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A new start. That was what Amanda was hoping for. The train clacked on. While teleportation technology was growing in popularity, some places still required the old ways. And right now the country town she was heading to was just what she needed.

Amanda had not always wanted to travel to the country. In truth, there was still a part of her that hated the idea of living in some nowheresville hick town. But she needed it. She needed the change.

At twenty-four years of age, Amanda was already wise in the ways of the world, wisdom earned by cruel experience. Having married three years prior to her high school sweetheart, Blake had proven to be a good husband at first. Attentive to both her and his career, he has supported her going to college to become a teacher.

Sadly, she would one day come home early from class to find him balls deep in his blonde secretary. When the tramp had announced she was pregnant, Amanda had filed for divorce, packed her belongings and stayed at her sister's place.

In time she was able to move on. And, being the sort of woman she was, took up teaching at a school in the town of Ashenrock.

Ashenrock had once been a huge mining town, as it was located next to a super volcano that has been rendered inert by mages well and truly before the American Federation was founded. Now, few precious minerals were found there and the locals, mostly human, had become farmers.

"Teaching in a dustbowl. Just what I always dreamed of."

The job was decently paying, as it was subsidised by the government for being in a remote location. Still, a job was a job, and globally there was a shortage of them at the moment. There had been for years. Men were worse off though, as women could find all sorts of employment, though most were as prostitutes. Amanda sighed, she knew there was nothing wrong with that sort of job, but still, it made her skin crawl to think what some of those women would do for the money.

She was shaken out of her reverie as the train pulled up, she looked outside. Dustbowl had been too apt a word, she thought. The station looked like it had not been renovated in years, with rust covering a lot of the signage and red dirt staining everything. Grabbing her bags she departed, looking for the driver she was supposed to be meeting.

Finally, she saw him. Holding a sign with her name on it was a young man, his shoulder length hair kept loose, he wore what she expected most in this town to wear, work boots, denim jeans and a singlet. He was not exactly hard on the eyes either, his chiseled jawline and just that bit of stubble giving him that air of masculinity she adored.

"Looking for me?" she asked him.

The man smiled. "Amanda I take it?"

She nodded, returning the smile as he took her bag and loaded them in his ute.

"Name's Brian, the principal asked me to pick you up."

She then noticed it, his accent was not typical American, but had a slight bit of Irish to it. "You're not a local?"

He grinned, revealing perfect teeth. "Moved around a fair bit in my younger days. Kind of picked up the Irish accent. But here is home for now."

Getting in the truck she noticed it was kept immaculately clean, with none of the red dust inside the cabin. "You keep a clean truck."

"I do, but small talk is boring don't you think, why not ask me about the town you're going to be living in, Miss Amanda."

She could not help but laugh, the man's accent put her off guard. "Fair enough. But none of this 'Miss Amanda' stuff. Just Amanda will do."

Brian nodded. "I was gonna call you lassie just to show off the accent, but thought against it."

"And it would have made you look old."

Brian laughed, but Amanda noticed that it sounded slightly off.

"Well, what's the school like?"

"Pretty decent actually. Ever since the mine shut down we expected to see the school close down too, but the people who bought the mine have been funding certain buildings for the town."

Amanda looked at Brian. "The mine's closed? I thought that it was still operating."

"Nah, about a year ago it was bought out by an independent rich kid. He's pretty private, and has been erecting a huge wall around it. No one knows what he's planning with it."

"What about the miners? They lost their jobs?"

Brian nodded. "Yes. It was a black day for Ashenrock. He fired every single one. That being said, they were all given double their expected severance package. Some of them used it to open farms, others drank it away."

Amanda cringed. She was not moving into a dying town. She was moving into a dead one. "What about the construction crew, anyone hired from the town?"

"No. He brought in an outside company, you ever hear of Delacroix Industries?"

She had. Delacroix Industries was an extremely powerful company. Once just a shipping firm, they had become deeply involved in bioengineering and technomancy in the last decade. Alexander Delacroix, the founder and CEO, was considered by many to be the most powerful man on the planet, as everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. His success had given him enough money and influence to buy and sell politicians the world over.

"Yeah. Big money they are," was all she could answer.

"Putting it mildly."

"What else is there in town?"

Brian smiled. "Dirt. Lots of dirt." At her look he continued. "Not a lot to be honest. A lot of businesses have closed, but we still have the basics. Post office, shopping centre, a few pubs and of course, a brothel."

"You don't approve?"

"I don't approve that most of your students will either visit there or work there once they are old enough."

His words hit home. Amanda had more than a tough job ahead of her. She then noticed they had completely driven past the hotel and were now pulling up at a new home in suburbia. She even saw a new hovercar out front.

"Ummm, Brian, I'm staying at the hotel near the pub."

The man chuckled. "You'd think that, but you know that rich kid who bought the mine?"

"What about him?"

"Let's just say he thinks that a hotel is no place for a teacher. Welcome home, Amanda."

She felt her jaw drop, then noticed the envelope Brian was holding out to her. "That's the deed and key, and it's all yours. Car too I guess."

"But... a house? By Wagnes!"

Brian raised an eyebrow.

Amanda blushed. "My parents were adherents of the Children."

"Hey, it's no skin off my nose. But word to the wise, see that nice clean chapel up the hill?"

Amanda followed his gaze up the hill to a pristine chapel near the town. "I'm guessing the Children aren't welcome here?"

"No. They are not. Almost everyone in this town is a devout Yahwenist, and I mean that in a negative way."

"You don't like them?"

"No. And they know it too. Hypocrites the lot." There was true hatred in his words.

"Can I ask why?"

"Besides the fact that they despise magic when it could save this town? How about the fact they preach against the brothel but still take donations from it. Or the fact they chased some good friends of mine out of town."

It dawned on her. "Your friends... they were spiritkin?"

He nodded, and then smiled as another car rocked up. "Well, missy, I'm going to let you enjoy your new home, looks like your new boss is here."

The two got out of the car, and Amanda smiled, recognising the woman getting out of the car. "Cherise!"

"Amanda! Lovely to see you in person!"

The two looked like they could be sisters, both sporting dark curls and milky skin, the main difference between the two was that Cherise was very obviously pregnant.

Amanda squealed. "Oh, wow, I couldn't tell from the video call. When are you due?" "In about three months." The principal smiled. "Brian, thanks for helping out with getting her. Parent-teacher interviews are a bitch."

The man smiled, getting the bags from his ute and gently placing them near the front door. "No problem, Mrs Adams."

"How many times have I told you to stop calling me that."

"About the same amount of times your husband has given you a baby bump."

The woman blushed deeply. "You and your scandalous tongue. Now you better get going, leave us women to talk."

Brian let out a short barking laugh. "Secret women's business I presume. Well, it was lovely meeting you Amanda, hope to see you around."

"You too, Brian."

With that, the young man jumped in his ute, and with a wave, drove off.

"I will never, ever for the life of me understand why that man drives that old gas guzzler."

Amanda looked back Cherise. "Why? I mean, not everyone has hovercars. Well, you, me -"

"And half the town, dearie. Brian there should know, he bought most of them."

Amanda's face must have shown her confusion. "What?"

"He didn't tell you, did he?"

"Tell me what?"

Amanda sat alone in her house, watching the news. Her mind was not truly on the news however. She and Cherise had spoken for some time after Brian had left. Some of it was about work, her classes, the students, the expectations and the like. But Cherise had then told her about Brian.

"Why didn't he say anything?"

Brian, it turned out, was not just a local handy-man. Sure, he helped out at the school and several businesses, but that was primarily because he was funding them. He had moved here about a year ago, and had bought the mine. With the aid of Delacroix Industries he had since been walling it up. Brian was the millionaire playboy who had helped kill this town.

She had dealt with the rich before, her husband had been an executive at Henderson Labs, a bioengineering firm owned by Delacroix Industries. She had met his boss once, a beast of a woman. Brian seemed nothing like that. No suits, and he had been funding local businesses. Hell, he even had bought her a house and car. And she had checked the deed, no stipulations. It was hers. Completely.

"What sort of person just gives their money away like that? And why?"

She continued to watch the news pondering, until she passed out asleep, thinking about the young man's toothy grin.

Teaching in Ashenrock proved to be exactly what Brian had told her it would be. Hard. The students were not interested in learning, most of them having come from homes broken by the closure of the mine. She felt for the kids, she really did. But still, as a new teacher she knew she had to lay down the law firmly, and within a few weeks, she was known as a no-nonsense teacher. Several detentions had driven that fact home to the students.

She was good at her job though, and she did notice that her students were eager to learn, but they seemed without hope of finding a job. Many were also restless, as there was very little to do in town for recreational purposes. She may have been tough as nails, but she also knew that there was more to being a student than going to school.

"Cherise," Amanda asked one day in the teacher's lounge.

"Yes?" Cherise and Amanda had become fast friends since her arrival, though most of the teachers treated Cherise with the utmost respect. She was known as a passionate educator.

"I've been thinking, what do our students do in their free time? I mean, there is nothing in this town except adult activities. No pool, no creeks, no decent forests, no arcades. Hell, not even a youth hall."

Cherise nodded. "I've been trying to convince the council and even the priest at the church to try and help fund something like that for years. A pool would be my advice. God knows it would beat the heat."

"Why haven't they done it?"

"The council won't because they lack the funds. The church won't because they don't approve of the last benefactor we had."

"That was Mr Ulric I'm guessing."

Cherise nodded. "Brian has been a good friend of this school. He has funded repairs we needed, technology we needed and even offered to fund a gardening course."

"You didn't take him up on it?"

She shook her head. "I like him, but many parents don't. Even my husband is not that fond of him. It's petty politics, but politics just the same. Besides, he's given enough for this school."

Amanda bit her bottom lip, thinking. "What if we convinced him to fund the pool. He obviously has the money."

"Sure. Except no one will use it, as they despise his money."

"Yes, but pools need employees to look after it. Lifeguards, ticket takers. A canteen."

Cherise looked at her. "You're really set on this, aren't you?"

"Sure. I don't suppose you have his number?"

Cherise laughed. "Why not go ask him. You know he acts as our groundskeeper, don't you?"

"A millionaire? Acting as a groundskeeper?"

"Says it gives him something to do."

Amanda did not even say thanks as she raced out the door, leaving Cherise with a huge smile on her face.

"You want me to do what?"

"Fund the construction of a pool. For the community."

The two were sitting on a bench under some trees, the students running around on break.

Brian wiped the sweat from his brow. "A pool?"

"For the kids. They need some relief from the heat, and boredom. Besides, the community needs it as well."

Brian thought about it. "Okay."

Amanda felt her jaw drop. "Just like that?"

"Just like that. I can afford it, and who knows, maybe the town will hate me just that little bit less."

"Just how rich are you?"

Brian gave a grin. "Quite a bit as a -" His words were interrupted by his watch alarm going off. Reaching into his pocket he drew out a vial of pills. Without saying anything he popped one of the pills into his mouth and swallowed.

"You okay?" came Amanda's confused question.

"Hmmm? Oh, the pill. Just a medication medication for an old condition. Keeps it in check."

Amanda decided to drop the subject. "So you will fund the pool? Seriously?"

He shrugged. "Like I said: it makes sense. But I do have one condition."

Amanda nodded. She had expected this at least. "Your name on it?"

"Not exactly. You let me take you out to dinner."

Amanda froze. This was a surprise. "But there is no where really go except pubs!"

"You have a point. Then you let me make you dinner. My place." The man knew how to charm.

Blushing furiously, Amanda could only nod.

"You said yes?" came Cherise's cackle. They were back at Amanda's place, the day's work over.

"What else could I say? The man said yes to the pool without any other requests."

Cherise continued to laugh. "You'll be the talk of the town, you will."

"That bad is it?" Amanda was nervous. Not only was this her first date since her divorce, it was with a millionaire pariah. What had she gotten herself into?

Cherise sipped at her soft drink. "Oh calm down. You're an adult and so is he. Neither of you are married or have kids, so you know what, let the haters hate. Besides, Brian could use a date."

It clicked. "You set us up!" Amanda accused.

Cherise grinned. "Wondering how long that would take you. Brian still has no clue."

"But... I... you...why?"

"I will be honest, him picking you up when you first got here was simply him doing me a favour."

"But he bought me a house!"

"No, he bought the house for a teacher because he owed me big time."

Amanda raised her eyebrow.

"Brian was attacked once by some local farmers. He did some real damage to them. My husband was the one who stitched them up and I convinced them not to press charges."

"Were you friends already?"

"Yes. Brian and I knew each other years ago. That was back in college."

"So getting back to setting us up?"

"Honey, there is naught for me to do in this town but play match maker. Besides, he's a good man."

"Except he fired most of the town from their income."

"Maybe you can find out why on your date."

Amanda groaned. "What the hell am I going to wear?"

Amanda drove up to the mine. She had been surprised to find out that Brian had chosen to live there too. As she drove up she saw the man had completely walled off the mine with five storey high cement walls. And just like a castle there was a small gate at the end of the drive way. She pulled up next to his ute.

Knocking on the door she wondered about why she has come. Was she really this cliche, the new teacher falling for a local playboy?

Just as she was about to turn and leave in fear, the door opened. She blushed, seeing Brian's eyes widen as he looked her over.

Amanda had chosen a knee length black dress for the occasion. This was nice enough, but it also happened to be very form flattering with no straps. She still promised herself she would get Cherise back for this.

Brian, for his part, looked stunning in an eccentric yet rustic sought of way. Having shaved off all his stubble, he had tied his hair back. She could not help herself but notice that he wore denim jeans again, though they were black and obviously a 'formal' pair. For a shirt he wore a simple black button shirt, the sleeves rolled up and the top button was loose. The effect did make her grateful the light was dim.

"Amanda! Glad you came! Please come in."

She stepped inside. Her jaw dropped. Brian's true wealth became apparent. while there may be thick cement walls, inside them was a marble and timber built palace. Lush red rugs lined the floor, beautiful paintings adorned the walls and she even could detect the sound of a fountain somewhere.

"You can take your shoes off if you want. They look amazing but don't they hurt?"

Amanda actually giggled. "I may just do that." She did not hesitate. She hated high heels and was grateful he did not seem to need them on her. She then noticed he was barefoot too.

"So... it's been a while since I went on a date. Dinner is usually first, right?"

"Unless you'd prefer it gets burned."

Amanda sat next to Brian. Both were quite full, as Brian had proven to be a remarkable chef. Now they were on their second bottle of what was most likely a very expensive wine.

Gazing into the fire place Amanda snuggled into the man. He gently hugged her. "You treat every new teacher like this?"

Brian let out one of his barking laughs. "Last teacher would have decked me if I tried. He wasn't my type. And married to boot."

"Oh, so you have a type?"

He grinned. "Cute. Smart. Passionate always helps. And right now, a wee bit drunk."

She could feel the heat flowing to her face. As well as other places. "Not that drunk. I am still sober enough to know that you are very kissable."

"Oh really? That sounds like drunk talk to me."

Before he could object she leaned up and kissed his lips. His eyes went wide with surprise before she felt his hands pulling her to him even tighter.

They stayed lip locked for several minutes before she went bright red, feeling the bulge growing in his pants. Brian seemed more than eager, and his hand started moving up her inner thigh. She blushed, then felt his member strain against his pants as he realised she was not wearing underwear.

She gently spread her legs, welcoming.

Then he stopped.

"Brian?"

He slowly drew his hand away, nails gently gliding along her skin. "We should stop. Before we so something we both regret." His voice sounded coarser.

"Did I do something?"

He kissed her on the lips and she could suddenly feel his longing. "No. It's... complicated. You should head home. Those hovercars can self drive if the alcohol's a problem."

Amanda gently stood up, hiding her anger and rejection. "Okay, I'll go. But you owe me a second date. Understood?"

He looked up, his green eyes yellow in the fire's light. "Sure. Message me when you get home safe, okay?"

With that, he walked her to her car, and let her go.

"What? No juicy details?" Cherise was flabbergasted.

Once again the two of them were in the teacher's lounge.

Amanda shrugged. "None to tell. Everything was going smoothly, including the dare you made me do. But then he just, well, stopped."

"Maybe he was being a gentleman?"

"He hasn't called me in two weeks! And he's been avoiding me."

"Maybe there is something going on. Maybe he doesn't want his bad reputation spreading to you."

"I didn't want a knight in shining armour, I wanted a man!" The blush crept to her cheeks once more.

"Have you talked to him? Called him?"

"No. He should call me."

"You city girls have strange traditions, you know that?"

Amanda returned the comment with only a glare.

"Okay, okay. It's not funny. Well, not for you. But for once I'm not putting my nose in it. Who knows, things could change."

Hearing the bell for the end of lunch Amanda headed towards the door. "We'll see."

Amanda's skepticism proved to be well founded. For weeks she heard neither hair nor hide from Brian, even as construction begun on a new community pool.

Brian chose to use local labour as much as possible, the millionaire intent on changing his image. Amanda saw him at the construction site several times as she drove past and each time he would see her and turn away.

Curiosity got the better of her in the end. Doing some research on Brian proved to be near useless, however. The man was born in Ireland, his mother and father both practitioners of magic. However, when he was eighteen he travelled to New Washington to study, and completed a degree in Historical Studies only turned down offers to study further.

However, that is where things began to go strange. Just after finishing college, Brian travelled back to the Etherkin Alliance and vanished for five years. He had later emerged in photos showing him as an assistant to none other than Alexander Delacroix, often in a suit and at big parties. However two years ago he had he began his own company overseas, a technomancy firm known as the Moonlight Conclave. Working close with Delacroix Industries, Brian had made billions in Flemria and as well as Australasia. Turning his profit into a social good, he had helped fund many new institutions to help the unfortunate, the most famous being his funding of the White Tower Project, a joint initiative with Delacroix Industries to teach the unemployed new skills in any subject they wished for absolutely free.

Suddenly his work at the mine made sense.

"Let me in Brian, we need to talk!"

Amanda banged harder on his front door. She needed to talk to him. Needed to know why he had not told the town. And she needed to get inside before it rained.

"Either open up the door or I'll break a window!"

The door opened. Brian stood there, his eyes dark, as if he had not been sleeping.

"Breaking a window would be difficult since there are none on the outside," he drawled. Something seemed off.

"Brian, what the hell? What is wrong with you?" There was no denying the concern in her voice.

"Been busy. Pool, my estate, the usual."

"The White Tower you mean?"

His eyes widened. "Okay. Alex promised me media blackout until it was done. Guess he failed."

She pushed past him heading inside. Her jaw dropped. Something had attacked his place. All the furniture was broken and ripped to shreds, there were giant gashes in the paintings.

"Brian... what the fuck?"

"We had an incident here. That's all." He seemed to shrug it off, not even looking at the damage.

She gently grabbed his face between her hands. "Brian, please, tell me, what's going on?"

He refused to look her in the eye. Then suddenly he looked up. "Hey, wanna see what I have been working on?"

Before she could answer he took her hand and forced her to follow him through his house until they got to a rear door. Judging by the light it led to the mine.

"Brian please -"

He ignored her and swung open the door. Whatever question was on her tongue died there. She had expected construction work, with red dirt everywhere.

She had not been prepared for the sight before her. It was a garden. If you could call such a monument a garden. Where she had expected to find the open cut mine she found a deep ravine filled with plants and flowers of every hue. She could see birds flying between them, some of them were impossible as they were myths, like the bald eagle that flew towards the centre of the ravine.

It its centre was a huge tree. And she found herself rephasing it from huge to momentous. At an estimate it would have been as thick as a stadium, with branches spreading out like enormous sails. She then noticed that smaller trees, of the same breed, were planted half the way between it and the walls of the mine in a huge circle.

Then she noticed the glow. From the walls game a bright, and warm glow. Checking her watch she realised that it should have been dark and raining, but it looked only like a perfect spring day. Magic was obviously in play.

"Welcome to the foundation of the White Tower. Or as I like to to call it: home."

She looked at Brian. In the light of the park he seemed so much more at ease.

"It's beautiful," was all she could manage.

"Thank you. Come with me."

She walked with him, not sure where he was taking her. Then she saw it, a small stone bench by a pond.

"Why've you kept it a secret?"

Brian skipped a pebble along the water's surface. "Because if the government found out I would be executed for treason." His words sounded fatalistic.

"They don't know about this?"

"You'd be surprised what money, a media blackout and some good illusion spells can accomplish."

"But how is this treason worthy of execution?"

"Amanda... It's complicated. This place, the White Tower, it must remain outside government control. Every government."

She could feel his fear at the thought. She held him. "Is this why you've been avoiding me? You were afraid I would hate it? I love it."

"I said it's complicated."

"Why?"

"Because you drive me nuts! Okay? Ever since I met you I've been thinking of you. And-"

She did not let him finish. Her lips met his, her arms holding him just as tightly as he held her. She felt his hand reaching under her shirt, her bra being unclasped. There was a hunger to their passion, her hands went down to his belt, unbuckling it. She led her hands down, his own hand gently running his claws down her back.

She stopped. Claws? He held her tighter a low growl escaping his chest.

"Brian?"

He did not answer but his hand was now down the back of her skirt claws squeezing her backside.

She pushed back. "Oh fuck!"

Brian was changing. His skin had gone slightly grey, and his fingernails were now black claws. He looked at her, his eyes no longer human, but canine, as were his teeth.

He snarled, but it was a word. "Run!"

Amanda, terrified, did not need to be told twice. Kicking off her heels, she sprinted towards the door she come through earlier. She did not turn back, she could hear whatever Brian had turned into close behind her.

Finally she got to the door and raced through, slamming it shut behind her. She then heard the beast bash against it, snarling.

"Don't worry," a voice behind her said. "It will hold."

Amanda sat on a ruined couch in near the hearth. Only a few weeks earlier she had first kissed Brian. Right now she could hear the snarls and growls from outside.

"What is he?" she asked.

"Complicated," came the reply. Sitting across from her, dressed as always in his suit, was the silver-haired Alexander Delacroix. He took a sip of his tea, seemingly unfazed by Brian's mysterious transformation.

Amanda's tea sat untouched. "I guessed. So how about we start at the beginning?"

Alexander sighed. "Brian is an experiment. A failed one."

"You did this to him? How could you?"

He raised his hand. "I am not to blame for this one. I will admit, I have done some horrible things, but what I do has a reason. Brian was not created by me. No, all this began when his college girlfriend dumped him."

Amanda remained quiet, listening.

"Brian was deeply in love with a girl back then, but unfortunately, she was cheating on him with a med student." He took another sip. "Then, when she got pregnant Brian found out the child was not his. He then left for Ireland, his home."

"And then vanished for five years," Amanda finished, remembering.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "So you checked him out. Interesting. Yes, he vanished. He was hired by me to investigate a local legend. Unfortunately he and the entire team were kidnapped."

"What? Why? By who?"

"A local slave trade, as we found out. Unfortunately, by the time we found out they already been sold. To the Black Star."

There was an ominous silence. "What happened?"

"We did not find them until five years later. And if I were to be honest, we never found them. Just their bodies." He took another sip. "The Black Star had been working on a bio-engineered super-soldier. Half human, half spiritkin."

"Brian was a guinea pig."

Alexander nodded. "Yes. The entire team had been injected with a serum derived from canine wildkin DNA. But studies have been done on that front, and there are almost zero successes. When doing so the DNA drives the human into a feral state. Most of the humans turned into wolf creatures, stronger and faster than any wildkin. But utterly insane and feral."

"Most?"

"Brian was the exception. Brian is the most talented mage I have ever met. And believe me, I have met a lot."

"His parents were magi weren't they?"

"Yes. His mother is a dryad, his father human. His father is also head of the Etherkin Magic Guild. Brian was taught magic all his life. That's why he did not go feral. He bound the wolf part of himself to his baser instincts. Like anger, hunger or -"

"Or lust," Amanda finished, understanding.

"Yes. Things he holds in check out of guilt. He was the one that slew that cell of the Black Star. As well as the rest of his team. When we found him I promised him I would help him. He became my most loyal friend."

"Is that why you are here now?"

"In a fashion," Alexander reached inside his jacket, and pulled out a small gun.

Her eyes went wide. "You're going to kill him?"

He looked her in the eye, unblinking. "Brian's the world's first true werewolf, and is no myth. He is immune to silver. And he will not change back with the phases of the moon. He is a beast now, Amanda. But the bullet in this? He designed it to end his life."

"You won't even try to help him?"

Alexander smiled darkly. "I believe that is what I had in mind. I only have one problem though."

"What?"

"Do you think I could even get close enough to fire the shot?"

Amanda looked at the gun, now knowing what she had to do.

Amanda walked into the garden once more. It was well and truly dark now, barring the gentle glow of the walls, which gave everything a moonlight appearance. Alexander was holed up in the house, still drinking his tea. He had promised her he would stay until dawn.

"This is so fucking stupid," she muttered to herself with a shiver. She liked to think the shiver was mainly from fear and not the biting cold on her utterly bare skin. The plan was simple, elegant and extremely risky.

Holding the gun, loaded with the deadly bullet, she had one shot at the beast Brian had become. If she missed, she had to run back to the house before he killed her. As much as she hated admitting it, she would be able to run faster without any clothing. And it was her nudity she hoped would make Brian stall, giving her the chance to end his misery.

Treading softly on the grass she walked again, heading to the bench by the pond. She saw rags on the ground, what remained of Brian's clothes. She looked around, letting her eyes adjust to the light properly. Every part of her body and brain was on edge.

Looking around, she heard a growl from behind her. Slowly turning, and keeping the gun drawn, she saw him. Directly in her path back to the house was Brian, the light showing off his true form.

She had met the occasional canine spiritkin in her life, and they were civil creatures, even if not human. What loomed before her was nothing of the sort. Taller than any human she had ever met, the beast was no spiritkin. His eyes were yellow, almost glowing, and staring at her, examining the woman's supple curves and smooth skin. His mouth was slightly agape, and every one of his teeth was longer than a spiritkin canines. His fur was ruffled, uncombed, though that much she had expected. His body was lean though not in sinewy way, but rather muscle designed for agility, for the hunt. His limbs were slightly longer than a spirikin's, with his feet and ankles resembling a true wolf rather than a spiritkin. His arms resembled the spirit kin they were based on, though the hands had sharp black claws glinting in the moonlight. Amanda did her best to avoid looking at the impressive, if canine looking, member hanging between his legs.

"Have you come to kill me?" the beast growled. It did not move.

She raised the pistol, both arms shivering. "Yes. I'm sorry, but... you're dangerous! You tried to kill me!"

The beast's eyes stopped staring at her body, for which she was grateful as it stopped her blushing. Instead, it looked her dead in the eye. "That was never the danger, woman."

She felt a new chill run up her spine at the revelation. Taking a step closer she felt her own anger rise. "You were going to... you monster!"

The beast did not flinch from her actions or her words. "Yet you come back, woman."

There it was again, that word. "My name is Amanda, or have you forgotten."

The beast gave a snort, almost like a laugh. "You came back, without your clothes. You wanted me to think of you as a woman."

"Well my name is Amanda!"

His gaze returned. "No. You are not Amanda."

She faltered. "What do you mean?"

The beast stepped forward. Just one step, but enough to make Amanda raised the gun properly. He stopped.

"Amanda is a teacher. She cares for her students. She loved life, she even dated a pariah. I'll remember her as such."

His words hurt. She could feel her will collapsing. He was right, she was a teacher, she did not end life, she nurtured it. And Brian was a good man. He deserved a better death than killed by someone he trusted. Someone he had tried to protect from himself. She focused, steeling herself.

"Shut up! don't try and trick me!"

The beast growled. She readied herself. This was going to be it.

She never saw him move. In a moment the beast was right in front of her, and had hold of her hands in his, aiming the gun away from them both.

"Oh god, please don't kill me," came her wimpered plea.

The beast pulled her close. "Kill you? God damn it Amanda! Don't you get it?" He pulled her hands back to him, aiming the gun... at himself.

She now had a point blank shot of his heart. "Brian?"

"Do it! End it!" He roared the last part, snarling at her.

She gritted her teeth, looking him in the eyes.

And let go of the gun.

Hearing it clatter to the ground she fell to the ground sobbing.

"Why?" came the growling voice above her.

Eyes full of tears she looked up. She blushed realising where on his body her lined up with. "I can't. Damn it Brian, do you think I want to kill you? I love you!"

The wolf crouched down with her. "You love me? I'm... a monster."

"Then shouldn't I be dead?"

The werewolf went silent. Gently it picked her up, cradling her, he carried her deeper into the garden, her sobbing eventually quieting as she passed out.

Amanda awoke gently. Wherever she was, it was warm. Letting her eyes get accustomed to the light, she looked around. It was a cave, but one lined with soft furs and the gentle glow from outside. She looked in front of her, seeing Brian, still in his werewolf shape.

"Brian?"

He shifted. "You're awake. I can lead you back to the house if you want."

"Then what?"

"Then I find the gun."

She could hear the acceptance in his voice. "You're going to use it?" She moved up to him, noticing the entire cave was laid like a giant den. It was a den, she realised. Sitting next to him she felt no fear.

The werewolf looked at her. "Once you leave Alex will lock this place up. I will not spend my life alone. I will end it."

She did not know why, but she gave him a hug. It was then she noticed how soft his fur was. With a blink she shook her head. What was wrong with her? He was a monster!

"I'm sorry," was all she could manage.

"Tell me, if I had been human, how would this have ended?"

She looked at the beast. His pose was not threatening. "We would have dated. We'd love, we'd fight, we'd do all that stupid stuff people who are together do. And then," she paused thinking about it. What would have happened then? Marriage and kids? Live the life of a billionaire's wife?

"Well?" he growled.

"I would have ended it. I don't want to be some trophy wife. I want to be a normal person."

The wolf leaned in. And licked her cheek. "I own a ute."

He owns a ute, she thought. What sort of statement was that? Then it hit her. He owned a ute. He introduced himself as handy-man. He had bought her a house. He cared for the school. The community. Even White Tower. All had one thing in common.

"I love you, Brian. And people will remember you as you are."

He cocked his head. "As I am?"

She nodded. "The best of men. I would have called it off. I would have said I don't want to be a trophy. I would have made a terrible mistake." She nuzzled him.

"Amanda?"

He was Brian Ulric. An ordinary man who had led an extraordinary life. And all he had ever wanted was to be loved. To be accepted. And it was time he knew that.

Laying back on the furs, Amanda shivered. Not in fear, no this time it was a different emotion. "Brian... come here."

The werewolf looked at her. His eyes gazed at the female before him, on her back, legs splayed. His tongue lolled out, following her legs up to the pubic triangle, he could smell her need. His blood boiled. His eyes followed her body, along her flat belly to the smooth curves of her developed breasts. His eyes met hers. This was no longer a Amanda, teacher. Or woman, the killer.

It was female, in heat.

Amanda lay back, looking at the beast near her. Her body was sending her hundreds of messages. This was dangerous! It was stupid! He was not human! She loved him. Her eyes never left him, the wolf stalking close to her on all fours, his mouth was an obvious grin.

Stifling a giggle as she saw his tail wagging, she bit her bottom lip, feeling so vulnerable and exposed, she could feel his breath as he slowly inched his way up to her. Every inch he would breathe deep, smelling her. She would flinch every time his cold wet nose touched her skin. First her ankle. Then her calves. Her thighs.

"Cold!" Amanda cried out as she felt his nose on her exposed nethers.

Brian did not answer with a word, the werewolf took a breath, and paused, looking up. His eyes were full of animalistic lust and something else. Playfulness? Amanda was confused, what was he doing?

She did not have to wait long for the answer. She whimpered in pleasured fear, the werewolf's tongue gently graced her folds, tasting her. She could tell by the appreciative growl just how wet she was. She took a breath, feeling his clawed hands gently holding her legs down and apart, spreading her wider. Gripping the furs, she felt her legs twitch as his tongue gently went inside her, parting her netherlips until she could feel it on her clitoris.

He lapped. That was the only word for it. And it felt amazing! She arches her back every time his tongue twirled and slid into her, panting for air, feeling his control over her. His hands gently left her legs, until she felt them gripping her firm buttocks. He pulled her closer, his tongue diving deeper than before.

"Brian... don't... mmm... stop!" was all she could muster, her thoughts swimming with pleasure.

Those canine ears heard her, and the beast grunted, a sound of... laughter? His tongue went made, flicking her clitoris, that long tongue massaging it, over and over, as he was a machine.

She could feel the pleasure building, growing with every slow lap of her pussy, every flick of her nub. Eventually she could not hold back, Brian gripped her ass cheeks, squeezing, she arched her back.

"Oooooooooh fuck!" came her orgasmic scream.

The beast did not stop his attentions, his tongue delving ever deeper, tasting her, smelling her, loving her. Amanda rode the bliss this gave her for minutes, though to her it was both an eternity and only a moment. Her legs twitched, toes curled.

And then... it stopped. The beast arched back, watching his female. Amanda watched the beast in return. His features were almost regal in this light, and there was no doubting he was a gentle and attentive lover. She then looked down.

And blushed. His canine cock was fully erect, and she was shocked as to why he was so excited. Then it hit her.

Before she could say a word, Brian gently, but authoritatively, picked her up, and with a gentle twist, he flipped her over, placing her on all fours.

"Brian?" she asked, scared. "We have to..."

Her words were silenced by the primal, dominant growl the beast gave. He gently climbed over her, and she could feel his warm soft fur on her back.

"Brian... please, now is...oooo."

Whatever else she was about to say was turned into a delicate moan as the beast slide the tapered tip of this erection once more into her netherlips. She could only spread her legs wider to accommodate him as he began to enter her fully. She could feel every ridge on his cock as it slide deeper in. It was surreal. She was no virgin, and had even slept with canine spiritkin in the past, but Brian's member was something else, larger than anyone else.

As he sunk in all Amanda could do was give a long sigh of pleasure, the woman bent over like a bitch... the analogy was apt and sent signals of pleasure and fear through her body. She once more went to speak, only to feel the beast begin to gently thrust, letting out snorts of pleasure as he did so. Her words never left her throat. She could even hear him howling, but as the thrusts became faster, as he spread her so wide, she soon became aware the howls were in fact her own moans.

Over and over Brian thrusted, never speaking, his movements completely feral. She then felt something even wider trying to force its way in, and looking down she could see his knot, swollen and pink, forcing entry.

"Wait, Brian!"

But he ignored her words, and with a mighty thrust and a loud slurp he forced that swollen knot into her, locking her to him like he would an animal. She moaned as his knot pressed her clitoris, her legs giving out from under her as she once again lapsed into a mind-blowing orgasm.

Then she heard it. A deep, primal howl. Brian was howling? But about what?

Her insides felt warmer... he was cumming in her! She could almost feel every thick, hot spurt of his semen flooding her pussy, quenching her heat, her lust and she could only moan in submissive need.

Both slowed down as their orgasms eased to a stop. Amanda could only look down with a blush, still knotted to Brian, she knew they would be locked for a few more hours. Brian gently lowered them both to the ground, and with a contented sigh, she fell asleep in his arms.

****

"So, you've decided to continue the project?"

Amanda nodded, rubbing her rotund belly. "Yes, Alex. But the lower garden becomes private property of the Ulric family. All of us."

Alexander Delacroix looked at her. He was impressed with the woman, once a teacher, now married to the beast that was once Brian Ulric. What was more, she was now carrying his children. "Agreed. But Brian is stuck as a beast, and Amanda, your children will bear the same curse."

She nodded. "I know. And I love Brian as he is. But, Alex, you're his friend right?"

"Of course."

"Could you look into developing a cure? If not for Brian, but for our children?"

Alex scratched his chin. "It's doable. So far our experiments have shown that proper hybridisation is possible. What of Brian, anyway? He never leaves the garden."

Amanda smiled, pulling at her skirt. "He never will, he loves it there. And when he is, um, sated, he is just as intelligent as always. He even continues his magical research."

"The government will find out, Amanda. Even I can't stop that."

"I know. But it's the best thing for this world right now."

With a nod, he stood to leave. "You'll be pleased to know they found a replacement for you at the school."

Amanda stood too, showing him to the door out. "Thank you, Alex. You are truly a friend to us both."

Moments later he was gone. Amanda did not waste time, shedding her clothes as she walked to the door to the garden, she opened it, seeing Brian there, his cock hard as usual. She walked up, nuzzling his soft fur.

Together, they walked to the centre of the garden, their home.