Chapter 58- From Beauty to Beast

^^The PERFECT song for this chapter^^

"Time to unleash the beast."

Chapter 58

River's POV

My teeth clenched, fingers digging into my scalp as the room shook in a booming thunder. My body rocked, whimpered cries falling from my lips. The bed grew clouded, my vision blacking in flashes as I tripped, falling in a loud crash. My body fell like a heap of wood to the cold stone flooring. My body shook, pulling into a ball as flashes of both heat and frost hit me simultaneously.

"River?" A voice called above me. Movement rocked above me as a looming figure stepped up to my shivering form.

A soft caress swept by my face as Alastair turned my face toward him.

"You're heating up," he muttered as his eyes roamed my face.

A whimpered cry answered his muttered words as a resounding series of cracks spread across my body. A blood-curdling scream strangled from my throat. Pain encased my very fiber as my body contorted, bending in unnatural positions. A growl pulled from my throat as I choked out series of both vomit and saliva.

My body's temperature fluctuated in quick patches as Alastair's voice boomed above me, growing louder and louder by the moment. My hands wrapped around my ears, drowning out his voice as it nearly burst my ear drums.

"N-no," I cried, small broken sniffles following the declaration.

Heated fingers pulled from my face as Alastair's figure backed up. The color drained from my surroundings, golden walls turning a light gray as hot flashes ensued. My speech grew contorted, forming into whimpered cries as I convulsed and shook.

My hands fell to the floor, unknotting from my hair. My eyes peered down, a whimpered cry pulling from my throat as dark hair was visibly growing up the plains of my knuckles and traveling up my wrist like a crawling plague. On reflex, my feet began kicking, frightened screams falling past my strained throat as I slinked backward, back hitting hard against the wall as I cowered into a small ball and broke out into tears.

"Love?" A garbled voice broke through my sensitive ears as my head nestled between my knees, hands cupping my ears.

No. No. No.

Tears dripped down my face, damped, open-mouthed breaths pulled from my throat.

Chipped cracking noises spread down my arms, traveling down my torso and legs as my pain-filled screams contorted into croaked howls.

Alastair's words turned into nothing more than raised sounds as my body hunched over and head pulsed.

'Your time has ended.'

My head shook, teeth chattered, nails clawed against stone flooring as raw pain shot across my body. My skin stretched, bones shifted as I fell onto all fours and screamed.

Though, my cords wouldn't allow it. The sound barely escaped my mouth, allowing for a silent cry as pure agony filled my very marrow.

'I will take role until the danger has ceased.'

That was the last I heard before the pain became too much for my body to take and my vision turned to black.

Alastair's POV

I took a couple steps back. My eyes widened, fingers growing stiff by my side as I fell witness to the unspeakable. I had feared for this day from the moment I discovered River's secret. The day where he'd lose all control and turn to that of a beast. My heart raced, fear enveloping me as I watched River convulse against our bedroom floor. Two fears fought within me, one to my mate and the other to myself had he choose to attack me in his beastly form.

His skin stretched as his bones visibly shifted within him. A trail of saliva trickled down his face, falling to the floor as his enlarging hands scrapped down the stone, leaving gruesome claw markings in their wake.

He can cut through stone.

Such a testament pulled the very color from my cheeks though I refused to run. My mate was in pain and I was to stay. Sanity told me to stay in place, unmoving in case River took me for an enemy in his state of frenzy.

Fur encased my mate's previous porcelain skin in a glowing gold layer. Cream and white mixed through his fur as pure white wrapped around his muzzle. His paws pulled from the ground, body still shaking as he slid against the stone, attempting to gain correct gripping. A whimpered breath pulled from his muzzle as he slipped and began to fall forward.

Without thought, my feet moved in a desperate dash. Catching my mate before he could face plant to the hard flooring. A low growl breathed past his muzzle. Yet he made no move to harm me. Rather, he leaned forward and sniffed me. A soft whimper fell my mate's snout as his icy blue eyes roamed my face. His wet nose pressed against my chin and my body grew stiff as his sharp teeth grazed against my neck. My eyes closed and I took a deep breath, waiting out what was clearly an act of dominance. Yet, just as I awaited the bite I was sure to receive, a wet caress brushed against my neck.

He was licking me.

Happiness overflowed me. Perhaps his human side was returning. My mind could only hope for River and not the beast.

My fingers tightened by my side, straining not to move as the sudden desire to run my fingers through his golden fur engulfed me. His scent was the same vanilla, his eyes only a shade lighter than its usual light blue. His form had changed yet he remained so familiar.

His wet nose brushed against my cheek as a undertoned purr vibrated down his neck. A gentle smile pulled to my cheeks as my hands lifted on their own accord. My fingers lightly raked through the soft fur on its back. He stiffened slightly, yet relaxed moments later as he got used to my slow motions.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Even as a wolf he was absolutely breathtaking. His pale eyes locked with mine as he pulled from his rubbing. He stood still, merely watching as my fingers roamed up to his muzzle and lightly brushed against his wet nose. He seemed to relax from his previous defensive position, growing lax in place as his eyes watched me.

I wanted to ask why he'd shifted, what had happened. Though I feared my optimism would be proven wrong. I feared whether his wolf had completely taken reign and he was no longer present. What if in his wolf form he didn't have the capability to understand what I'm saying?

There was no way to find out without trying.

I pulled my fingers from his fur, a soft whimper pulled from his snout as he bent downwards to my hand, rubbing lightly against my fingers.

"River?" My voice came out slightly shaken.

There was no response, no sound or movement of indication as to whether he had even recognized his name.

I took a deep breath.

Maybe that was the wrong approach.

My fingers lifted, brushing past his muzzle lightly. I pulled my fingers away and lifted them upwards, watching as he lifted his head to chase them. His nose brushed against my fingertips, awaiting my gentle touch but instead, I lifted my fingers to my face, allowing for his eyes to connect with mine.

"Are you River?"

The wolf turned its head.

Does he understand me?

I grew weary, heart picking up as I slowly uttered my next words.

"Are you a different entity to River?"

His purring stopped and eyes lost their playful gleam. His head ducked, slightly resembling a head nod. Yet I couldn't be sure. It could equally be a show of submission to my raised voice.

"Is that your way of saying yes?"

The wolf let out a light yip and my eyes widened.

My heart picked up.

This was not my mate.

Before me sat a wolf, a beast. One who understood my words and had taken over my mate's body.

As I sat frozen in place, fingers tightening against the wolf's fur, one single question plagued my mind.

Why?