growled out. "After Ethen, I show him who is real beast here. He not kill another of my kin."

"And I won't let him touch you, Grey." Petra was filled with determination. "He won't get near you."

"No. You will all stay away if-I mean when he comes for me." The way Grey spoke made it hard to go against her. "You will not fight for me. You will let him take me."

"But Grey-"

"You will not put yourself in harms way for me. Understood?"

"As you wish."

~•~

TRANSLATIONS:
"Poluchit' yeye vnutri!"
Get her inside!

"Do prikhoda khishchnik!"
Before the arrival of the predator!