Summer of the Beast (6 page)

Surrender to Frankenstein

Chapter One

Frank Stein narrowed his gaze and from his high-rise hotel room window, watched the king, alpha of all werewolves, moving through the crowd of spectators in downtown New York.

Soon Alfred Grant would be history and Frank would take his place. He was tired of hiding and it was time to live. What better time to take control than on the Fourth of July weekend? After all, if it hadn't been for him on that day two hundred years ago, the British would still own the colonies.

Equal parts wolf, vampire, human, and machine, nothing could stop him. Frank smiled and shook his head, remembering the first time he had seen the movie
Frankenstein.
Boy, had the writers gotten his story wrong. Created in Cotswold Hills, not Ingolstadt, Germany, Frank had every right to hate England and anyone associated with the country. After they had killed his father and thought him dead as well, Frank had come to the new country to start a new life.

He didn't have bolts in his neck, but he had a long bolt in his twelve-inch cock. Of course, women never complained. Frank's black hair was tied back into a braid down to his ass, his eyes were wolf's green, his teeth were those of a vampire for feeding, and his skin was part human and wolf. There were no scars on his body. No human could tell what he was, only that he was large, standing over eight feet tall and built like a tank.

Turning from the window, Frank grabbed his key card and wallet and slipped them into his pocket and stared at the woman in his bed.
What was her name? Bridget?
He cleared his throat. “I have to leave now. There's breakfast over there. Help yourself before you leave.” Frank grinned as she nodded, still in a state of heightened pleasure. It wasn't often he could find a woman who could take his sexual appetite and size, but most vampires and werewolves could. He'd been afraid to touch a human female because his size was usually too much for them.

Not worried about the woman in his bed, Frank stepped out into the hallway. Cruse, Theodore, and Dana were all leaning against the wall, waiting for him. They straightened and grinned.

“I take it Alex is still out of it this morning?” Cruse chuckled as they made their way to the elevator.

He laughed. “That was her name? I thought it was Bethany.” Frank slapped his beta on his shoulder. “So what's the word? Does the king know I'm here?” he asked his inner pack. Each one of them had been with him for more than a hundred years, both wolf and vampire, after he had given each one the choice to join him. They were all deadly, after years of fighting.

Theodore nodded and stepped in behind him. “He doesn't know who is challenging him, but the challenge is to take place on the fifth at midnight. It always amazes me how the wolves we've come across ignore us because of the vampire blood. Stupid.” He shook his head. “Never underestimate your enemy. That's the first thing you learn when growing up in the pack.”

Frank glanced at Theodore. “That's true, but the vampires and the wolves have been at peace for more than fifty years. I don't think either side wants to break that truce after the last war. Too many were lost on both sides.”

The elevator door opened and Frank scanned the lobby, stepping out. Four of his pack stood guard and nodded to him.

“
What does Christopher think of you taking over as king of the wolves?”
Cruse asked when they stepped out into the morning light. One good thing about being part wolf was they could walk in the sun.

“He accepts it, and he knows I want nothing to do with vampire crap. Their ruling clan is worse than the wolves’. Let Christopher deal with that shit.”
Frank snorted and pushed through the crowds that had already lined the streets for the Fourth.

Frank stopped and lifted his head. The scent of fear and something sweeter drifted to him.
“Do you smell it?”

“There, two hundred feet to your left,”
Dana said.

He turned as the blur of blue hair dashed into the subway tunnel, followed closely by two vampires and two wolves.
“Why the hell would wolves and vampires be chasing that female?”
Frank moved with the speed of the wolf, following the threat to the female.

“And why the hell is her scent driving us into a frenzy?”
Dana growled next to him as all four of them made their way into the tunnels.

* * * *

Whitnee Rae ran, her sides hurting along with her shoulder where that prick Alfred Grant had bitten her last night. All she had wanted was a one-night stand and wouldn't you know, her friends would single out a nutcase for her. She was so going to kill Marci and Allie.

She ducked into the subway tunnel, hoping to catch one as it was taking off, but the guards Alfred had left at his rented penthouse now scanned the passengers that boarded the train.
What I want to know is how he knew about my magic.

Alfred had said something about smelling the magic on her and that he could use her magic in the upcoming challenge to his advantage. Like she was going to help the bastard after he bit her, explaining he needed to make her like him, a wolf. Whitnee had laughed so hard when he said he was a wolf that the first slap had shocked her, but the growl and his shift to a wolf had terrified her.

Sure she knew of the others—vampires, werewolves, the whole bunch—but never had she seen a wolf up close, let alone one wanting to change her. Thank God Alfred had left her in the room alone. That was the only reason she had escaped. He didn't know how powerful of a witch she was and he wasn't going to find out, if she had anything to do with it.

Whitnee noticed a woman who was about her height getting on the train. She quickly threw a burst of magic in the woman's direction. Immediately the unsuspecting passenger transformed into a perfect copy of Whitnee, blue hair and all. The vampires followed her decoy onto the train, but Whitnee still had to deal with the two wolves. “Damn their damn noses,” she muttered and jumped down onto the tracks when the train pulled away. She had five minutes before the next train.

Whitnee ran towards the next gate when she heard the growls behind her, and knew it was only a matter of time before they were upon her.

“No!” she screamed as large muscled arms wrapped around her waist and tackled her down onto the tracks, but almost at once the arms were gone. Whitnee didn't waste any time getting up and dashing towards the next gate, not even looking behind her.

The light of the next gate flickered in the dark tunnel, but all too soon it was gone and she crashed into a wall of solid muscle. Before she could fall on her ass, two strong large hands landed on her shoulders, holding her still.

“You're safe. Those who threatened you are gone,” a deep baritone voice said.

Slowly Whitnee lifted her gaze up to settle on the giant before her.

His large green eyes scanned her from head to toe. “Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?”

“Thank you, I'm fine, but I need to get home before they send someone else for me.” Whitnee tried to move around the large man, but he blocked her way.

“They'll find you at home. I know Alfred and he won't stop if he wants you.” He scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing. “We'll take you somewhere safe. After the fifth, you won't have to worry about him anymore.”

“What are you doing? Put me down right now. He won't find me. How did you know I was running from him?” She pushed back, away from his massive chest, but he held tight to her.

“If you don't want to cause a scene, quiet down. I'll explain everything when you are safe and we're not out in the open.” The green-eyed giant waited for her to calm down while three other men just as deadly looking approached them.

“They've been taken care of, but we'd better hurry before he sends more men. I've covered our scent and hers,” the red-haired man said as they moved out of the tunnels and up onto the street.

Great. From one mess to another!
Whitnee sighed and waited till she could escape again.

Chapter Two

“Dana, go ahead and make sure Alex is out of my room. We don't need anyone knowing about this woman for right now,”
Frank ordered, and Dana nodded, disappearing from their side. All four of them could smell Alfred on the human in his arms and they didn't like it one bit.

“Cruse, make sure the other pack members know to keep an eye out for any of Alfred's men, then meet us upstairs in my room.”
The elevator opened and he stepped inside with Theodore at his side, gently lowering her feet to the ground as the elevator door closed.

She came up to the middle of his chest. Her blue hair was shoulder length. She frowned up at him. “So, am I your prisoner, too?” She crossed her arms over her large breasts.

“No, but you have to know he'll be able to track you down. By now, he already knows where you live and is waiting for you. He doesn't know I'm here or who I am, so you're safe with me. My name is Frank Stein, and this is Theodore Gunk. You'll meet the other two when we get to my suite.”

The small woman backed up a step and glanced back and forth at them. “Why should I believe you? For all I know you could be taking me to your room to rape or murder me. Why would you help me, knowing what and who Alfred is?”

“As I said before, Alfred will no longer be a problem after the fifth.” The elevator dinged and the door opened. “Please, there is no reason to be afraid. You're too small and human for me.” Frank snorted and guided her to his suite.

Dana stood in the hallway with the door open. “Please help yourself to food or something to drink. It all should be still warm.” Frank sat on the couch, trying to make her feel more at ease. Her narrowed blue eyes gazed around the room.

“Can you I ask you a couple of questions?” She poured herself a cup of coffee, walked to the window and stared outside.

“Of course, and I'll answer as much as I can.” Cruse stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

“Alfred bit me, said he needed me to be like him.” She turned to stare at him. Her hands shook when she lifted the coffee cup up. “What's going to happen to me?”

Frank leaned up and studied her. “How long ago did he bite you, and where? Did he claim you, mark you as his?”

“He bit me sometime early this morning, and I don't think he marked me.” She frowned. “He said I needed to be like him before he could do that. By the way, my name is Whitnee Rae.” Once more she glanced around the room and leaned against the wall, slowly sinking to the floor.

“I would say you have about two hours before the change happens. It will be painful at first, but after your first shift, you should be fine.” Frank stood and carefully moved to her, kneeling down. “You're tired.” He scooped her up into his arms again and sat down in the chair with her.

“Why did Alfred want you and how do you know him, Whitnee?” He tucked her blue hair behind her ear.

She sighed and laid her head against his chest. “I don't know why I trust you, but I do. Maybe it's because I haven't slept in thirty six hours, who knows? I was at the Rolling Rock last night with my friends. They dragged me there. Alfred was there and my girlfriends picked him for me. Wait till I get a hold of them. Anyway, once we were at his place, he informed me that he knew I was a witch and that he was a wolf. I laughed at him. Never laugh at him.” She reached up and put her hand on her swollen face. “You're the one who's going to challenge him, aren't you?” Whitnee looked up into his eyes.

“Yes, so he wanted to use your magic against me?” Frank glanced at his friends. All three of them were furious.

Whitnee laughed. “Yeah, but he was a fool. My magic can't be forced, and it would have backfired on him. And I have a feeling that even if he did have my magic, it wouldn't have helped him.” She wrinkled her nose and sniffed. “I stink like him. Can I use your phone? I need to call my mom and dad.”

He picked her back up and carried her to the bathroom. “Why don't you take a shower? I'll give you one of my shirts for now, and after that we'll talk about the phone call.” Frank turned and opened the dresser, grabbing one of his shirts.

“You're not going to let me call, are you? I've just stepped into a different prison.” She took his shirt and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door, but not before he heard her mumble. “I should have fucking stayed home.”

Frank turned and moved to the sitting room, waiting to hear the water start before he said anything. “I know my emotions are all over the place with her. What about the three of you?”

“Damn it, she's so small! She can't be our queen.” Cruse snatched up a piece of cantaloupe.

Frank frowned. “What are you talking about? I mean, I'm attracted to her, but I would never touch her. You have to be wrong. There is no way she's our queen.” Inside the wolf howled and demanded to take the female, wiping Alfred's scent off of her. Even the vampire half of him was struggling with wanting to claim her. “Damn it, this can't be happening!”

“Who said the fates were always wise?” Dana snorted and plopped down onto the couch. “Frank, we're all struggling with the wolf too. You know our half wants to kill Alfred for touching her. There has never been a time in the last hundred years that we've had these feelings, and we all know we would share a female.”

“We'll deal with that later. Now we have to prepare her for the transformation. Do we let her call home, knowing Alfred could be there?” Frank glanced at Cruse, who nodded behind him.

“I'm not calling home. I'm calling my mom and dad. I call them every Sunday. They're watching my son, Frank. He's only four and he's going to miss me.” A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she brushed it away.

To say he was stunned would be an understatement. The blue hair was gone. Whitnee smiled. “It wasn't permanent. My girlfriend sprayed my hair before we went out.”

Frank shook his head. “Sorry, it just shocked me. Sit down, Whitnee. You're going to need your strength for the transformation.” Right now all he wanted to do was rip his own shirt off her body and take her right there against the wall, but he pushed the lust aside.

“Why don't you write down your parents’ address and I'll send someone to protect them? Meanwhile, go ahead and call them. But, Whitnee, be careful when you call them. Don't tell them where you are in case Alfred already has men there. Tell them you'll be there to pick up your son tonight.” Frank handed her his cell phone.

Whitnee flipped open the phone and dialed the number while she walked to the window. His shirt flowed to her knees.

“There is no way she's our queen. She already has a child.”
Frank turned to stare at Dana.

He snorted.
“Where does it say our queen is supposed to be a virgin, Frank? I don't know about you, but I sure don't want a virgin.”

Frank frowned and turned back to Whitnee. “Yes, Mom, I'm fine, just running late. We'll be there to pick up Andrew this evening.”

“Whitnee Rae, I know you're in trouble. Some men were here earlier looking for you. What's going on now?”

Frank heard her yell in the phone.

She turned around, fear in her eyes. “Frank…”

“Give me the phone, Whitnee. Let me talk to your mom.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, leading her to the chair and took the phone.

“Mrs. Rae. My name is Frank Stein. Whitnee is fine and safe.”

“And who are you? Did you send those men here? I'm warning you now, you don't want to mess with my family.”

“Mrs. Rae. I didn't send those men to your home, but I do know who did and you need to be careful. They won't hesitate to hurt you or your family. As soon as we can, we'll bring your daughter there to pick up her son. You are welcome to come back with us. We can offer you protection.”

Whitnee rolled her eyes and took the phone from him. “Good one. Now she's going to go nuts, knowing I'm in danger.’”

Whitnee spoke into the phone. “Mom, we'll explain everything tonight, but I have to go now.” She rubbed her stomach and flinched.

“Cruse, get some towels and a wet rag. Dana, get me another shirt. This one will be ruined in a few minutes. And Theodore, send two of our pack over to this address. Make sure they stay out of sight until we can explain everything.”

Frank took the phone and tossed it onto the table, glancing down at Whitnee. “It's started. It won't last long, but it will be painful at first. Right now, your organs, muscles, and bones are all changing.” He scooped her up and sat down in her seat. “In a few minutes, I'll help you shift to the dire-wolf. That will be the hardest one, but it's best to get it out of the way, before you shift to the wolf.” Frank took the washcloth from Cruse and wiped her face.

“Just so you know, if you don't win, I'm so going to turn him to dog shit.” She bent over. “Hell, this is worse than having a kid.”

“Tell us about your son.” Frank rubbed her back, trying to distract her from what was going to happen.

Whitnee grinned and got a faraway look. “Andrew, his name is Andrew. He's such a smart little boy. He's already tested at a first-grade level. They wanted me to put him into the first grade right off the bat when he starts school next year, but I said no. I want him to enjoy kindergarten. Maybe later he can jump a grade, but not the first year.” She doubled over again, but continued in a whisper. “He has my eyes and mouth, but has his father's hair and nose. Thank God he has my patience. I just hope he didn't see enough of his father's actions to influence him.”

“Where is his father? Did he hurt you?” The thought of another man hurting her sent a violent tremble through him.

“He's dead. My father doesn't say much, but when I ended up in the hospital the last time with a broken jaw, three ribs cracked, and my arm broken, it was too much.” She slowly sat up. “My father turned him into a turtle and made turtle soup for himself. Ate the whole thing, too.”

Frank glanced at Dana, Cruse, and Theodore. “Remind me not to make her parents mad.” They all nodded in agreement.

Whitnee laughed, but stopped when the change started. Her large blue eyes gazed up at him.

“It's time, Whitnee.” He stood and gently set her on her feet. “It would be better if you were naked.”

She didn't hesitate, ripping the shirt over her head and grabbing his arm as he threw the shirt to the floor. “Frank!!”

He released the magic and shifted, as did his inner pack. Their magic poured over her, helping ease the transformation. She screamed. Bones cracked, muscles snapped and contracted, and white fur broke through her skin.

All four of them surrounded her, waiting for the last push of magic to move through her. Whitnee bent over and snarled, then slowly rose to six feet in height. Her blue eyes gazed around the room, then back at them.

“It's over. In a little while I'll show you how to shift to the wolf, but for now just relax and build your strength.” His voice was deep and garbled.

“Everything is much louder and my vision is amazing.” Whitnee took slow steps to the bathroom and gazed into the bathroom mirror. “Damn, I'm taller too.”

Frank stood behind her and grinned. “You're always bigger in the dire-wolf form. Let's shift to the wolf form now. I want you to picture a wolf and hold it.”

Her big blue eyes held his in the mirror. “It won't hurt, will it?”

He shook his head. “No, it's just different, but no pain.” Frank stood back watching as she closed her eyes and started the shift. In no time, a small white wolf glanced up at him, wagging her tail. “Very good, now test out your legs. Go into the sitting room.”