{"id":71,"date":"2011-10-17T22:28:28","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T22:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=71"},"modified":"2013-10-24T22:32:21","modified_gmt":"2013-10-24T22:32:21","slug":"the-she-wolf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/?p=71","title":{"rendered":"The She-Wolf"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

CHAPTER 1<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard sat on a marble bench inside the courtyard.\u00a0 A warm breeze ruffled the small trees surrounding him.\u00a0 He sat, back straight with his hat sitting on his knee.\u00a0 A dark walking stick leaned against his leg – a gift from his father when he was younger.\u00a0 Here and there little birds flitted through the slightly overgrown topiary, singing as they did.\u00a0 The entrance to the asylum loomed before him.\u00a0 The wings of the building spread out east and west, turning north so he couldn’t see the ends of them.\u00a0 The massive, three story building sat on over forty acres of land.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And what am I going to do with you?”\u00a0 He said out loud.\u00a0 A little finch landed in front of him.\u00a0 Its head ticked up to the left and then right as it regarded him with both eyes.\u00a0 It took off again when Richard didn’t throw any crumbs for it.\u00a0 He could almost hear faint voices being carried over the wind but no sounds coming from the asylum itself.\u00a0 The clock on the central tower stood still at nearly 3:50.\u00a0 Whether morning or not, he didn’t know.\u00a0 The building itself looked the worse for wear.\u00a0 By all accounts his father had been an able superintendent but an abysmal caretaker.\u00a0 Now he was off in the tropics, leaving Richard with the asylum and a small sum of money.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Richard sighed and gripped his walking stick.\u00a0 The cool metal felt reassuring in his hand, as it always did when he was considering a problem.\u00a0 He twisted the stick in a half circle, back and forth against the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Really, father.\u00a0 Of all the times you would do me this dubious honor…”\u00a0 He had only recently found he was accepted into St. George’s and was still celebrating a week later when the solicitor showed up at his apartments to deliver the letter from his father.\u00a0 As always, his father was brief and overly formal but the solicitor made everything more clear.\u00a0 The Miller-Chatham Asylum and all of its associated properties, taxes, debts, et cetera were assigned to Richard for his disposal.\u00a0 Included in the bequeath was money sufficient to pay for the asylum’s costs for an entire year. If he chose to keep the property in the family name.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stood, settling his top hat tightly on his head.\u00a0 He pulled his old pocket watch from his vest to check the time.\u00a0 “And now I shall be late for Miss Havers.\u00a0 Confound it.”\u00a0 The loose gravel of the path crunched beneath his feet as he made his way to the gates and the waiting carriage.\u00a0 The driver, an old man with rough whiskers, lay back with his eyes closed.\u00a0 One of the two horses whickered and stamped its feet.\u00a0 Richard patted the brown mare on her thick neck.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I am finished here, driver.\u00a0 It’s back to Whittaker Park for me.”\u00a0 Richard stepped up into the carriage, pulling himself into the interior.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sir.”\u00a0 The driver said, his voice rough from his nap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard watched the asylum dwindle away through the small window of the carriage.\u00a0 He leaned back into the seat and let his mind wander over the past week.\u00a0 He wouldn’t have to keep the old building.\u00a0 He could sell it off, pay the creditors and use the money for his studies and eventually his own private practice if he was careful enough.\u00a0 And then Mary…\u00a0 Ah, Mary.<\/i>\u00a0 His thoughts went off on an entirely different path – one he wasn’t comfortable with.\u00a0 He studied the countryside rather than follow those indecent thoughts any further.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Soon the laughter and squeals of small children told him they were close to the park.\u00a0 Richard arranged his clothing and checked his watch again.\u00a0 Thirteen minutes late.\u00a0 Miss Havers will not<\/b> be pleased with me.<\/i>\u00a0 He stepped out of the carriage and handed the driver his money, with a little extra.\u00a0 His father would frown if he were here but Richard didn’t care.\u00a0 He had grown up into wealth, rarely needing to work for anything; why should he be tight with his own money that he didn’t earn when others needed it more?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He found Mary sitting in her usual spot – a small iron wrought bench beneath a large oak tree.\u00a0 Her shoulder length, chestnut brown hair shifted around her elegant shoulders with the wind.\u00a0 Her ankle-length dress had clever flowers woven in a pleasing but simple pattern.\u00a0 He watched the slim curve of her neck before stepping around to her front.\u00a0 As usual, she had a small book in her lap.\u00a0 Mary was seldom without a book.\u00a0 She looked up when he approached and her easy smile warmed his heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard.\u00a0 I was just beginning to wonder if you’d taken up residence in that wicked place.”\u00a0 She closed her book with her gloved hands, not bothering to mark her place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard smiled back.\u00a0 She was beautiful.\u00a0 His childhood friend had grown into a stunning young woman.\u00a0 “Hello, Mary.\u00a0 I’m sorry for being late again.\u00a0 Will you walk with me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course, Mr. Miller.”\u00a0 She smiled even wider at her small joke and stood.\u00a0 She reached her hand out for his arm but pulled back when Richard didn’t freely offer his arm.\u00a0 “My steadfast friend.”\u00a0 She said, her voice a little sad this time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They walked slowly through the park, between running children and around tall trees.\u00a0 Their talk ranged from the news of the day to Richard’s acceptance into St. George’s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I must say, Richard.\u00a0 Everyone is awfully pleased for you.\u00a0 We always assumed you’d follow your father into medicine but to be accepted at such a young age is wonderful.\u00a0 I… I shall miss you when you go.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And I, you, Mary.\u00a0 I…”\u00a0 He stopped and turned to her.\u00a0 “I intend to ask your uncle for your hand in marriage when I am finished with my studies.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard!\u00a0 I… I…”\u00a0 Her eyes glistened wetly as she struggled with her voice.\u00a0 She reached for him again and, this time he let her rest her hand on his arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“If you’ll have me, Mary.\u00a0 I will sell the asylum and use the money to set up a good life for the both of us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh, Richard!\u00a0 But why must we wait until your studies are finished?\u00a0 That’s a frightfully long time from now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No.\u00a0 It must be then.\u00a0 When I am finished, I will be ‘Dr. Miller’ and worthy of you.\u00a0 Worthy of asking your uncle.”\u00a0 He gently took her hand away from his arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My uncle…!”\u00a0 Anger flashed briefly across Mary’s face.\u00a0 She looked away.\u00a0 “My uncle is a cruel man and I worry about his intentions.\u00a0 You don’t know him like I do, Richard.\u00a0 I’ve seen the desire he has for me in his eyes.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard ground his teeth.\u00a0 “I can do nothing, Mary.\u00a0 Whether your uncle desires you or not, he is your guardian.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary bowed her head in defeat.\u00a0 “As you say.\u00a0 Only, please hurry.\u00a0 Whether I am imagining his advances or not, he and his manservant are not<\/b> my friend.\u00a0 They’re brutish and, and…”\u00a0 She reached out, touching his chest briefly.\u00a0 “Hurry back.”\u00a0 She finished, quietly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Cheer up, Mary.\u00a0 You’ll see – the time will go by quickly.\u00a0 Let me walk you home and we’ll speak no more of it.\u00a0 How goes your training?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wonderfully.\u00a0 The new litter is nursing well and even the sire has shown interest in them.\u00a0 He has an affection heart, does our Edward.\u00a0 Although, the bitch is still overly protective of her pups and won’t let him too close.\u00a0 I visit them when…\u00a0 Oh!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A small, dirty child ran between them laughing while stomping through small puddles in his bare feet and mismatched clothing.\u00a0 “Here now!”\u00a0 Richard called after him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Check your pockets, Richard; that was a little gypsy boy.\u00a0 They’re all thieves and beggars.\u00a0 I wish the town council would see fit to run them off.\u00a0 They’re a dirty people, everyone says so.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That child is no worse than any of the other small children in the park, Mary.\u00a0 A little more wild and a little dirtier but they have morals as much as any of us do.\u00a0 I’ve visited their camp a few times, in fact.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard!\u00a0 You most certainly did not!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard studied his company from the side.\u00a0 Beautiful and meek but oddly argumentative at times.<\/i>\u00a0 “I most certainly did.\u00a0 As you say, they are a poor people – poor in wealth so how should they pay for medicinal treatment from our learned society?\u00a0 I brought my meager services and ended up drinking late into the night with them.\u00a0 They’re a hale and hearty folk, Mary.\u00a0 Only… only don’t try to compete with them in drink.\u00a0 I woke in one of their tents with the most horrible head-ache.\u00a0 Fully clothed!\u00a0 And with all of my personal items laid out beside me.\u00a0 Nothing was missing.\u00a0 An old crone gave me something for my head that helped immensely.\u00a0 I went again to ask her for advice on the herbs they use but she wouldn’t see me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary breathed out heavily.\u00a0 “I suppose you are right.\u00a0 Still, drinking with those people… what a wicked idea, Richard.\u00a0 Oh!\u00a0 The party this evening!\u00a0 Are you coming?\u00a0 Please do!\u00a0 Everyone will be there and Thomas will bring his violin.\u00a0 My uncle and his servant are away another night so I’ve invited our friends over.\u00a0 Please go – everyone is anxious to hear about your plans.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, I can not.\u00a0 I’m attending Widow Belford tonight on her rounds and there’s a small chance I will witness a birth.”\u00a0 He chuckled.\u00a0 “She tells me it’s quite different than a bitch whelping her puppies.\u00a0 Here we are, Mary.\u00a0 Safe to your home, unmolested by little gypsy children.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now you make light of me.”\u00a0 She looked down.\u00a0 “I’ll miss you and your company tonight, Richard. You are the voice of reason in our small group.\u00a0 I shall be too shy to speak to anyone without you there.”\u00a0 She suddenly smiled up at him and her small, delicate face was mischievous.\u00a0 “Pray, don’t faint tonight when the little one is born.”\u00a0 She darted away, holding onto her skirts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard chuckled as he watched Mary vanish into the doorway.\u00a0 From inside he heard the excited barking of one of her many mastiffs welcoming her home.\u00a0 The thought of being surrounded by friends, laughter and Mary herself was almost enough to make him change his mind about his plans.\u00a0 Almost.\u00a0 But, if he were to finish his studies quickly and return for her hand then he would forsake any pleasurable activity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I will be the man Mary needs.\u00a0 A man worthy of her gentle hand.<\/i>\u00a0 He told himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 2<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

His dreams were random, chaotic images that made no sense but they all faded when he became aware of the banging sound.\u00a0 He woke disoriented and unsure of where he was.\u00a0 Pale early sunlight was trying to burn through the thick ground mist their area was well known for and a gentle rhythm of rain beat against his cottage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“RICHARD!\u00a0 OPEN YOUR BLEEDIN’ DOOR BEFORE I KICK IT IN!” The voice cut through Richard’s confusion and he sat up immediately in bed, throwing the covers aside.\u00a0 He stumbled into his bed side table before making his way to the door, clad only in his long night shirt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“RICHARD!”\u00a0 The voice yelled.\u00a0 More thumps shook the door before Richard unlatched it.\u00a0 A gust of cold wet wind swept through the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who…?”\u00a0 Richard swallowed the words in his throat and wondered if he might not still be dreaming.\u00a0 The figure before him was massive and inhuman.\u00a0 It was several moments before Richard could see that it was just a man with someone slung over their shoulders.\u00a0 The man stepped into the cottage and Richard took several steps back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Took your time, didn’t you?”\u00a0 The figure told him.\u00a0 Something about him was familiar but all Richard could feel was terror, whether from being woken badly at such an unusual time from a short sleep or because of the man in front of him, he couldn’t tell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The figure pushed past Richard and crouched before his bed.\u00a0 He shrugged his shoulder ungently and the person on his shoulder slumped into the bed with a moan.\u00a0 The man stood again and pushed his hood back.\u00a0 Richard gasped.\u00a0 “William!\u00a0 What…?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s uncle frowned at Richard.\u00a0 He was an imposing man at well over six feet tall and his face was not made for smiles or kindness.\u00a0 He pushed a bit of his long hair out of his eyes.\u00a0 “Mind your questions and look to your patient, boy.\u00a0 If she dies then it’s on your head.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She?”\u00a0 Richard walked around William to study the figure on his bed.\u00a0 “Mary!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That’s right, boy.\u00a0 Your precious Mary.\u00a0 I got back in time to catch one of her bloody dogs worrying at her throat like some crazed beast.\u00a0 I killed the damned thing and brought her here to you.”\u00a0 William stepped close to Richard and looked down into the boy’s face.\u00a0 The man’s breath reeked.\u00a0 “You save her, boy.\u00a0 Like your life depends on it.\u00a0 I’ll return to check on her health.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard barely heard him leave; he was already cutting through Mary’s ruined clothing – clothing she was wearing when he’d met her at the park – to expose her shoulder.\u00a0 The dim light showed a terrible wound on the left of her neck but little else.\u00a0 He lit the small oil lamp on his bedside table and sucked in his breath at the amount of blood on her.\u00a0 He could see bone through the skin of shoulder.\u00a0 Bone and raw muscle.\u00a0 Richard grabbed a jug of water, a basin and some cloth.\u00a0 Snatches of memory from earlier in the night came to him – the midwife in her commanding voice telling him what she needed to stop the bleeding from the baby being born.\u00a0 He cleaned what he could as gently as possible but at every touch, Mary groaned and twisted below him.\u00a0 He put his feelings aside and set to work, cleaning and sewing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Much later, he sat back.\u00a0 He’d done what he could but Mary’s breathing was still shallow, her face still too pale.\u00a0 He’d made a sling to keep her left arm as still as possible but she still moved against it, making inarticulate sounds as if in some bad dream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard clasped his bloody hands tightly together.\u00a0 “Dear Lord in Heaven, please see to Mary’s health for I am yet inexperienced in the gift you’ve given to me.\u00a0 She’s one of your angels, Lord and I pray you are not yet ready to welcome her back into your loving embrace.\u00a0 In your name, I pray.\u00a0 Amen.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He leaned closer to her, hesitating slightly before kissing her brow.\u00a0 “I’ll be back quickly, Mary. \u00a0Hold on.”\u00a0 With that, he ran out to find Widow Belford.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was not much pleased to be awake after a long night of visiting pregnant women but Widow Belford came quickly enough when he was finally able to explain what was wrong.\u00a0 She took one look at Mary and turned to Richard.\u00a0 “You’ve not fed her, have you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stammered.\u00a0 “I… no.\u00a0 I…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aye, I imagine not.\u00a0 Check her wrapping – she’s bleedin’ through.\u00a0 Tsk.\u00a0 A shame to have such a beauty be stitched by a hand like yours.\u00a0 She’ll have to marry you now; no other man’ll want to look on those scars.\u00a0 I’ll need some more water and save some for yerself as well, she’ll be wantin’ you to cool her.\u00a0 Likely she has a fever.\u00a0 Now, boy!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard did as he was told while Widow Belford dug through his small kitchen.\u00a0 He was changing Mary\u2019s bandages when he smelled the broth cooking.\u00a0 His own stomach gurgled at him before he realized he hadn’t had anything to eat yet.\u00a0 He ignored the small pains and peeled the last bandage away from Mary\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 He tried to pull gently but the bandage was sticky with blood.\u00a0 He couldn’t look at the stitched flesh.\u00a0 Not because he was squeamish but because he was terrified the old woman was right and that he’d handled her badly.\u00a0 He wiped the wound carefully before setting a new bandage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aye, you be gentle like that with all yer patients and they’ll be thanking you for it.\u00a0 Go on t\u2019 my sister and ask for some of my niece’s clothes.\u00a0 Tell her I sent you and why.\u00a0 I won’t have you changing her but she needs changing.\u00a0 Your sheets as well, it smells like.\u00a0 Well, no shame in it.\u00a0 Off with you.\u00a0 I’ll feed her and when you’ve brought me the clothes, you go and feed yourself.\u00a0 I don’t want you here hauntin’ the room.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nearly an hour later Richard sat staring at his plate of food at The Fighting Cock.\u00a0 Half of the food was gone but he couldn’t remember eating any of it.\u00a0 Friends had stopped by to say hello but stayed away when he answered them.\u00a0 He couldn’t remember what he’d told them.\u00a0 His thoughts kept turning to Mary and her ruined shoulder.\u00a0 Growing up with his father, he’d seen plenty of horrible diseases, amputations and madness but never one so personal to him.\u00a0 Never one that struck at his core like…\u00a0 He leaned over, vomiting the food he’d just eaten.\u00a0 Big Tom himself came over when he was done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Here, lad, I’ve known you since you were a child but I’ve never seen you like this before.\u00a0 Not even when your friend Daniel drinks you under the table.\u00a0 No, don’t worry about the mess, I’ll clean it up.\u00a0 Only, you should go home and sleep off whatever it is.\u00a0 I’ll send one of my boys over with some food later.\u00a0 Do you need some help?”\u00a0 Bit Tom rested his large hands on Richard’s shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard waved him away and stood, swaying with his hands on the table.\u00a0 “No, I’m fine.\u00a0 I’ll go but I’m fine.\u00a0 I just, I’m sorry about the mess.”\u00a0 He left some coins on the table and made his way out.\u00a0 Big Tom called after him but Richard didn’t hear the words.\u00a0 He found himself walking home and remembering the bloody wound.\u00a0 Every thought kept going back to it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eventually he found himself standing in front of his own door.\u00a0 He stared, barely recognizing the plain wooden door with the brass door handle.\u00a0 His hand reached out, hesitated and then opened the door.\u00a0 Widow Belford glanced over at him.\u00a0 A young girl was tidying up the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Back already?\u00a0 You smell like death.\u00a0 Wash up and eat; my sister sent over her youngest and some food.\u00a0 Your girl will live.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stared at the old woman hearing the words repeat over and over.\u00a0 Your girl will live.<\/i>\u00a0 Richard fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.\u00a0 He sobbed quietly to himself while the old woman pretended to check over Mary.\u00a0 When he brought himself under control, he stood to walk over to Mary.\u00a0 Her color was improved and she was taking deep, regular breaths.\u00a0 He stroked the side of her face tenderly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Wash up and eat, boy.\u00a0 I won’t tell you twice.\u00a0 I’ll stay the night and then leave her to you tomorrow.\u00a0 Go on home now, Jenny.\u00a0 Tell your mother to send you along with more food later tonight.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The little girl curtseyed.\u00a0 “Yes, nana.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That one wants to birth babies, too.\u00a0 Better her than any of your doctors.”\u00a0 She inclined her head towards Mary.\u00a0 “Her uncle was here briefly with his man.”\u00a0 The old woman shivered in her think coat.\u00a0 “Someone like that has no right walking around in human skin.\u00a0 Wanted to take her back home.\u00a0 Took everything I had to keep her here.\u00a0 Be back tomorrow, that one.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard carefully washed himself, making a note to shave in the morning.\u00a0 A whole small chicken and still warm bread was set out on the small table he used for eating at and sometimes for studying.\u00a0 He hadn’t realized how hungry he was but now that Mary was going to live he found he could keep everything down.\u00a0 He took turns watching Mary with the old widow but couldn’t sleep, even when the sun passed below the horizon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally, when the moon hung fat in the starry sky, Widow Belford cleared her throat.\u00a0 “I’m tired.\u00a0 That means you’re tired, too, boy.\u00a0 I’ll not be wanting to come here again to deliver a babe from her so you make up your bed on the floor over there.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t dare!”\u00a0 Richard sputtered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, I don’t imagine you would.\u00a0 Not you.\u00a0 But I’ll take no chances.\u00a0 Love can make people foolish.\u00a0 Aye and blind.\u00a0 Sleep, young Richard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Much later Richard lay on his back listening to the old woman’s snores.\u00a0 He found himself counting knotholes in the ceiling over and over while he lay on the hard floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Years.\u00a0 I’ll be gone years.\u00a0 Is it worth it?\u00a0 I could marry her now and take her away.\u00a0 Surely the money from the asylum would be enough for a life.\u00a0 Enough to start a life.<\/i>\u00a0 He thought to himself.\u00a0 A life with Mary whether I was a proper doctor or not.\u00a0 I could… I could take her with me while I studied.<\/i>\u00a0 He imagined living with Mary – his perfect Mary without a blemish on her.\u00a0 They would have children and he would be a father to them.\u00a0 He’d watch them grow up and they would be whatever they wanted.\u00a0 They’d want for nothing.\u00a0 And his wife, oh, his wife.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He couldn’t tell when he fell asleep but something suddenly woke him up.\u00a0 The moon is higher so I must’ve fallen asleep.<\/i>\u00a0 He sat up to check on Mary but froze.\u00a0 She wasn’t there.\u00a0 The old woman was mumbling to herself in her sleep.\u00a0 Richard searched the house quietly but it was small and there weren’t many places for an adult to hide.\u00a0 Turning again, he saw the latch on the door was undone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary.” He whispered.\u00a0 Richard opened the door and stepped out.\u00a0 Clouds hid the stars and he could feel the air getting colder.\u00a0 Mud squelched beneath his boots.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“William.\u00a0 Maybe William came to get her and brought her home.\u00a0 That has to be it.”\u00a0 He told himself out loud.\u00a0 There was a shortcut through the large park to the Havers estate.\u00a0 Richard set off through the path.\u00a0 He could hear merry voices from the tavern near his home but the bright light from their lamps faded as he made his way through the park.\u00a0 No children greeted him, nor anyone else.\u00a0 Frogs quieted as he passed the small pond while the occasional night bird called out to its friends.\u00a0 He was nearly through the park when he stopped.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary was there.\u00a0 By herself, sitting on the bench she always used.\u00a0 She was staring up at the sky and only wearing her night clothes and the simple sling holding her left arm.\u00a0 Richard stood near a young oak tree trying to make sense of this image in front of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Without turning her head, Mary called out.\u00a0 “I know you’re there, whoever you are.”\u00a0 She paused.\u00a0 “Oh, I know who you are.\u00a0 I know that smell.”\u00a0 Now she did look around, directly at Richard.\u00a0 “Who are you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard stood out from the tree and walked toward Mary.\u00a0 His voice was uncertain.\u00a0 “Mary?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled for him.\u00a0 The Mary he loved.\u00a0 “Oh, hello Richard.\u00a0 I knew it was you.”\u00a0 She turned to face the sky again.\u00a0 “It’s beautiful, Richard.\u00a0 Sit with me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary…\u00a0 you shouldn’t be up, Mary.\u00a0 You could… your bandages…\u00a0 What’s beautiful?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The moon, Richard.\u00a0 Everything.\u00a0 The birds, the trees, the little green monsters in the pond, everything.\u00a0 Life, Richard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard stood next to Mary, looking at her closely.\u00a0 Her eyes were wide and he could see drops of sweat along her forehead.\u00a0 “Mary, I understand.\u00a0 You nearly died.\u00a0 Yes, life is beautiful.\u00a0 I’m glad you’re alive – more than you know.\u00a0 But your shoulder…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A sudden laugh bubbled out of Mary.\u00a0 She threw her head back and laughed harder, shaking from the effort.\u00a0 “I can hear them, Richard.\u00a0 The people at the tavern, people in their homes.\u00a0 I can hear them.\u00a0 Everyone is so alive.”\u00a0 She stood, suddenly close to Richard.\u00a0 Her voice dropped to a whisper and she stared up into Richard’s eyes.\u00a0 “So alive, Richard.”\u00a0 She leaned forward, pressing herself against Richard and kissed him.\u00a0 When his mouth opened in surprise, Mary’s tongue found his.\u00a0 Her tongue twisted in his mouth and Richard suddenly couldn’t breathe.\u00a0 He could feel her right hand against his back, working up and down.\u00a0 His sudden, shameful erection pressed against them.\u00a0 He tried to push her away but couldn’t; she was so strong.\u00a0 Manic.\u00a0 He desired her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pulled his head back, gasping for breath. “Mary!\u00a0 We shouldn’t!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary spun away, laughing.\u00a0 “Oh, Richard!\u00a0 Shouldn’t we?\u00a0 If I die tomorrow or if you die tomorrow then what have we had?\u00a0 A few kind words, a walk together but so far apart?\u00a0 The world is alive, Richard, and I can hear it all!\u00a0 The dogs have it right – when a bitch is in heat, she gets mounted.\u00a0 And, Richard.”\u00a0 She grabbed his arm, pulling his hand onto her breast.\u00a0 He involuntarily squeezed it, feeling the hard nipple against his palm.\u00a0 She moaned quietly.\u00a0 “I’m in heat.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He jerked his hand back.\u00a0 “You’re mad.\u00a0 You’re shaking and the fever has overcome you.\u00a0 You’re… We need to get you back.\u00a0 Back into bed.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She smiled at him again.\u00a0 “Yes, bed.\u00a0 Take me to bed, Richard.\u00a0 Mount me.”\u00a0 She leaned in close to him.\u00a0 Her voice pitched lower, deeper.\u00a0 “I’m your bitch, Richard.\u00a0 Take…\u00a0 ARGH!” She screamed, falling to her knees while clutching her right hand to her chest.\u00a0 “R… Richard… h…h…help me.\u00a0 It hurts so much.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary!”\u00a0 Richard kneeled down, picking her up.\u00a0 He staggered under her weight.\u00a0 “My god, Mary, you’re burning up.”\u00a0 Richard ran as well as he could with her in his arms.\u00a0 He kicked his door to open it and the widow shrieked in surprise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I need help!\u00a0 Mary was out at the park by herself!\u00a0 I woke and found her there and she’s been… babbling, incoherent!\u00a0 The fever’s worse!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Lord help us.\u00a0 Set her down, boy!”\u00a0 Widow Belford closed the door and hurried over to the bed.\u00a0 Richard set Mary down.\u00a0 Blood was seeping through the bandage on her shoulder again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary moaned, twisting on the bed.\u00a0 Sweat soaked through her night clothes, outlining her lithe body.\u00a0 Her large, dark nipples pressed hard against the simple fabric.\u00a0 He could see the full, dark hair between her legs.\u00a0 Despite himself, Richard found himself harder than he’d ever been.\u00a0 Some smell was driving him nearly crazy.\u00a0 God help me and save Mary.<\/i>\u00a0 He thought.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s body shook and suddenly the sling snapped, freeing her left arm.\u00a0 “Hold her down, Richard!”\u00a0 The old woman yelled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard leaned against Mary, trying to position himself around her nearly naked body.\u00a0 Mary closed her arms around him, crushing his body against hers.\u00a0 He found he could barely breathe and was astounded at her strength.\u00a0 Truly, the manic individual gains incredible strength!\u00a0 Father always said it was true but now I find out!<\/i>\u00a0 He felt her cheek against his as Mary rubbed her face against him over and over.\u00a0 Slowly, she relaxed, settling down against the bed.\u00a0 Richard pried himself away, keeping his face averted.\u00a0 At the last, Mary held onto his hand, moaning quietly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Widow Belford quickly covered Mary’s body with a blanket.\u00a0 “Let her hand go, Richard.\u00a0 It’s not right.\u00a0 Something here is wrong.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… I can’t.\u00a0 I’m trying and I can’t get my hand free.”\u00a0 The old woman and Richard pulled and pried at Mary’s little hand but neither of them could make her loose her grip.\u00a0 Finally, Mary murmured in her sleep, “Richard…” and tightened her grip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard screamed in pain as his little finger snapped in Mary’s grip.\u00a0 Mary sighed in her sleep and her hand fell away as her breathing steadied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 3<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard’s finger throbbed painfully beneath his bandaged finger.\u00a0 “Will you take turns with me tonight, Widow Belford?\u00a0 She needs someone to watch over her while she sleeps.\u00a0 In the morning I will talk with her to gauge her temperament.\u00a0 I have never seen her in such a state.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old woman looked slowly from Richard to Mary.\u00a0 “Aye, I will.\u00a0 That finger of yours won’t let you sleep, will it?\u00a0 I thought not.\u00a0 I’ll sleep first but take care to give me a turn or you’ll be worse for it in the morn.”\u00a0 She marked a line across a nearby lit candle.\u00a0 “Wake me here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll give you your turn, miss.”\u00a0 He sat back against the hard wooden chair near his small bed to watch Mary sleep.\u00a0 She was freshly bandaged but they left off making a new sling for her arm.\u00a0 She looked far better than she had this morning.\u00a0 He watched her lips move and imagined she was talking in her sleep.\u00a0 Lips that kissed me so passionately early.<\/i>\u00a0 He remembered the feel of her lips against his, the way her tongue moved in her mouth and the feel of her body against his.\u00a0 Images of Mary in her night shirt came unbidden to him.\u00a0 His hand still remembered the soft feel of her breast.\u00a0 His manhood stirred at the recollection.\u00a0 I’m no better than one of the dogs she raises.\u00a0 Lusting after poor Mary when she’s in this state.<\/i>\u00a0 He’d seen women in various stages of undress before but always as cadavers or women committed to his father’s asylum.\u00a0 Never… never Mary.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pulled his latest copy of the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions journal to distract himself from his own thoughts.\u00a0 He was reading a study on the mortality in prisons when he caught himself absently stroking his erection through his pants.\u00a0 There was a slight smell in the air – a spicy scent making him flair his nostrils to take in deep breaths of the cloying smell.\u00a0 He slammed the journal closed and stood, pacing the small room.\u00a0 Mary muttered quietly under her breath, her hands moving slightly beneath the blanket.\u00a0 He took care not to watch her too closely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was thankful when the marked candle reached its limit.\u00a0 Widow Belford was slow to wake but took her turn readily.\u00a0 Contrary to the pain radiating from his finger, Richard fell into a deep, dreamless sleep quickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard woke to laughter and bright sunlight streaming through his murky windows.\u00a0 He sat up slowly, wincing at the aches his body had accumulated from sleeping on the hard floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary jumped up from her chair when she spied Richard sitting up.\u00a0 “Richard!\u00a0 You’re awake!\u00a0 Miss Belford was only just telling me about your finger.\u00a0 Is it true?\u00a0 I’m so terribly sorry.\u00a0 Will you forgive me?”\u00a0 She was dressed in a cream color gown a little too tight for her frame.\u00a0 Borrowed from the widow’s niece.<\/i> He told himself. \u00a0He did his best not to stare at her constrained bosom.\u00a0 The niece is certainly not as well endowed.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pah.\u00a0 Nothing to forgive.\u00a0 Invalids are never responsible for their actions when they’re under duress.\u00a0 That is one lesson I’ll gladly take from my dear father.\u00a0 My finger will heal.\u00a0 I’m more concerned over your shoulder.”\u00a0 He stood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Miss Belford changed my bandage earlier.\u00a0 My poor Richard.\u00a0 Here, we’ve had our morning meal but left plenty for you.\u00a0 Please, sit.”\u00a0 Mary reached out, placing her hand on Richard’s back to guide him to the nearby table.\u00a0 Richard jerked at the unexpected contact but Mary seemed to take no notice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“She’s a strong one, your Mary.”\u00a0 The old woman offered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard “She’s not mine, Miss Belford.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary patted Richard’s hand gently.\u00a0 “Not yet.”\u00a0 She said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Widow Belford and Richard turned to stare at Mary but she’d turned away already to busy herself in the small kitchen.\u00a0 She hummed to herself while checking various shelves.\u00a0 An occasional ‘tsk’ made Richard wince at the imagined dust or food left out too long.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“H… how much do you remember, Mary?”\u00a0 Richard asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hmm?\u00a0 Oh, I remember the party.\u00a0 You really should have come, Richard.\u00a0 Elizabeth was there.\u00a0 And the other Richard.\u00a0 The stories those two tell!\u00a0 Well, certainly not fit to repeat in pleasant company but they had all of us laughing.\u00a0 I remember seeing everyone off and then walking out to check the kennel but nothing else until I woke this morning.\u00a0 Miss Belford tells me I was attacked but I feel fine.\u00a0 Stiff but fine.”\u00a0 She turned to Richard and smiled her bright smile.\u00a0 Richard’s heart skipped a few beats and he felt himself grow hard at the memory of her kiss.\u00a0 “You saved me, Richard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… yes.\u00a0 Well.\u00a0 The very fact that you’re up and moving is a testament to your own strength, Mary.\u00a0 I cleaned your wound and sewed you up but from a wound like that you should be abed for weeks, at least.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary laughed.\u00a0 “We’re a hearty breed, we Havers.”\u00a0 She reached out to tussle Richard’s hair, resting her hand briefly on his neck with a squeeze before pulling it away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary, what…?”\u00a0 Richard started.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Widow Belford cleared her throat.\u00a0 “I’ve my own rooms to look to now your girl is on her feet, young Richard.\u00a0 If you’ll see me to the door?”\u00a0 Richard stood when she did and led her to the front door.\u00a0 She pulled him through the open door to stand outside with her in the morning sun.\u00a0 Dew sparkled from nearby grass and leaves.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old woman pulled Richard close to whisper to him.\u00a0 “You watch yourself with her, boy.\u00a0 I was at that girl’s birth and I knew her and her parents.\u00a0 That’s not the Mary I knew.\u00a0 She weren’t glad to see me in your rooms with you asleep.\u00a0 There was a gleam in her eye that she’d never had before.\u00a0 And her such a gentle child growing up.\u00a0 I don’t worry about you being alone with her anymore; I worry about her being alone with you.\u00a0 Good day.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard closed turned to find Mary sitting at the small table, smiling in a way he’d never seen before.\u00a0 It wasn’t her mischievous smile but rather a smile that said she knew a delightfully wicked secret but wasn’t planning on sharing with anyone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Will you sit with me, Richard?”\u00a0 She asked.\u00a0 Her smile didn’t waver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… Let’s go for a constitutional, Mary.\u00a0 If you’re able to stand and be about then the fresh air and walk will be good for you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If anything, her smile widened.\u00a0 “All right, Richard.\u00a0 Let me get my hat.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Properly clothed, Mary walked past Richard to stand outside.\u00a0 The side of her chest brushed Richard’s arm and the cloying smell was suddenly stronger.\u00a0 Richard involuntarily took a deep breath and almost leaned closer before catching himself.\u00a0 Is she doing this on purpose?\u00a0 Surely not.\u00a0 Not Mary.<\/i>\u00a0 He wondered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The air smelled fresh after an early morning rain and the bright sun helped to wipe away the memories from the previous night.\u00a0 They were soon walking together as they had for years, enjoying each other’s company and talking of various things.\u00a0 Young children were playing in the park while some adults walked through on errands.\u00a0 Women sat in small groups gossiping and laughing behind their fans.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary let out a sudden laugh.\u00a0 Richard looked over at her.\u00a0 “What is it, Mary?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It’s… oh, nothing, Richard.”\u00a0 She glanced at a small knot of women on the other side of the park.\u00a0 Richard noticed her cheeks had turned slightly red.\u00a0 “My mind wandered for a moment and I’m just happy to be alive and well in this beautiful weather.”\u00a0 She rubbed his arm gently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard moved away slightly.\u00a0 “Mary, I’ve been meaning to ask…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh, Richard!\u00a0 Look!\u00a0 Isn’t that the most delightfully colored bird?”\u00a0 She held onto Richard’s upper arm with her right hand while pointing with her left.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… Where, Mary?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Over there, in the bushes.\u00a0 The prettiest little red bird.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard shaded his eyes against the sun but could make out little more than shadows and moving things.\u00a0 “No, I can’t see anything.”\u00a0 Could it be an effect of her wound?<\/i>\u00a0 He wondered.\u00a0 Bad blood making its way to her brain?\u00a0 Perhaps I should try leeches on the wound.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pity.\u00a0 Oh, there it goes.” \u00a0A small red bird burst from the bushes, flying low to the ground before disappearing into the trees.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why, you were right, Mary.\u00a0 Phenomenal.”\u00a0 Only then did Richard remember Mary’s hand on his arm.\u00a0 He gently pried it loose.\u00a0 “Mary, I’ve been meaning to ask you about your sudden intimacy.\u00a0 I’m not comfortable with it and certainly not in public.\u00a0 We are not husband and wife.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary took her hand back, rubbing it slightly.\u00a0 “I didn’t even notice.\u00a0 I’m terribly sorry, Richard.\u00a0 Perhaps… perhaps after what happened I’m instinctually needing to be reassured by human touch?\u00a0 I will try to watch myself, Richard.\u00a0 Please don’t be cross with me.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard softened.\u00a0 Of course that was probably it.<\/i>\u00a0 “No, Mary, don’t worry.\u00a0 I shouldn’t be so insensitive.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The walked together a moment more before Mary spied another couple walking their dog along the path.\u00a0 Richard tipped his hat to them.\u00a0 “Good morning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good morning to you both.”\u00a0 The other man told him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What a handsome male.”\u00a0 Mary told them.\u00a0 “An Irish Wolfhound, is it?”\u00a0 She stepped closer but the large male backed away with a growl, head low to the ground and teeth bared.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ceasar!” The man exclaimed.\u00a0 He yanked on the chain but the dog continued to growl, its eyes locked onto Mary.\u00a0 “I’m sorry.\u00a0 He’s usually a calm dog.\u00a0 I don’t even take him hunting.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary knelt in front of the dog with her hand out.\u00a0 “It’s quite all right.\u00a0 I have some experience with animals, especially dogs.”\u00a0 She leaned forward and the dog growled louder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I must insist…” The man began.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s lips pulled back slightly and her eyes narrowed.\u00a0 The flesh along Richard’s arms broke out into goose pimples and he felt the hairs stir on the back of his neck.\u00a0 The dog’s reaction was immediate; its tail drooped and it lay on its stomach before rolling over to show its belly.\u00a0 Richard could hear it whimpering slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary smiled.\u00a0 “There’s a good boy!”\u00a0 She rubbed the dog’s belly vigorously.\u00a0 “I’m afraid I’ve excited him too much; I believe his bladder has got the best of him.”\u00a0 The pungent odor of animal urine hit Richard just as he noticed the animal pissing on itself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other woman turned her head.\u00a0 “Oh, John, really.\u00a0 You must do something with that animal.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary stood but the animal continued to lay on its back.\u00a0 When the other man yanked on the leash, the dog was pulled onto its side but it refused to stand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t worry about it.”\u00a0 She told them.\u00a0 “Perhaps it smells my own dogs on me.\u00a0 I raise several mastiffs of my own.”\u00a0 She offered her hand.\u00a0 “Mary Havers.\u00a0 If you ever need any help in discipline or raising your dog, please visit me and my family’s estate.\u00a0 This is… my good friend Richard Miller.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard gave his own hand.\u00a0 “A pleasure.\u00a0 Pray excuse us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They continued along the path together.\u00a0 Richard glanced back at the other couple to see the man yelling at the dog to stand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He ought not to treat him so roughly.\u00a0 Sometimes a gentle hand works just as well as a rough hand.”\u00a0 Mary hugged Richard’s arm to her side.\u00a0 He felt her bosom press against his arm.\u00a0 His erection was immediate and nearly painful.\u00a0 “Let’s sit together and enjoy the weather, Richard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pulled himself away.\u00a0 “Mary, I’m thankful you’re feeling better and I sympathize greatly with what has happened but you really must control yourself.\u00a0 People will have the wrong idea.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Anger flashed across her face.\u00a0 “The wrong idea about what?\u00a0 About what, Richard?\u00a0 That you’re my betrothed?\u00a0 That I have feelings for you?\u00a0 That I want to feel your touch and be close to you?\u00a0 About what, Richard?”\u00a0 She was shouting near the end.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

People nearby suddenly found other things to be interested in.\u00a0 “Mary!\u00a0 I… What is wrong with you today?\u00a0 In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never heard you raise your voice.”\u00a0 He could feel his heart racing at the sudden fury in her voice.\u00a0 A small bead of sweat rolled down his temple.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She leaned close to Richard and he could see she was gritting her teeth.\u00a0 “What is wrong with me<\/b>?\u00a0 You’ve said you will marry me.\u00a0 When?\u00a0 I don’t give a … a damn about your studies or waiting for you to finish, for that matter.\u00a0 Why can’t I show affection for you when I have feelings?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard collapsed to his knees.\u00a0 Sweat poured down his face and he couldn’t breathe properly.\u00a0 His heart pounded in his ears.\u00a0 Mary was immediately beside him.\u00a0 “Richard!\u00a0 What’s wrong, Richard!\u00a0 I’m sorry!\u00a0 I don’t know what came over me!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard dug a finger into the neck of his shirt, pulling it away from him.\u00a0 “Can’t… can’t…”\u00a0 He gasped.\u00a0 He felt strong arms lifting him as if he were child in his parent’s arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s voice came from a great distances.\u00a0 “Hold on, Richard.”\u00a0 He remembered nothing else.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 4<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard woke in his own bed to the chirping of birds and the sun low on the horizon.\u00a0 His whole body felt heavy but comfortable – as if he could sleep forever.\u00a0 He listened to the birds for a while before turning to his side.\u00a0 He froze.\u00a0 Mary was abed with him, under covers.\u00a0 Now that he was more aware of his surroundings he could feel her arm across his chest and the warmth of her body pressed next to him.\u00a0 Her eyes were closed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Slowly, very slowly, he moved away from her to stand beside the bed.\u00a0 He was still clothed but his shoes were by the door.\u00a0 He remembered the park and everything that happened before he passed out but he did not remember how he came to be here.\u00a0 His heart felt fine now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard?”\u00a0 Mary’s voice was confused behind him.\u00a0 “You’re up.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned to look at her but immediately turned around again.\u00a0 She was wearing her pale night shirt and sitting up with the blanket around her waist.\u00a0 He could clearly make out her well formed breasts.\u00a0 Neither large, nor small but they fit her body well.\u00a0 Her dark nipples were hard against the cloth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“For God’s sake, Mary.\u00a0 What were you thinking?\u00a0 If someone had found us, I would be shamed for life.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ashamed of me, Richard?”\u00a0 Her new anger was back; he could hear it clearly in her voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No.\u00a0 No, ashamed of my actions.\u00a0 It’s not honorable for a man to be abed with a woman not his own wife.\u00a0 We are not children anymore, Mary.\u00a0 When we’re married…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“When!”\u00a0 Mary shouted.\u00a0 He heard her take a deep breath.\u00a0 When she continued, her voice was more calm.\u00a0 “I was worried about you.\u00a0 You’ve said before that the closeness of another person can help so I lay next to you.\u00a0 Let’s not fight, Richard.\u00a0 I’m starving and you have no food here.\u00a0 You may turn around now.\u00a0 Your honor will be safe.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard realized he hadn’t eaten since the morning.\u00a0 “I don’t want to fight, either.\u00a0 We’ve never had a serious argument and I don’t want to start.\u00a0 Let me take you to dinner, Mary.\u00a0 As an apology.”\u00a0 He turned to face her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“My dearest Richard, I will forgive anything if you feed me.\u00a0 Oh, yes, my uncle was here earlier.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Here?\u00a0 How do you know?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary rolled her shoulders.\u00a0 “I could sm… I could see there was a note on the door.\u00a0 It was addressed to you but I read it before joining you in bed.”\u00a0 Richard noted she had the decency to blush at the admission.\u00a0 “He was very angry that I wasn’t here.\u00a0 The note said he would return tomorrow and if I was missing again, there would be ‘consequences’.\u00a0 His manservant was here with him.\u00a0 I… I suppose he was, anyway.\u00a0 He follows my uncle like a shadow.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I can walk you home after dinner.\u00a0 I’ll change your bandage and then bring you home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s voice was quiet.\u00a0 She looked down at her feet.\u00a0 “I don’t want to go back home.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard sighed.\u00a0 “You have<\/b> to, Mary.\u00a0 We’ll talk about it after dinner.\u00a0 I don’t want you withering away.\u00a0 May I have the honor of escorting you, Miss Havers?”\u00a0 He offered his arm to her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I should be delighted, sir.”\u00a0 She flashed a shy smile before taking his arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a few steps outside, Richard unhooked his arm.\u00a0 Although he attempted a few conversations, Mary was quiet the entire walk to the tavern.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It seems Big Tom is busy tonight.” Richard remarked.\u00a0 “I’ve seldom heard so many people at once.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary had her eyes closed.\u00a0 She was slowly shaking her head back and forth.\u00a0 “Too loud.”\u00a0 She whispered.\u00a0 “Too loud.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard patted her arm.\u00a0 “It’ll be all right, Mary.\u00a0 I’ll be here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The roar of laughter and drunken threats increased significantly when he opened the door.\u00a0 Large groups of rough men stood and sat at various tables.\u00a0 The serving girl met them as they entered.\u00a0 She had to lean close and yell to be heard over the noise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Bad night for dinner; the Vindictive<\/i> is in port.\u00a0 Big Tom already had to throw out ten of her men.”\u00a0 A shout for more drink brought her away from them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Perhaps a different place for the night, Mary?”\u00a0 Richard asked.\u00a0 “Mary?\u00a0 Are you all right?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary was grinning but it was not a pleasant smile.\u00a0 The small hairs on Richard’s neck stirred.\u00a0 She was looking around the room slowly, watching the men argue and fight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary?”\u00a0 He asked again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What?\u00a0 Oh, I’m fine.\u00a0 There’s an empty space in the corner.\u00a0 We can sit there.\u00a0 I’ll warn you that tonight your purse will be quite empty when I’m done eating.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They made their way to the small empty table, dodging fists, bodies and insults.\u00a0 Several men called out to Mary with varying degrees of offers.\u00a0 Richard was bristling with every comment but finally took action when a large man grabbed Mary around the waist.\u00a0 She danced out of his grasp but a piece of her gown was torn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Have you no decency, sir?!”\u00a0 Richard yelled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man stood, laughing.\u00a0 Richard had to look up at him – he was certainly taller than Richard and at least twenty stone.\u00a0 His arms were as big as Richard’s leg.\u00a0 Mary stood behind Richard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aye!\u00a0 I ha’ more than decency for her!”\u00a0 He grabbed his crotch and pulled.\u00a0 His companions roared around him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard started to take a step but Mary pulled him back.\u00a0 She eyed the bull male in front of her.\u00a0 “Why, sir, I’m surprised you know where to find your manhood.\u00a0 I would have thought one of your mates would have it by now.\u00a0 Perhaps as a small toy to bring out for pleasure.”\u00a0 The man’s face turned an ugly purple color at the insult.\u00a0 His friends laughed even harder.\u00a0 Several of them cheered Mary on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After they were seated, Richard studied Mary’s face.\u00a0 She was flushed and still grinning at everyone around her.\u00a0 Her teeth are showing.\u00a0 That’s what’s different<\/i>.\u00a0 “Where did you learn to talk like that, Mary?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She laughed at him.\u00a0 “Here and there, Richard.\u00a0 Don’t you ever listen to people talk around you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, but… But generally it’s better company than this.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary grabbed his hand and squeezed.\u00a0 He winced at her strength.\u00a0 “You can’t be coddled your whole life, Richard.\u00a0 If your back is too straight, it will snap at the smallest thing.\u00a0 Enjoy yourself more.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A seaman stopped by their table to drop a huge cup of beer in front of Mary.\u00a0 His accent was too thick to understand but he seemed to be encouraging Mary.\u00a0 He walked away laughing with his belly shaking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard reached for the drink but Mary’s hand slammed down against his own.\u00a0 He gasped at the pain. \u00a0Where does she find the strength for this?\u00a0 Was she always this strong?<\/i>\u00a0 He wondered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I believe that’s my beer, Richard.\u00a0 I’m certain Big Tom would be happy to get one for you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary, I really don’t think…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, you often don’t<\/b> think.\u00a0 That’s your problem, Richard.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard watched his gentle Mary pick up the beer, take a gulp and then slam the tankard back down.\u00a0 “Why are you doing this, Mary?\u00a0 Who are you now?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She glared at him.\u00a0 “Doing what, Richard?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was about to answer her when a large fist crashed down through their table.\u00a0 Richard scrambled away from the ruin.\u00a0 The man Mary insulted was standing by their table, swaying slightly.\u00a0 He looked more drunk than he had earlier.\u00a0 Mary stood near the wall, drenched in beer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“YOU WHORE!”\u00a0 The man yelled.\u00a0 “I’ll show you my manhood!\u00a0 I’ll shove it up your loose CUNT and watch you squeal from it!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard stared in silent amazement as Mary leaped at the man.\u00a0 She slammed into his chest, sending both of them tumbling along the ground.\u00a0 A ragged cheer went up but Richard couldn’t tell who for.\u00a0 When they were finished rolling, Mary was on top of the man.\u00a0 Richard winced when the man swung his fist at Mary’s face but Mary ducked and then grabbed the arm.\u00a0 She jerked and Richard heard a bone snap.\u00a0 The man screamed shrilly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary!”\u00a0 Richard shouted.\u00a0 He tried to make his way to her but other crewmates were blocking his path.\u00a0 “Mary!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He could barely see through the mass of bodies in front of him.\u00a0 The large man was on his stomach now.\u00a0 Mary was still on top but she had her arms around the man’s neck.\u00a0 Her face was next to the man’s ear and he could see her mouth moving.\u00a0 When she was done talking to him, she stood.\u00a0 The man rolled onto his back and seemed about to stand again but Mary’s foot struck out, smashing the man’s crotch.\u00a0 The man wailed, clutching his one good arm to his broken manhood.\u00a0 Richard could make out a dark stain spreading through the man’s trousers.\u00a0 He hoped it was piss and not blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The crowd parted as Mary walked back to Richard.\u00a0 Several clapped her on the back as she passed and still others shook her hand.\u00a0 She laughed with them.\u00a0 She’s enjoying this.\u00a0 God, what has happened to my Mary?<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard!\u00a0 Did you see that?\u00a0 I don’t think he’ll be bothering us again tonight.\u00a0 I’ll need another beer!”\u00a0 She laughed again.\u00a0 Her face was flushed from the exertion and she was rubbing her left arm over and over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You’ll have no such thing!\u00a0 I’ve never seen such barbaric behavior before!\u00a0 I’m taking you home right now, Mary.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I haven’t eaten anything and I’m still sober, Richard.\u00a0 Why on earth would I go home now?\u00a0 Let’s find a new table and eat.\u00a0 By an open window or I’ll be stripping next!”\u00a0 She was scratching her left arm now, dragging her fingernails against the sleeve of her soaked gown over and over.\u00a0 She turned to find a new table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary.”\u00a0 When she didn’t turn to him, Richard grabbed her shoulder and pulled.\u00a0 “Mary!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What, Richard?!”\u00a0 She yelled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“God’s sake, Mary.\u00a0 You’re bleeding.”\u00a0 Richard pointed at her left arm.\u00a0 The sleeve was ripped and tinged with blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… What…”\u00a0 Sweat stood out against her forehead.\u00a0 “What’s happened, Richard?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We need to get you outside in the cool air.\u00a0 Come with me.”\u00a0 He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the exit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was still scratching her arm when they were outside.\u00a0 “Mary, stop.\u00a0 Stop scratching.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I… I can’t… The itching.\u00a0 It’s insane.\u00a0 Richard, I… Ohhhh…” She moaned.\u00a0 “R… Richard… something’s wrong.\u00a0 I fear I may do harm to myself.\u00a0 I can’t…\u00a0 I can’t…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pulled her to a nearby carriage.\u00a0 A middle aged gentleman was seated in the driver’s seat, smoking a pipe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sir!\u00a0 I’d like to hire your carriage.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man looked at Richard over his pipe.\u00a0 “Can’t.\u00a0 Waitin’ for someone else.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’ll pay double.\u00a0 Please, my… my friend is sickly.\u00a0 I need to get her to the asylum.\u00a0 I’ll pay triple.\u00a0 Please!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The driver pondered for a moment before nodding his head.\u00a0 “Mind the inside.\u00a0 They’ll take damages out of my skin.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Thank you.\u00a0 You’re a good Christian man.\u00a0 The asylum please, and hurry.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The carriage sped off when they were both inside.\u00a0 Richard held Mary against him, his arms around her upper body.\u00a0 She shook in his embrace.\u00a0 Her skin burned with fever and her eyelids flickered open and closed.\u00a0 She twisted against him, moaning over and over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Shhh, Mary.\u00a0 I’ll help you soon.\u00a0 Shhhhh…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary hugged Richard’s body tightly and he cried out in pain.\u00a0 Breathing was difficult but he forced each breath while he stroked her back.\u00a0 He could do nothing to make her stop moving.\u00a0 He could feel her muscles tightening and relaxing, over and over beneath his hands.\u00a0 He’d sat through many of her fever spells but this was the first time he’d seen her do this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pray with me, Mary.”\u00a0 He told her.\u00a0 When she didn’t respond, he began the Lord’s Prayer and repeated it over and over until the carriage stopped.\u00a0 He paid the driver more than three times the fee and then released him.\u00a0 The walk to the asylum’s entrance was difficult and at one point Richard had to drag Mary along.\u00a0 Inside, he found a derelict wheelchair to sit her in.\u00a0 He finally had to use straps to contain her when she wouldn’t sit still.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard wheeled Mary to the women’s section of the asylum.\u00a0 Pale moonlight from the slightly waning moon gave him enough light to see the path.\u00a0 He stopped at the first room he found and wheeled Mary inside.\u00a0 The room was empty except for a molding mattress in the corner.\u00a0 The single window was barred and the door was heavy iron.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m sorry, Mary.\u00a0 This is not the best place but I have more equipment here to help you.\u00a0 I’ll get you lying down and then prepare some medicines that sh…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary jerked her arms, snapping the leather straps on the wheelchair.\u00a0 She fell forward out of the chair onto the dirty stone floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary…?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The room spun.\u00a0 Richard found himself on the ground with Mary on top of him.\u00a0 His mind couldn’t piece together what happened to cause him to be on the ground.\u00a0 He tried to move but Mary was holding him down.\u00a0 Her shoulders jumped over and over beneath her torn gown. \u00a0She was rubbing her face against his jaw over and over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary, get off.\u00a0 I need to help you.”\u00a0 He pushed again but stopped when she growled at him.\u00a0 The musky odor from the night before filled his nose and he could feel his erection grow, pressing against his pants.\u00a0 Mary licked his neck slowly, savoring the taste.\u00a0 She rubbed her whole body against his own, up and down.\u00a0 He could feel her breasts rubbing against his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Rrrrrrichard…” She moaned in his ear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard found himself having a hard time concentrating.\u00a0 The smell coming from Mary filled his brain and all he could think was how much he wanted Mary.\u00a0 No.<\/i>\u00a0 He told himself.\u00a0 NO!<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He pushed with his entire body, taking Mary by surprise.\u00a0 She landed against the other wall, rolled and came up on her hands and knees.\u00a0 Richard was shocked to see her face.\u00a0 She had drool running down the sides of her mouth and her lips were pulled tight against her teeth.\u00a0 Moonlight shined off of her eyes.\u00a0 Mary watched Richard for a moment and then slowly turned around.\u00a0 Still on her hands and knees, she lowered her upper body and raised her hips.\u00a0 She moaned again.\u00a0 “Rrrrrrriiichard… please…”\u00a0 Richard stood.\u00a0 He wanted nothing more than to run to her, to join in her animal passions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He ran out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.\u00a0 A key was still in the keyhole and Richard turned it just in time for something to slam against the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“RRRRRRRRRRRRRICHAAAAAAARD!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pressed himself against the wall opposite the door.\u00a0 Another slam against the door caused light dust to shower to the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He heard Mary’s voice again.\u00a0 She was quiet the but words didn’t sound right coming from her mouth.\u00a0 “Rrrrrrriiichaaaard… preeessshe… preeeeeeeeesshe… don’…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He called to her through the door.\u00a0 “Mary!\u00a0 I’ll… I’ll find something to help.\u00a0 Just… just wait until this passes.\u00a0 I’ll find something.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Rrrichaard… love… you…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh, God.\u00a0 Mary.\u00a0 I’m so sorry, Mary.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The door shook again.\u00a0 “NOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUHHHWWWWWWLLLLL!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard covered his ears at the noise.\u00a0 When he took his hands away he could hear a cracking noise followed by grunts.\u00a0 He got up and cautiously made his way to the door.\u00a0 A small window set into the door let him see inside.\u00a0 He gasped at the scene.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary was completely naked and on her knees with her upper body tucked into a ball.\u00a0 Her eyes were clenched shut and sweat covered her whole body.\u00a0 She was growing.\u00a0 He watched in amazement as her skin moved her body.\u00a0 Flaccid skin grew out from her lower back, only to be filled out with a popping sound.\u00a0 As he watched, a tail grew from her spine.\u00a0 Dark brown hair grew down from her neck to the new appendage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She screamed again.\u00a0 Her mouth broke and elongated, cracking over and over.\u00a0 Thick hair was sprouting over her entire back now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pushed himself away to throw up on the floor next to the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh, Mary.\u00a0 Christ in Heaven, what’s wrong with you?!<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary howled, long and loud.\u00a0 Richard sat against the wall, curled up in a ball.\u00a0 His mind raced but nothing made sense.\u00a0 He listened to the noises coming from the cell and couldn’t bring himself to look.\u00a0 When she howled again, he ran blindly away from her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Briefly, he considered going home but at this time of night the journey would be treacherous.\u00a0 The door will hold her.\u00a0 It will.<\/i>\u00a0 He assured himself.\u00a0 I just need time to think.\u00a0 Time to understand this.\u00a0 To understand what’s happened to her.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was in the men’s common room when he realized how quiet the asylum was at the moment.\u00a0 After Mary’s screaming and the horrendous crashing noise the silence was almost unnatural.\u00a0 Richard collapsed into an old chair by a large bay window.\u00a0 The pale moonlight and his own night-adjusted eyes let him see just how much his hands were shaking from his ordeal.\u00a0 He hugged his hands to his chest and rocked slightly while trying to grasp the situation.\u00a0 He could deal with the madness and the change in personality but the physical changes?\u00a0 Nothing in his studies or observations even came close.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary…” He whispered to himself.\u00a0 “What have you become?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After several hours of his mind racing, sleep crashed into Richard and he fell into a sleep filled with dark shapes chasing him endlessly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 5<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard moaned in pain when he awoke.\u00a0 It seems I shall be making a habit of sleeping on hard floors.<\/i>\u00a0 He thought.\u00a0 He pushed the blanket away from his body and stood, knuckling his back.\u00a0 The morning was gray and misty with not a single bird welcoming him to the new day.\u00a0 He was mid-stretch when he realized he had not fallen asleep with a blanket at night.\u00a0 Next to the blanket were shreds of fabric.\u00a0 He bent to look closer but realized almost immediately what they were.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary.\u00a0 Oh, Mary.”\u00a0 Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.\u00a0 He sat holding the fabric to his chest and sobbed until his throat ached.\u00a0 Memories of their childhood flooded him.\u00a0 She was always looking after him, making sure he ate well and dressed well.\u00a0 Her as a child with her elbow bleeding from a cut yet telling Richard he should be careful how he played and never mind her elbow.\u00a0 Memory upon memory of her laughing, teasing, sharing painful secrets and excitement for every one of his accomplishments assaulted him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the tears ended so too did his hesitation.\u00a0 He lurched to his feet, nearly running to the woman’s section of the asylum.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The metal door to Mary’s cell was crumpled in half and partially embedded in the wall opposite her room.\u00a0 The wheelchair existed as small pieces strewn about the room.\u00a0 More pieces of Mary’s gown littered the floor, mixed in with shreds of the old mattress.\u00a0 Mary was gone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard surveyed the room slowly as he decided what to do next.\u00a0 All of this power and she harmed not a hair on my head.\u00a0 I ran from her and she still showed me kindness.\u00a0 Never again will I abandon her.\u00a0 Never again.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He set off on foot for town.\u00a0 His stomach rumbled ominously as he walked but he shoved thoughts of food aside and, instead, concentrated on determining where Mary might have gone.\u00a0 Not to her uncle.\u00a0 My home or Widow Belford or with one of her friends.\u00a0 But, perhaps not.\u00a0 What could she tell them?<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was mid-day by the time Richard arrived in town.\u00a0 He first walked around the park but Mary was nowhere to be found.\u00a0 When he stopped in at The Fighting Cock, Big Tom asked if Mary was all right.\u00a0 The sailor she fought had to be brought to the ship for medical treatment but might very well die; his manhood and pelvis were both crushed.\u00a0 Oddly, the other sailors held no ill will towards either of them.\u00a0 They were all witnesses to the threat and he was not well liked by his crewmates.\u00a0 Richard promised to give Mary Big Tom’s regards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard paused in front of the door to his cottage.\u00a0 It was the last place he could think Mary might be.\u00a0 With a nervous hand, he opened the door.\u00a0 Mary’s uncle sat on the edge of his bed.\u00a0 His manservant stood behind him with his arms crossed in front of his chest.\u00a0 He cut an imposing figure in his native land’s dress and thick, brown beard but he looked small beside his master.\u00a0 William had his hands clasped in front of him while he stared at Richard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Richard.\u00a0 Where is she?”\u00a0 His tone was cold.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stress gnawed at Richard’s stomach.\u00a0 He could almost feel his heart thumping in his chest.\u00a0 “I thought she might be here.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William’s nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath with his eyes closed.\u00a0 He smiled slightly.\u00a0 “Ah.\u00a0 I see.\u00a0 You’ll come with me.\u00a0 I want to talk to you and I haven’t had my mid-day meal yet.\u00a0 Ranjit’s pet will have something ready by now.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard had no choice but to follow the two men to the Havers estate.\u00a0 The various dogs in their kennels bayed as they entered the grounds.\u00a0 The sound rattled Richard’s nerves – too close to Mary’s howl from the night before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The dining hall was large enough to comfortably sit a party of twenty people.\u00a0 William sat at one end of the oval table while motioning for Richard to take the other end.\u00a0 William’s Indian manservant clapped loudly twice and a young woman came through a side door carrying a huge silver plate of food.\u00a0 She was tall – as tall as Richard and perhaps a little taller.\u00a0 Her body was well defined with muscles flexing in her thighs and calves at every step.\u00a0 Her bare stomach held not an inch of excess skin.\u00a0 Richard had never seen a woman in such shape.\u00a0 She was also nearly naked – a thin, translucent silk outfit covered her breasts and hip.\u00a0 Richard could plainly see her heavy breasts through the material.\u00a0 He averted his eyes before taking in more detail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Come now, Richard!\u00a0 Why look away?\u00a0 Is she not magnificent?”\u00a0 When the woman placed the tray in front of William, he reached a hand around to fondle the woman’s ass while another hand reached through her flimsy material to massage a breast.\u00a0 The woman leaned over and kissed William full on the mouth.\u00a0 Richard looked away but couldn’t ignore the moaning sounds the woman was making.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Th… this is indecent, William.\u00a0 What you do in your own house is your own business but I’ll not stay to watch you flaunt your excesses.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William laughed.\u00a0 “Away, wench.\u00a0 You heard the gentleman<\/b>.”\u00a0 The woman left momentarily before returning with another tray for Richard.\u00a0 He studied the table while she laid out the various dishes.\u00a0 When she was finished, she retired to a large cushion in the corner of the room, behind William.\u00a0 She lay on her side to study Richard.\u00a0 His stomach rumbled at the smell of the food and he barely hesitated before eating.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now.\u00a0 On to the subject of our Mary.\u00a0 Again, where is she, Richard?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I honestly don’t know, William.\u00a0 We were… I brought her to the asylum to treat her wound more carefully.\u00a0 I fell asleep and when I awoke, she had left.\u00a0 Perhaps she had an engagement somewhere?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William scoffed.\u00a0 “An engagement.\u00a0 Don’t play the fool with me, Richard.\u00a0 I can smell her on you.\u00a0 I know what happened last night.\u00a0 The beast took her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The…!\u00a0 I… I don’t know what you’re talking about, William!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The beast.\u00a0 The wolf.\u00a0 I can see it in your eyes even if I couldn’t smell the bitch’s scent on you.\u00a0 Don’t look so shocked.\u00a0 After all, I made her what she is.\u00a0 No, don’t interrupt me.\u00a0 I’ve waited too damn long for her to be mine.\u00a0 Her parents were an inconvenience so I killed them.\u00a0 Don’t follow them to their deaths, Richard.\u00a0 I know the girl had feelings for you.\u00a0 I know you planned to marry her.\u00a0 But no longer.\u00a0 She’s an animal, Richard.\u00a0 She has the passions of an animal, the needs and wants of an animal.\u00a0 Your gentle Mary is gone and you’re too pathetic for her to even consider.\u00a0 I alone am what she desires.\u00a0 I alone can handle her strength.\u00a0 She will abase herself before me now that she knows what I am.\u00a0 You… Well, you are nothing more than food to her.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The food in Richard’s mouth turned to ashes on his tongue.\u00a0 He swallowed his bite.\u00a0 “You don’t know Mary.\u00a0 She wouldn’t.\u00a0 She wouldn’t take you.\u00a0 You’re her uncle!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William suddenly stood, fury in his eyes.\u00a0 His voice raged.\u00a0 “I am her KING!\u00a0 I am no longer a man and no longer content with human desires.\u00a0 I need a mate that can withstand my attentions and she was the ONE!\u00a0 And, oh, the pleasure I took in making her.”\u00a0 His tone changed, his voice mocking Richard.\u00a0 “My poor gentle Mary.”\u00a0 Again his voice roared.\u00a0 “GONE!\u00a0 I know what the beast desires.\u00a0 I know how strong it pulls at the soul.\u00a0 She is no longer human, no longer able to resist her base desires.\u00a0 She will kill.\u00a0 Again and again, she will kill.\u00a0 I will direct that fury and we will reign.\u00a0 The monarchy is nothing – a mockery.\u00a0 With Ranjit and Mary beside me, nothing is impossible.\u00a0 I will bring down this government and install myself at its head.\u00a0 We will rule.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard was aghast.\u00a0 “You will…?! Are you mad?!\u00a0 This is treasonous talk!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A growl came from the woman in the corner.\u00a0 Slowly, she slinked to her hands and feet.\u00a0 Richard could hear subtle cracking sounds from her.\u00a0 Small orange and black hairs dotted her pale, naked flesh.\u00a0 William waved his hand at her and the growling subsided.\u00a0 The woman returned to her cushions, licking her arm with a tongue too long for her mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And what will you do?\u00a0 A mere man?\u00a0 What will any of you do?\u00a0 I am not alone in this endeavor.\u00a0 I have people in positions of power waiting for me to make my move.\u00a0 I waited only for my consort.\u00a0 Now.\u00a0 Where.\u00a0 IS.\u00a0 SHE?!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard shrunk in his chair.\u00a0 The fury from William beat at him physically.\u00a0 Sweat ran freely down his face and body.\u00a0 His breathing was ragged.\u00a0 “I… I really don’t… don’t know.\u00a0 We were at the asylum and she changed.\u00a0 I… I couldn’t see her like that.\u00a0 I ran.\u00a0 She was gone in the morning.\u00a0 Escaped from her cell.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You ran.\u00a0 Of course you ran.\u00a0 And now I will set the mouse after the wolf.\u00a0 You find her, Richard Miller.\u00a0 You bring her to me tomorrow or I will find you and kill you.\u00a0 If you run, if you hide from me, I will find you.\u00a0 Wherever you are.\u00a0 If you make me wait too long, I will go to your father and devour him.\u00a0 Slowly.\u00a0 Bring her to me, Richard.\u00a0 Fah!\u00a0 Woman, come here and pleasure me.\u00a0 You’ll serve until I have Mary back.\u00a0 On your knees.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The woman made her way to William.\u00a0 She crawled under the table and soon Richard could see her head bobbing up and down in front of William’s lap.\u00a0 William placed a massive hand on the woman’s head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Leave, Richard.\u00a0 When next I see you, you’ll have Mary with you or you’ll be dead.\u00a0 Run away, little mouse.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard stood away from the table. The woman made small mewling sounds and he swore her ears were moving on her head.\u00a0 Richard turned and ran.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 6<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Small children played around him.\u00a0 He barely noticed their exuberant laughter while he sat on the bench.\u00a0 A few pigeons pecked around his feet, looking for crumbs.\u00a0 At the edge of the park, a small gypsy girl watched the other children playing.\u00a0 She clutched an old careworn doll in her hand.\u00a0 One of the buttons used for the eye was hanging by a thread.\u00a0 When the children noticed her, a larger boy picked up a rock and threw it.\u00a0 The rock struck the girl on her shoulder and she cried out before vanishing into the trees.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Here!\u00a0 What do you think you were doing?!”\u00a0 Richard ran to the children.\u00a0 They looked at him dully, the playfulness he heard earlier completely gone.\u00a0 Distrust and sullenness were reflected in their faces.\u00a0 “Well?\u00a0 What do you have to say for yourselves?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The larger boy thrust out his chin.\u00a0 “She was jus’ one o’ them.\u00a0 She shouldn’t be here.\u00a0 The town’s only for decent folk.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Decent folk?!\u00a0 Where’s the decency in what you did?\u00a0 She’s just a little girl!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another boy, smaller than the other spoke up.\u00a0 “Not like us.\u00a0 My ma says they steal kids.\u00a0 Mebbe she was one o’ them what got stolen and she was lookin’ for her ma.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other children laughed around him.\u00a0 Richard raised his hand to slap the boy but stopped.\u00a0 What am I doing?\u00a0 I’m not angry at them.\u00a0 God help me, I’m angry at myself.\u00a0 I’m one of them.\u00a0 One of these little children.\u00a0 Afraid of something I don\u2019t understand.<\/i>\u00a0 He lowered his hand and spoke to the larger boy.\u00a0 “When you’re older, I pray you’ll understand the folly of your ways.\u00a0 Until then, understand that that little girl was a kinder soul than all of you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The children stared at him, not understanding what he meant.\u00a0 Richard grabbed his hat from the bench and walked to his solicitor’s office a short distance from the park.\u00a0 The sun continued its slow journey while he worked with the men in their office.\u00a0 When he was finished, he collected a few things from his cottage and hired a carriage back to the asylum.\u00a0 The assorted bumps and creaking of the carriage lulled him into a light sleep and he was thankful for it.\u00a0 When he awoke, he was near the asylum and the sun was an orange sliver on the horizon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard paid the driver and bade him wait while he gathered a few things from the asylum.\u00a0 When he opened the doors, he stopped, astonishment plain on his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hullo, Richard.” Mary said.\u00a0 She was sitting on the floor facing the large entrance doors.\u00a0 Her face was ashen, a light gray color with large bags under her eyes.\u00a0 She spoke slowly, as if considering each word.\u00a0 She was wearing a simple gown that fit her badly and no shoes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary!\u00a0 My God, Mary!\u00a0 I’ve… I’ve…”\u00a0 Richard rushed to her, not trusting himself to speak.\u00a0 He embraced Mary tightly, not believing she was truly there.\u00a0 She was solid, more so than he remembered.\u00a0 His hands could feel individual muscles beneath her clothing.\u00a0 She seemed larger than he remembered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Be gentle, Richard.\u00a0 I’m afraid I’m not feeling as strong as before.”\u00a0 She laughed but it nearly turned into a cough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard sat back.\u00a0 “Where have you been?\u00a0 I’ve been terrified since… Mary, what a fool I was!\u00a0 I didn’t know.\u00a0 I didn’t know what to do.\u00a0 Your uncle found me.\u00a0 He… we talked.\u00a0 He told me what happened.\u00a0 Mary, I’m so sorry.\u00a0 I couldn’t believe it was true but I saw it with my own eyes.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“And, Richard?\u00a0 I suspected since yesterday that it was my uncle.\u00a0 After this morning, I was sure.\u00a0 He’s looking for me, isn’t he?\u00a0 I knew he desired me but I had no idea how black his soul was.\u00a0 I’m cursed, Richard.\u00a0 Cursed like him.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No!\u00a0 No, you’re not!\u00a0 Mary, you had the chance last night.\u00a0 You could have killed me but you didn’t.\u00a0 You’re not like your uncle.\u00a0 You restrained yourself.\u00a0 He wouldn’t have.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary sighed.\u00a0 “I fed last night, Richard.\u00a0 I was so hungry.\u00a0 There were animals in the forest and I fed – a deer and countless rabbits.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You were hungry.\u00a0 You couldn’t help yourself, Mary.\u00a0 You…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I enjoyed it, Richard!\u00a0 The taste – the hot blood going down my throat as I ate their entrails and meat.\u00a0 The doe was still alive while I feasted on her.\u00a0 It tried to run but I was so fast; it was child’s play to catch it.\u00a0 I had my choice of whatever I wanted.\u00a0 I fed and fed until I was sated.\u00a0 My… my fur was sticky with all of the blood.\u00a0 My fingers… I had claws, Richard!\u00a0 For rending flesh.\u00a0 What use are claws so sharp as that for anything other than destruction.\u00a0 For killing?!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard held Mary’s hand in his own.\u00a0 Her hand was as large as his now.\u00a0 The skin of her palm felt rough against him.\u00a0 “But not me, Mary.\u00a0 I was there, asleep and you passed me over.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary looked away from him.\u00a0 “You.\u00a0 I wanted you, Richard.\u00a0 Not for eating, no.\u201d\u00a0 She laughed bitterly.\u00a0 \u201cFor rutting.\u00a0 I almost had you while you slept, whether you wanted it or not. \u00a0I looked down at you sleeping so peacefully and wanted you.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“But that wasn’t y…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“IT WAS<\/b> ME, RICHARD!”\u00a0 Mary pulled her hand back.\u00a0 The yell seemed to exhaust her even more.\u00a0 “It was me.\u00a0 The whole night, it was me.\u00a0 The night you found me in the park – that was me!\u00a0 These urges I have – to kill, to mate, to run – they are me.\u00a0 Even now, I desire you.\u00a0 Even now I want to run through the forest.\u00a0 I was laughing when I chased the doe.\u00a0 I exalted in the feeling of it.\u00a0 Me, Richard.\u00a0 I did.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I found the gypsies, Richard.\u00a0 Close to morning, I changed back.\u00a0 They took me in and I’ve spent the day with them.\u00a0 I met your old crone.\u00a0 She gave me this.”\u00a0 Mary reached into the neck of her gown to pull out a simple brass necklace.\u00a0 “She said it would help.\u00a0 It has.\u00a0 But, oh, it pains me.\u00a0 With it she said I would stay myself; the beast couldn’t take me.\u00a0 I would be weak but I would be myself.\u00a0 It hurts all the time, Richard.\u00a0 It wants out.\u00a0 It’s throwing itself against the wall of my body and it hurts so badly.\u00a0 But, if it allows me to live a normal life, I will suffer for it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pulled himself closer to Mary to sit directly in front of her.\u00a0 He looked into her eyes while he spoke.\u00a0 “I’ve told my solicitor to sell the asylum and all of the land.\u00a0 Even my cottage.\u00a0 He’s to send me the money when they are sold.\u00a0 Come with me, Mary.\u00a0 I’ve had plenty of time to myself to think and I’ve decided; I don’t care about my studies.\u00a0 There is enough money from the sale of this old building to keep us well for many years.\u00a0 We’ll go and we’ll keep going so your uncle can’t find us.\u00a0 The things I saw while I was there… it’s unnatural.\u00a0 He plans to bring down the monarchy for himself.\u00a0 He demanded I return you to his care.\u00a0 I can’t.\u00a0 I can’t let you go.\u00a0 I love you, Mary.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tears streamed down Mary’s face.\u00a0 “Oh, Richard.\u00a0 I love you more than you know but, I can’t.\u00a0 I can’t run.\u00a0 I can barely walk while I’m like this.\u00a0 My love.\u00a0 Oh, how I’ve loved you.\u00a0 But, I would slow you down.\u00a0 If my uncle desires me then… then I shall have to kill myself.\u00a0 I would die if you were harmed because of me.\u00a0 I cannot help you like this.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard leaned forward.\u00a0 Slowly, he brought his lips to hers and held her.\u00a0 He could taste the salt from her tears.\u00a0 His hands found the cold chain of the necklace around the back of her neck.\u00a0 He fumbled at the clasp.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary pulled back.\u00a0 “Richard, what…!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He unhooked the chain and slowly pulled it off.\u00a0 “I trust you, Mary.\u00a0 Whatever you are now, you’re still Mary.\u00a0 There’s another way.”\u00a0 He pulled the amulet away and stood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s hand flew to her throat.\u00a0 Her face flushed red.\u00a0 “Richard!\u00a0 You don’t know what you’re doing!\u00a0 What other w… ARGH!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard backed away until he felt the stone wall behind him.\u00a0 He dropped the amulet to the ground.\u00a0 Mary writhed in front of him, her hands going to her head.\u00a0 Richard watched as the knuckles of her fingers popped and grew.\u00a0 Pale slivers of fingernails fell away as thick, black claws slid from the tips of her fingers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“RICHARD!”\u00a0 Mary yelled.\u00a0 A line of drool flung from her mouth.\u00a0 Her brow furrowed in concentration or pain.\u00a0 “Rrrrrrrrrr…!”\u00a0 Tendons stood out on her arms. “Nooooooo-uhhhhhhhh!”\u00a0 She brought her hands down to the front of her dress and sat back on her knees.\u00a0 She pulled her hands apart, ripping the front of the gown to expose the white corset underneath.\u00a0 Muscles stood out on her shoulders as they shook.\u00a0 Her shoulder blades bunched out from her back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary held out her hand to Richard.\u00a0 He marveled at the claws, a dull black in the light of the lamps around him.\u00a0 “Rrrrrr… chrrrrd…”\u00a0 He heard more small popping noises and watched as the knuckles shortened slightly while the fingers themselves grew in thickness.\u00a0 Small brown hairs dotted the tops of her knuckles.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m here, Mary.\u00a0 I’m not running.\u00a0 Not again.”\u00a0 He reached a trembling hand out to briefly touch her hand.\u00a0 Mary pulled it away from him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard heard the whine of fabric stretching.\u00a0 Mary’s corset strained against her torso.\u00a0 Her abdominal muscles clenched, pulling Mary forward into a ball on her knees.\u00a0 She roared and sat back again.\u00a0 Brown hairs grew around the bottom of the corset, disappearing into the ruin of Mary’s gown.\u00a0 A spicy scent suddenly flooded the room.\u00a0 Richard involuntarily grabbed his manhood and rubbed, moaning through clenched teeth.\u00a0 Mary tore the rest of her gown from her body.\u00a0 Hairs traced from under her corset, into her under clothes and down her thighs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It… hurrrrrts… Rrrrr… chrd… want… want… rrrrr!”\u00a0 The fabric on the bottom of her corset ripped, showing her belly button.\u00a0 Her stomach muscles clenched again.\u00a0 Mary dug her hands into the waistband of her underclothes.\u00a0 Her claws tore through the fabric, exposing the rough tangle of her brown pubic hair.\u00a0 She ripped them off with a shrug.\u00a0 Mary leaned back, spreading her thighs in front of her.\u00a0 Richard saw the thick lips of her vagina before a new growth of brown hair covered them.\u00a0 The brown hair around the pussy lips quickly turned a darker color as her juices mixed in with them.\u00a0 Richard rubbed himself more vigorously, unable to stop or look away.\u00a0 Mary’s right hand reached up to her straining corset.\u00a0 Her breasts were flattened in the restricting fabric.\u00a0 They grew and Richard watched the sides and tops of her breasts bulge out.\u00a0 The top of the corset ripped, exposing a line of fur racing up the middle of her body to her throat.\u00a0 Her right breast grew out of the ripped corset slightly before her left.\u00a0 Mary’s right hand squeezed her own breast and she leaned her head back.\u00a0 Her left hand reached between her furry thighs.\u00a0 He could see dark black skin on the palms of her skin and under the fingers themselves.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Rrrrrrrrrrr… ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…”\u00a0 She moaned.\u00a0 Her finger dipped into her vagina.\u00a0 Richard watched her rub her left hand in small circles while her right hand fondled her engorged breast.\u00a0 She tweaked her nipple, pulling the breast up to her mouth.\u00a0 Her tongue lolled out, nearly reaching the nipple.\u00a0 Mary roared again when her face cracked.\u00a0 Her mouth was slightly longer, her teeth spaced farther apart on her gums.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rip from the bottom of the corset ran up to the middle and the corset fell away from her body.\u00a0 Fur fanned out from the middle of her stomach to wrap around the side of her body.\u00a0 Mary’s left hand plunged in and out of her vagina.\u00a0 Richard could see fur grow along her fingers, darkening in the wetness between her legs.\u00a0 Muscles bulged on her thighs before disappearing beneath a coat of fur.\u00a0 Her feet were elongating, the bones cracking under the strain.\u00a0 Her big toes pulled back with the lengthening feet.\u00a0 Like her fingers, the toenails fell off as the feet thickened.\u00a0 Smaller black claws quickly replaced them, digging into the rough stone floor with a teeth-grinding screech.\u00a0 Her calf muscles strained and she fell forward, catching herself with her hands.\u00a0 The bottoms of her feet turned a dark black color before puffing out slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s heavy breasts swung in front of her.\u00a0 Fur sprouted along their sides, racing up to her neck.\u00a0 Her nipples were covered but soon, even they grew larger, showing through the thick brown hair.\u00a0 Their color turned from a dark brown to nearly pitch black.\u00a0 Mary stretched back on her new feet.\u00a0 Her hands were completely covered beneath the fur.\u00a0 The claws of her hands scratched dust from the stones of the floor.\u00a0 Richard watched the fur continue from her breasts to her shoulders and then down her arms.\u00a0 Her biceps shook, causing her to temporarily dip to the floor.\u00a0 Her bare back was covered in sweat.\u00a0 Small trails ran of sweat down her sides and into the fur of her stomach before dripping slowly to the floor.\u00a0 Fur raced down her thighs to her calves, enveloping them in dark brown hair.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her mouth continued to grow, pulling her nose flat against the tip.\u00a0 The skin of the nose blackened while taking on a pebbled texture.\u00a0 The line of black from her nose traced down to her lips and they blackened as well.\u00a0 Sharp teeth grew through the empty parts of her gums at the front of her mouth.\u00a0 Her tongue hung inches out of her mouth, shifting as the new teeth grew in place.\u00a0 Bones shifted in her muzzle, pulling the bridge of her nose up before fine brown hairs grew to cover it.\u00a0 Her ears shifted slightly up and back on her head as they grew larger.\u00a0 Fur from her nose grew down her face to the side of her face and up to cover her ears.\u00a0 The tops of her ears grew to a slight point and then twitched slightly.\u00a0 She looked up at Richard with her lips pulled back in a grimace.\u00a0 She tried to crawl to him but her body shook, throwing her chest to the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Rrrrrroooooooooohhhh…” Mary moaned.\u00a0 The bones along her spine popped.\u00a0 Muscles grew along her spine, pushing the bones of her spine up.\u00a0 Her back spasmed once, twice and a third time as bones were pushed by the new muscles.\u00a0 Her shoulder blades pushed apart as her body widened and lengthened.\u00a0 Fur from her shoulders swept down her back in a wave, growing down her spine before sweeping out to her side.\u00a0 Mary lifted her muzzle, glanced at Richard and slowly turned herself around to look away from him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fur was slowly spreading from her crotch to her hips.\u00a0 Richard watched as the skin of Mary’s ass disappeared.\u00a0 Mary leaned forward on her hands, lifting her hips up.\u00a0 Her smell was overwhelming.\u00a0 Richard didn’t notice when he undid the laces of his pants to let them fall to his ankles.\u00a0 He pushed his small clothes down, freeing his manhood.\u00a0 Its length bobbed in the air, dotted by a small amount of precum.\u00a0 He rubbed himself slowly, watching Mary’s change.\u00a0 She looked back at him briefly.\u00a0 Her tongue licked the black skin of her lips in a slow circuit of her mouth.\u00a0 Her thighs spread apart more and she brought a large paw under her and into her vagina, spreading her lips.\u00a0 Her pussy lips had changed to the same black color as the lips of her mouth but inside she was a pink.\u00a0 Clear liquid dripped slowly to the floor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s hand fell away when her back arched again.\u00a0 A stub of a tail sprouted from the small of her back, extending from her spine.\u00a0 Slowly, the tail grew out, the naked skin looking unusual against the deep brown fur covering the rest of her body.\u00a0 At four feet in length, the tall stopped.\u00a0 Mary held the tall proudly in an arch behind her.\u00a0 The tail bulged as new muscle growth took place.\u00a0 Patches of the tail turned brown and soon, thick brown fur covered the entire thing.\u00a0 The fur continued to grow until the tail was thick and bushy.\u00a0 Mary pushed herself back up on all fours and shook herself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Slowly, she stood and turned to face Richard.\u00a0 Pale gold eyes regarded him calmly.\u00a0 He tore his gaze away from her crotch to stare at her entire body.\u00a0 She was easily seven feet tall and so much thicker than she had been before.\u00a0 She stood on the tips of her new feet and the claws scratched loudly against the stone floor.\u00a0 The fur of her crotch was thicker and darker than the surrounding fur.\u00a0 Her breasts were massive and he could still easily make out their shape under the fur.\u00a0 Only the very tips of her dark black nipples showed through the fur on her breasts.\u00a0 Her tail moved slightly back and forth as she watched him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard released his manhood.\u00a0 “Together, Mary.\u00a0 That’s the other way.\u00a0 Together.”\u00a0 His hands worked at the buttons of the vest, trying in his muddled state to work the buttons out of their holes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary stepped forward.\u00a0 She bent to her right knee, bringing her head down to Richard’s head.\u00a0 She pushed his hands away from his clothes.\u00a0 She grabbed his hands in her own paws and pushed them against the wall, holding him in place.\u00a0 “Mary, wait.”\u00a0 He told her.\u00a0 He struggled but he couldn’t move his hands an inch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary brought her head down to Richard’s crotch.\u00a0 She looked up at him with her golden eyes and then opened her mouth, letting her long tongue out.\u00a0 She pushed her nose forward into the base of his manhood, rubbing herself on his testicles.\u00a0 Richard moaned at the feeling of her cold, wet nose on his skin.\u00a0 His body jerked when Mary’s tongue touched him.\u00a0 She licked slowly, enfolding the length of his manhood with her thick tongue.\u00a0 When her tongue reached his tip, she brought her head down to bring him completely into her muzzle.\u00a0 Richard jerked again and again against her grip until Mary finally released him.\u00a0 He laid his hands on the top of her head, fingers bunched through the thick fur of her neck.\u00a0 His right hand gripped her left ear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary growled and Richard almost spent himself as his cock vibrated in her muzzle.\u00a0 “Ohhhhhhh… Mary…”\u00a0 He pulled at the fur on her head.\u00a0 Mary pulled her head up and then down again, slowly and carefully.\u00a0 Her long tongue rubbed and rolled against him.\u00a0 Richard tried again to undo the buttons at his vest but Mary growled again and knocked his hands away.\u00a0 She stood again, grabbed Richard’s collar and pulled.\u00a0 His clothing tore down the middle, catching on his arms.\u00a0 He pulled his own arms out of their sleeves and kicked out of his shoes.\u00a0 He was naked except for his socks.\u00a0 When he tried to reach to take them off, Mary pushed him against the wall again.\u00a0 Richard yelled at the sudden pain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She stared down at him. She topped his head by over a foot in height.\u00a0 Her chestnut brown hair faded into the tuft of fur on her neck, blending in against the rough fur.\u00a0 A lock of her hair fell to cover her left eye.\u00a0 He was transfixed by her form – every inch of her skin was covered by the dark fur but he could make out the contours of her muscles beneath her coat.\u00a0 Her muzzle was closed and he watched her chest rise and fall as she breathed through her nostrils.\u00a0 He couldn’t tell whether it was her scent or that he knew it was Mary but he was not scared and, in fact, found her new shape arousing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She leaned forward again, rubbing the bridge of her muzzle against his face and cheek.\u00a0 Her thick, warm tongue licked the side of his neck again.\u00a0 Richard held his hand against the side of her face, gently urging her to look at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I was wrong, Mary.\u00a0 So wrong.\u00a0 You’re beautiful.”\u00a0 He rubbed his hand against her, feeling the flesh and fur between his fingers.\u00a0 Mary closed her eyes, pushing her head back against his hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally, Mary brought her muzzle down to his chest.\u00a0 Her eyes were still closed but she opened her muzzle, displaying her sharp teeth.\u00a0 She rubbed her cold nose against his side, going lower and lower until she was below his ribcage.\u00a0 She opened her mouth wider, black lips pulled back.\u00a0 Slowly, ever slowly she took his side in her mouth.\u00a0 Richard began hyperventilating.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“M… Mary.\u00a0 Oh, God, Mary.\u00a0 W… wait.\u00a0 Just wait for one moment.\u00a0 Let me…”\u00a0 She bit, deep but slow.\u00a0 Her teeth parted his flesh like it wasn’t there.\u00a0 Richard screamed, throwing his head back against the wall.\u00a0 He would have fallen but Mary held him up with a large paw. The claws of her hand dug slightly into his chest but the pain was nothing compared to his side.\u00a0 His hands clenched Mary’s head as he screamed.\u00a0 Blood ran through her muzzle, quickly covering his side in blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When his voice failed him, Mary took her teeth away from Richard’s side but kept her mouth clamped to his skin.\u00a0 He could feel her tongue working against the wound.\u00a0 He clung to her head, breathing through his nose over and over.\u00a0 The pain was incredible.\u00a0 Mary’s thickly muscled arm wrapped around his back to lower him gently to the ground.\u00a0 Her mouth never left his side.\u00a0 He almost blacked out from the pain but it was subsiding slowly and Mary was stroking his chest over and over.\u00a0 The rough padding of her hand was uncomfortable but the motion was soothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary pulled her bloody muzzle away.\u00a0 The wound was no longer bleeding.\u00a0 Richard sat up weakly to stare at his side.\u00a0 He could see the rows of teeth marks but there was no blood.\u00a0 Around the marks were small wiry growths of hair.\u00a0 He ran his thump along the hair.\u00a0 His member was small and flaccid against his thigh.\u00a0 He could still smell the exciting scent from Mary but the sudden blood loss and pain made him forget his arousal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How… how long?\u00a0 How long until…\u00a0 ARRGH!”\u00a0 Richard’s head jerked back, slamming against the floor.\u00a0 His vision swam and he almost vomited.\u00a0 His spine was on fire and he couldn’t control his back.\u00a0 He curled himself into a ball, clutching his stomach.\u00a0 “M… Maaarryyyyy… AGH!\u00a0 It hurts!”\u00a0 Mary sat back on her knees, legs apart with her hands on her thighs, watching Richard change.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His back felt like someone was slamming on it with a flaming hammer.\u00a0 He felt like the muscles in his back were trying to tear his body in half.\u00a0 His fingernails dug into his side, scratching over and over.\u00a0 Soon, he drew blood as black claws slid from the last joint of each finger, displacing his fingernails in the process.\u00a0 He scratched deeply, briefly cutting down to muscle before the skin healed over.\u00a0 With a loud ‘crack!’ he lost feeling and control of his arms and lower body as the bones in his back broke and reformed, farther apart.\u00a0 New skin growth came in turning from pasty white to flesh color in seconds.\u00a0 His spine rode a wave of new muscle down to his hips.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A sickening crunch signaled his hips breaking apart.\u00a0 Skin extended from his lower back in a nub, pushing out as his spine extended.\u00a0 He could feel the tail growing and moving against his will.\u00a0 With another crack, his ribs broke.\u00a0 Richard vomited blood in a pink, frothy mess.\u00a0 His vision blurred momentarily but when he blinked, he could see again.\u00a0 His chest was expanding, pushed to grow larger by the new muscles forming below his skin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard’s tongue pushed out of his mouth and three teeth came with it – all molars.\u00a0 He spat two more out with a wad of blood.\u00a0 A lance of pain shot from his mouth, through his nose and into his brain, causing him to close his eyes and press both hands against his face.\u00a0 The skin of his palms scratching against his cheekbones made the pain less so he found himself rubbing his face over and over as thick padding grew on his palms.\u00a0 He couldn’t feel his mouth but he heard tiny crunching noises.\u00a0 Curious, he opened his eyes. He could see his nose pushing out in front of his face.\u00a0 The nose was flattening.\u00a0 Soon it would take on the same color and texture of Mary’s nose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feeling returned to his mouth, bringing with it an insane itching in the gums.\u00a0 New razor sharp teeth broke through the gums to line up along his new muzzle.\u00a0 He ran his long, wide tongue gently over the new teeth.\u00a0 After years of knowing how every tooth in his mouth felt, the new teeth were completely foreign.\u00a0 He tasted blood briefly when he rubbed one of the new teeth too vigorously.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard held his right hand up to his new face.\u00a0 The fingers were shortened slightly and they felt a little more stiff than he was used to feeling.\u00a0 When his sense of smell returned suddenly, he was floored and his erection was immediate.\u00a0 Mary<\/i>.\u00a0 He thought.\u00a0 Thick skin grew from the base of his testicles and up over part of his manhood, as if he was growing another layer of foreskin.\u00a0 His member was still growing, widening as it did.\u00a0 Eight inches.\u00a0 Ten.\u00a0 More.\u00a0 A thin webbing of skin ran from his abdomen, attaching itself to his manhood to pull it close to his body.\u00a0 His pubic hair thickened and he noticed hair growing up the new foreskin until it was covered.\u00a0 His old foreskin was pulled back by the new growth, exposing the tip of his length.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The hair around the base of his member grew up to his belly button and then beyond, running in a line up his barrel chest.\u00a0 The fur continued out as Mary’s did, fanning off to the sides when it reached his neck.\u00a0 He rubbed the fur of his belly and wondered at the hard muscles beneath his skin.\u00a0 He caught Mary staring at him, staring at the erection tapping him on his belly in time to his heartbeat.\u00a0 He could smell her need.\u00a0 His tail wagged behind him.\u00a0 Fur grew around his crotch and up the length of the tail until it was as shaggy as Mary’s own tail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He turned onto his hands and knees.\u00a0 When the bones of his legs shattered, he only felt the pain for a moment.\u00a0 His feet grew, pulling the heel and big toe back.\u00a0 Claws already tipped the ends of his feet, a dull black counter point to the blond fur growing along his thighs, calves and feet.\u00a0 He tried to stand but the muscles in his legs weren’t finished yet.\u00a0 His long tongue lolled out of his mouth and he felt his ears twitch minutely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary was standing in front of him, large, muscled arms beneath her breasts.\u00a0 Richard tried standing again and found he could.\u00a0 Now he was taller than her – less than a foot taller but more muscular.\u00a0 She looked at him from head to toe, her expression impossible to read.\u00a0 But her scent… Richard’s nose knew that scent.\u00a0 He growled at her, a rumbling noise in the back of his throat.\u00a0 The animal in him growled as well.\u00a0 The bitch should be on her knees in front of me.\u00a0 How dare she look at me like that! \u00a0Challenging me!<\/i>\u00a0 His growl grew in volume.\u00a0 Part of him was yelling to wait, to calm down but he couldn’t hear it.\u00a0 His lips pulled back, baring his teeth.\u00a0 Mary’s arms came away from her chest and she crouched slightly arms apart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HOW DARE SHE!<\/i>\u00a0 Richard howled, throwing himself at the bitch in front of him.\u00a0 They tumbled together, biting and scratching.\u00a0 Richard’s body was not as familiar to him as Mary’s was and she had a slight advantage in its use.\u00a0 Unfortunately for her, Richard was noticeably stronger.\u00a0 He grabbed her arm and twisted, turning her to her stomach beneath him.\u00a0 She was growling at him, barking in her own anger.\u00a0 Richard pushed her down while she tried to twist away.\u00a0 He pushed his giant cock against the wetness of her crotch and howled when it missed.\u00a0 He thrust again and again but Mary twisted below him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 No, this isn’t right.<\/i>\u00a0 Through the anger, the small voice was growing louder.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 I am not like this.<\/i>\u00a0 Richard stopped moving.\u00a0 He still held Mary down in front of him but he was no longer thrusting.\u00a0 Instead, he leaned forward to lick her shoulder.\u00a0 Mary relaxed beneath him, butting her head back against Richard\u2019s muzzle.\u00a0 He growled happily and nipped at her neck.\u00a0 Mary turned to look at Richard and then pushed her ass against his crotch. Richard rubbed his paw through her hair and down into the thick tuft of fur around her neck.\u00a0 He pushed her gently and was pleased when Mary went down willingly.\u00a0 Her ass came up and he could see the dark, wet pussy lips through her fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held his member with his awkward, rough hands and guided himself into her.\u00a0 Her lips parted as his head slid in and he growled at the feeling.\u00a0 She was so tight against him.\u00a0 So tight and so hot.\u00a0 He gripped her hip with his right hand and pushed, slamming into her cervix.\u00a0 Mary jerked beneath him, barking at the sudden movement.\u00a0 The thin skin holding his manhood pushed back, allowing him to push into her until his pelvis was against her.\u00a0 He pulled out slowly, watching her lips pull apart slightly.\u00a0 The skin of his manhood was a slight red color, almost like raw skin.\u00a0 The contrast between the dark fur of her crotch and her black lips was startling.\u00a0 He was a virgin, had only pleasured twice in his life – both to great shame.\u00a0 The feeling of his cock inside Mary was indescribable.\u00a0 He pushed slowly in and out, watching his thick cock enter her.\u00a0 Mary’s tail was erect against his body.\u00a0 The fur along its length rubbed against his own chest fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary whined, pushing hard against him and he took the hint.\u00a0 He pulled out again and slammed hard into her.\u00a0 She yelped, digging her claws into the cracks of the floor.\u00a0 Richard leaned forward on his hand and feet.\u00a0 His new body shape made the position natural, even comfortable.\u00a0 Mary’s tail pushed away, rubbing against the side of his body.\u00a0 He moved his hip experimentally and found he could bury himself completely in her.\u00a0 Mary was half whining-half moaning below him, her large breasts flattened against the cold floor.\u00a0 Richard moved again.\u00a0 And again.\u00a0 Slamming into her with sudden need.\u00a0 She cried out beneath him and he bit into her neck, tasting blood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard lost himself in the act.\u00a0 They mated like animals.\u00a0 Pressure built in Richard’s lower stomach, stronger and stronger until he was grunting with the effort of holding himself back.\u00a0 Their lower bodies were completely soaked from Mary’s juices.\u00a0 The wet slapping noises they made only served to make him slam into her harder and harder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary suddenly threw her head back, howling as her body shook, legs barely holding her up.\u00a0 Richard thrust once, twice and then, release.\u00a0 Jets of cum fountained out of him, deep in Mary’s cunt.\u00a0 He howled with her, still thrusting as he came.\u00a0 Mary weakly pushed back, eager for his seed.\u00a0 Soon, she was huffing again, close to another orgasm.\u00a0 Richard grabbed her around the waist, hosting her into a standing position with his cock still inside.\u00a0 He gripped her breast with one hand while pressing on the mound of her vagina with the other, careful to keep his claws away.\u00a0 He pushed deep in and up into her over and over until they were both cumming again, his seed running down her leg with Mary’s own juices.\u00a0 Valiantly, he tried again but his legs betrayed him and they fell to the ground together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They lay together, hearts racing with their tongues hanging out as they panted.\u00a0 Mary shook beneath him, tears streaming down her furred face.\u00a0 Richard hugged her tightly.\u00a0 His thick ropy muscles held her tight against his body.\u00a0 He could feel her muscles and fur against him, smaller than he was but larger than any bare knuckled brawler he\u2019d seen.\u00a0 Eventually their breathing slowed and they slept, content in each other\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard woke to Mary wiggling beneath him.\u00a0 He knew not how much time had passed but the waning moon was above them, shining down.\u00a0 He marveled at his new eyesight.\u00a0 He could see individual leaves in the trees through the dusty windows.\u00a0 The slightest rustle of a bush outside betrayed small animals as they made their way.\u00a0 Scents of all kind flooded his noise, nearly overwhelming him.\u00a0 He could tell there were variations in them but picking out an individual smell seemed an impossible task at the moment.\u00a0 Except for Mary.\u00a0 Her scent was impossible to mistake no matter how far away she was.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were both still changed, fur slightly wet with combined juices.\u00a0 He could smell her own natural scent \u2013 a mix of odors that told him this was his Mary.\u00a0 Along with those smells was the one he smelled even as a human \u2013 her need.\u00a0 The smell of their passions made him hard again and they rutted.\u00a0 He mounted her like his bitch and slammed into her until she cried out from the feeling.\u00a0 He was not a total recluse; he knew that a man and a woman made love with the woman on her back and the man above her but it felt wrong in his current shape.\u00a0 He could feel the muscles inside of her as he slid in and out.\u00a0 She was clamping tightly against him, as if unwilling to let him go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They howled together again with their orgasms.\u00a0 A cry of joy to the feeling of their strong bodies mating.\u00a0 A cry of release.\u00a0 When they were finished, Richard found he had an excess of energy.\u00a0 Mary yipped and ran away from him, out of the asylum and into the dark of the forest around them.\u00a0 He chased her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They hunted together that night, stalking prey and feasting on the more meatier ones.\u00a0 He thought he would be repulsed at eating raw meat but, as with mating with Mary, his body knew what the do.\u00a0 The taste of blood on his tongue was intoxicating and he was starving.\u00a0 They both ate well.\u00a0 When Richard sat against a fallen tree, Mary joined him, sitting on his lap.\u00a0 Her body was so warm in the night air.\u00a0 He rested one thick, muscular paw on her lower stomach and another on her thigh.\u00a0 She sighed, leaning back against him and they rubbed their muzzles together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard had never felt so alive in his life.\u00a0 The worries of studying, of social graces, of being a man – were gone.\u00a0 Here, in his arms was everything he needed.\u00a0 I’ve been a fool.\u00a0 Mary was right the first night I found her outside.\u00a0 The world is so alive.\u00a0 We<\/b> are so alive.\u00a0 I can see… I can hear… I can smell… Everything is so sharp.<\/i>\u00a0 His hand made a gentle circle against her thigh.\u00a0 The skin on his palm caught and dragged the fur of her leg.\u00a0 She wiggled, content with his attention.\u00a0 They slept again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 7<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

This time, Richard woke before Mary.\u00a0 He was human again but even in the cold air of the misty morning, he was warm.\u00a0 He nuzzled Mary’s neck, biting her gently.\u00a0 She moaned beneath him and then woke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mmmmmm… Richard.”\u00a0 Her voice was still thick from sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mary.\u00a0 Oh, Mary.\u00a0 What a fool I’ve been.\u00a0 You tried to tell me but I didn’t understand.\u00a0 And now I do.\u00a0 I love you.\u00a0 Whether you marry me or not, I will never leave your side.\u00a0 Marriage… I used to want that so badly with you.\u00a0 Now I know.\u00a0 You were always mine.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No.”\u00a0 She told him.\u00a0 “You were always mine.”\u00a0 She took his hand from her thigh, guiding it to her wet lips.\u00a0 He rubbed her and she moaned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I can almost see what your uncle meant.”\u00a0 He said.\u00a0 “The power of man is nothing against this.\u00a0 But, in my case, I see it differently.\u00a0 You are wedded to me by blood and flesh.\u00a0 Whether a priest marries us or not, it doesn’t matter.”\u00a0 He dipped a finger into her wetness.\u00a0 She cried out.\u00a0\u00a0 “I almost took you against your will last night, Mary.\u00a0 I’m sorry for that.\u00a0 The beast…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, Richard.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 You were wrong but you were also right.\u00a0 I am not the Mary you knew before.\u00a0 I am not the docile woman to do as she’s told.\u00a0 No longer.\u00a0 Last night you thought you could have me because you wanted to. \u00a0That is why you were wrong.\u00a0 But you were right that you had to try – that you had to win me to your side.\u00a0 If the beast had won you over, I would have fought until I had nothing left.\u00a0 And then I would have killed you when I could.\u00a0 But, it didn’t.\u00a0 You came back to me.”\u00a0 She reached her own hand out to grip Richard’s thigh.\u00a0 Her strength drove her fingernails through his skin.\u00a0 “But I am your equal, Richard.\u00a0 If you ever forget that, I will make you remember.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard growled.\u00a0 He pulled Mary’s head back to his mouth, biting her ear, neck and shoulder.\u00a0 His finger plunged freely in and out of the slickness between her thighs.\u00a0 Mary cried out and then turned, pushing Richard to the ground.\u00a0 His manhood was thick and erect behind Mary as she sat astride his hips.\u00a0 Her breasts were large and his hands automatically went to them, pressing them together, digging his fingers into their soft flesh.\u00a0 Mary moaned, sliding herself back.\u00a0 Her pubic hair was bushy and unruly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Remember, Richard:\u00a0 you may mount me when you want but I am your equal and I have desires.\u00a0 If I want to fuck you, I will.”\u00a0 She slid back further, pressing Richard\u2019s cock flat.\u00a0 Mary\u2019s hot, wet cunt slid over and around his thickness.\u00a0 She trembled as the head of his cock slid between her pussy lips.\u00a0 As it did, she stopped, leaning forward.\u00a0 Richard had never been one to grow much chest hair before but now his chest was thick with it.\u00a0 Mary gripped the hair tightly and leaned in for a kiss.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I\u2019ll not be denied.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She slid him into her, deep inside.\u00a0 She pulled herself down, thick thigh muscles tensing as she did.\u00a0 The wet lips of her vagina nestled against his testicles.\u00a0 He could feel her uterus touching the tip of his manhood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOooohhh, Richard.\u00a0 You\u2019re so deep in me.\u00a0 Can you feel it?\u201d\u00a0 She was breathless.\u00a0 \u201cCan you feel yourself in me?\u201d\u00a0 She moved again, pulling herself forward and then abruptly down, slamming herself onto his cock.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pulled her body down as she fucked him.\u00a0 Her nipples were large and erect, beginning to be sucked.\u00a0 He bent to the nipple on her left breast, taking it into his mouth.\u00a0 Mary moaned, her hand coming up to twine through his hair while the other supported her position.\u00a0 He pressed his face against her soft breast, biting and sucking on the fat nipple. \u00a0His mouth was restless – biting her neck one moment, taking her nipples into his mouth the next and then kissing her as she moaned into him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s hips and stomach flexed, pulling Richard out and then in again.\u00a0 Over and over her hips worked against his, legs holding him in place.\u00a0 She turned his head aside to bite at his neck.\u00a0 Her fingers dug under his back to scratch trails down his spine.\u00a0 Richard felt his gums itching, signaling the start of the change.\u00a0 He growled with the feeling.\u00a0 Dark hairs were rising on his arms, muscles growing larger.\u00a0 He pounded his own hips against Mary\u2019s, wet slapping noises echoing around the area.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“D… Don’t stop.\u00a0 Oh Richard, my love, don’t stop don’t stop don’t…. AHHHHHH!”\u00a0 Mary’s legs clenched against him.\u00a0 Her hands, wrapped around his torso, cut deep into his back.\u00a0 The pain and pleasure put Richard over the edge and he screamed as his own orgasm took him.\u00a0 They held each other, panting hard and fast, cheek by cheek.\u00a0 Mary\u2019s breasts felt heavy on his chest.\u00a0 Her fat, hard nipples rubbed gently against him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I love you, Mary.\u00a0 Now and always.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s laugh was breathless.\u00a0 “You say that after your seed is deep within me.\u00a0 No, don’t go.\u00a0 Stay with me like this for a moment longer.\u00a0 I like the feeling of you in me.\u00a0 What do we do, Richard?\u00a0 If my uncle is against us and he’s one of… of us, what do we do?\u00a0 Run?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard could feel himself in her – the burning warmth between her legs.\u00a0 He was still mostly hard from their passions.\u00a0 He pulled her on her side, her back to his chest.\u00a0 He draped his arm across her, hand grasping her ample breast.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“When I was searching for you, that was my plan.\u00a0 Run.\u00a0 And keep running until we were old and gray with no meat on our bones to satisfy your monster of an uncle.\u00a0 I had a message sent to my father, warning him of your uncle’s plan.\u00a0 He should be safe and I have no family left, no one else to threaten.\u00a0 Before, I would run.\u00a0 Now… Now I am of a different mind.\u00a0 There is a burning in me.\u00a0 A desire to see him before me, defeated and done.\u00a0 I’ve shied from conflict my whole life.\u00a0 I’ve always taken the easiest path.\u00a0 Something in me defies that now.”\u00a0 Richard held his arm above him.\u00a0 Ridges of muscles lined his flesh from shoulder to wrist and even his hand was larger than before.\u00a0 A thin rough growth of skin covered the palm of his hand, a pale imitation of the thick black padding he had when the beast was in him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He placed his hand on her hard stomach.\u00a0 “We fight.\u00a0 I could not run now.\u00a0 It, the beast, wouldn’t let me and I find I agree with it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary grasped his hand with her own.\u00a0 “So be it.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They both made their way to the asylum.\u00a0 Richard was astounded at how well he could smell – he could tell his own scent and Mary’s scent from the myriad other smells clamoring for his attention.\u00a0 He walked effortlessly; his legs ached to run.\u00a0 They found old clothes left behind by his father and the staff – both wore the men’s outfit to account for their new bulk.\u00a0 Richard scooped up the old brass amulet in a cloth bag.\u00a0 Even through the fabric of the bag he could feel it draining him slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I find myself disappointed to be clothed again, Mary.\u00a0 And moreso to see you in anything other than your naked skin.\u00a0 I’m afraid the taste of freedom I had last night has soured me on the trappings of man.\u00a0 I want nothing more than to feel you beneath me once more.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary patted his cheek.\u00a0 “Let us see to my uncle before ourselves.\u00a0 There will be plenty of time to enjoy our ourselves when he is finished.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 We\u2019ll return the property to the gypsies first and then deal with your uncle.\u00a0 I would like to thank them for their help as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard took Mary’s hand as they walked.\u00a0 She turned to him, a sly grin on her face.\u00a0 “Well, sir, are you certain your honor can survive such a scandal?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He squeezed her hand.\u00a0 “Honor be damned.\u00a0 I no longer care what anyone else thinks.\u00a0 Let them see us.”\u00a0 He kissed her, boldly on the lips.\u00a0 She laughed when they broke apart.\u00a0 “I’ve missed your laughter, Mary.\u00a0 Now, if only I can remember the way\u2026”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary pulled at him slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard hushed her.\u00a0 There was a scent coming from the amulet \u2013 scent that was unique and not Mary.\u00a0 He turned in a circle taking deep breaths as he did.\u00a0 There \u2013 northwest of them.\u00a0 There was a thread of the same smell leading off to the distance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere we are, Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew where it was, Richard.\u00a0 Only now I believe I won\u2019t need my mastiffs for tracking.\u201d\u00a0 She patted his arm.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll make a good hound.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard led Mary through fields to find the gypsy camp.\u00a0 There was a road that eventually led to the encampment but he found he enjoyed the open fields more than dusty roads.\u00a0 Camp dogs howled at them as they approached, cowering behind wagon wheels.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary smiled as a group of young men and women approached.\u00a0 Richard glared at the young men when they openly stared at Mary\u2019s well endowed form.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning!\u201d\u00a0 Mary called.\u00a0 \u201cIs Tsura still here?\u00a0 I\u2019ve brought her amulet back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A handsome young man stood apart.\u00a0 \u201cMy grandmother is here.\u00a0 Shall I tell her the stars have come down from the heavens to the form I see before me to grace us with their beautiful presence?\u201d\u00a0 Like the other men, he stared at her as if appraising her value as a wife.\u00a0 His gaze lingered longest on her chest while he toyed with his oiled mustache.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard growled, baring his teeth.\u00a0 He\u2019d never struck anyone in anger and rarely even argued with his friends but he was ready to tear this man\u2019s throat out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary laid a hand on his wrist.\u00a0 \u201cNo, sir.\u00a0 But you may tell her that her wolf has returned and brought her mate.\u00a0 And if you continue to stare at my chest, I shall break your jaw for payment.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The man\u2019s face drained of blood while the group around him stepped away mumbling.\u00a0 Richard heard one older man call the grandson a fool before walking away.\u00a0 The boy ran off, stumbling in his haste to find his grandmother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Soon the old woman was coming toward them, grandson in tow.\u00a0 The old woman stopped to regard Richard before turning to her grandson.\u00a0 \u201cSo?\u201d\u00a0 She told him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m sorry for the way I spoke to you.\u00a0 I meant no disrespect in front of your m\u2026 man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI forgive you.\u201d\u00a0 Mary told him.\u00a0 \u201cRichard?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard\u2019s lips drew back, showing his canine teeth.\u00a0 \u201cRichard?\u201d\u00a0 Mary repeated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour mustache is ridiculous.\u201d\u00a0 Richard told the man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBehave, Richard.\u201d\u00a0 Mary took the bag holding the amulet, handing it to the old woman.\u00a0 \u201cI won\u2019t need this after all, grandmother.\u00a0 We took a different path.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The old woman nodded her head.\u00a0 \u201cI see that.\u00a0 Yes, I see it.\u00a0 It will be difficult but what can\u2019t two such as yourselves handle?\u00a0 If our paths cross again, I hope you\u2019ll look kindly on this old woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall.\u00a0 Goodbye, Tsura.\u00a0 Thank you for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEh.\u00a0 It was nothing.\u00a0 Be safe.\u00a0 Be happy.\u00a0 Have a little of fat, happy babies.\u00a0 Name one of the girls after me and she\u2019ll be lucky.\u201d\u00a0 The old woman smiled and turned away, tugging her grandson after here.\u00a0 \u201cCome, fool.\u00a0 We\u2019re shaving your mustache.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard and Mary left the camp arm-in-arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Only a few travelers met them on the road back to town.\u00a0 They took their time, delighting in each other’s company and the scenery around them.\u00a0 Only when they reached Mary’s family estate did they pause to look at each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I…”\u00a0 Richard began.\u00a0 He found he couldn’t finish the sentence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary rubbed his arm.\u00a0 “There will be time, Richard.\u00a0 Let us greet mine uncle.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They found her uncle deep in the woods surrounding the estate.\u00a0 Both of them could smell him soon after entering the gates of the estate – a harsh, sour smell.\u00a0 He was wearing a simple robe of Indian design and seemed not the least surprised to see both of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ranjit stood behind William, holding a leash to which his serving girl was attached.\u00a0 The strange man held Richard’s gaze for he was no man at all.\u00a0 Ranjit had the shape of a man but the face of a tiger – short orange, black and white fur lining his face.\u00a0 Long white whiskers dotted the creature’s cheeks and deep green eyes regarded both him and Mary.\u00a0 Ranjit’s left hand was low to his side, holding the leash while his other held the lapel of his frock coat.\u00a0 His hands were fur lined with sharp, pointed fingernails.\u00a0 The woman stood behind Ranjit wearing the same silk garment from the day before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The skin of a man indeed.”\u00a0 Richard said, aloud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No man.”\u00a0 William said.\u00a0 “A Rakshasa and important to my plans.\u00a0 Where I may terrify men into obeying me, Ranjit has talents of a different sort.\u00a0 Mary, come here to my side and I will forgive your ways.\u00a0 I cannot imagine what held you back in killing this man – perhaps he ran when wounded and you were distracted by other prey or…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, uncle.\u00a0 Never once when the beast had me did I consider doing harm to him.\u00a0 This is the man I love.\u00a0 I will marry him.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Marry… Are you mad?\u00a0 The beast took you and you let him live?\u00a0 Are you flawed in some way?\u00a0 Did the gift passed on to me flounder within you?”\u00a0 Spit flung from William’s mouth as his jaw elongated.\u00a0 “Did I squander it on you?!”\u00a0 He bent over double, bones cracking and moving beneath his skin.\u00a0 “RARRRGH!”\u00a0 Fur grew in a wave from his head to his legs as muscles bulged.\u00a0 “The beast take you both!\u00a0 I will fuck her while you watch, Richard!\u00a0 And then I will kill you both!\u00a0 I take no man’s seconds!\u00a0 RANJIT!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Indian opened his mouth, hissing.\u00a0 Half of his tongue was missing.\u00a0 He clapped his hands together and when he pulled them apart, a sphere of fire hovered between them.\u00a0 He threw the ball left-handed toward Richard and it shrieked through the air leaving a line of smoke behind.\u00a0 Richard yelled, ducking out of the way.\u00a0 The ball hit a tree behind him, tearing a large chunk of it away before igniting the whole tree in flames.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seeing the miss, Ranjit tugged the leash holding his woman and hissed a command.\u00a0 She dropped to hands and knees, yowling at Mary and Richard.\u00a0 Short orange, black and white fur dotted her pale skin.\u00a0 She leaped at Richard, arms and legs propelling her along the ground at an enormous speed.\u00a0 As she ran, her tail grew, thick as her own arm to trail behind her.\u00a0 Richard felt the now familiar itch as his own body began its change.\u00a0 Too slow.<\/i>\u00a0 He thought.\u00a0 Far too slow.<\/i>\u00a0 The other woman’s breasts bounced up and down freely, tearing the thin fabric as they grew.\u00a0 Her large pink nipples were soon covered by orange fur.\u00a0 She leaped, arms out and teeth bared in her short muzzle.\u00a0 The studded collar around the woman’s neck vanished beneath a tuft of fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the woman was inches away from him, Mary slammed into her and they both tumbled to the side, yowling and growling.\u00a0 Richard howled when his own transformation finished.\u00a0 Another ball of fire streaked past, tearing a piece of his left ear.\u00a0 He snarled and charged the creature in front of him.\u00a0 Ranjit had two fingers to his mouth, whispering in some queer tongue when Richard slammed into his chest, knocking him over.\u00a0 Whatever spell was on his lips was lost in the interruption as Ranjit held his hands in front of his face in an ineffectual attempt to ward off attack.\u00a0 Richard swiped at the creature, only to be pushed off at the last possible moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William had him in his monstrous grip.\u00a0 William’s beast was a huge black creature with red and gold eyes.\u00a0 There was no humanity left in the gaze, only madness and death.\u00a0 Richard pushed away, barely breaking free of William’s grasp and slamming into the trunk of a large tree.\u00a0 Richard kicked off, the claws on his hands digging into the packed earth, chunks of the dirt flying behind him as he ran on all fours.\u00a0 William met him with force and they wrestled, snapping at each other’s necks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Behind him, Mary was trying to hold the other woman down but the tigress was lithe, fast and familiar with her own body.\u00a0 The lady tiger was a blur of claws and teeth and, soon, Mary was bleeding from her stomach, arms and legs.\u00a0 Her body was growing heavy with every wound.\u00a0 When Mary finally got an arm around the woman’s neck she bit the woman’s furry ear off, resulting in a feral scream of pain.\u00a0 Seizing the opportunity, Mary bashed the woman’s face against the ground, over and over.\u00a0 At the fifth time, the woman, eye dangling from its socket, twisted, flinging Mary away with her powerful legs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary’s tail whipped around her, guiding her flight as well as it could.\u00a0 She slammed into a large oak tree.\u00a0 Leaves fell around her as she jumped to the ground.\u00a0 Her large breasts annoyed her as she ran, first on her legs and then on all fours.\u00a0 The tigress was trying to insert herself into the fight between William and Richard but couldn’t find an opening.\u00a0 Mid-stride, Mary grabbed the trailing leash and yanked.\u00a0 The woman’s hands grabbed at her throat, short black claws trying to dig into the now overly tight collar.\u00a0 Before she could get a grip, she was airborne.\u00a0 Now she held her hands out to land on all fours, her own long tail lashing out up and behind her.\u00a0 Before she landed, Mary yanked again, pulling the woman to her.\u00a0 The tigress spun, her tail wrapping around her thick leg as she was dragged along the ground.\u00a0 Mary dropped on her at the last moment, pulling back the woman’s muzzle.\u00a0 As fast as she could, she wrapped the leash around the woman’s neck, tightening as she did.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The woman’s claws scratched at Mary’s arms and face but soon she was trying to cut through the chain around her neck.\u00a0 Mary’s bicep muscles bulged as she pulled.\u00a0 She pushed herself back, sliding fur against fur along the other woman.\u00a0 She shoved her foot against the woman’s shoulder blades and pulled even harder, grunting with effort.\u00a0 The large muscles of the other woman’s back strained in protest as her body bent backwards.\u00a0 Suddenly, she heard a loud cracking sound and the other woman’s lower body stopped moving.\u00a0 Mary howled in delight and turned the tigress over.\u00a0 The woman’s one good eye was rolled back while her long pink tongue lolled to the side.\u00a0 Mary dug her hands into the orange and black fur between the other woman’s breasts and pulled, cracking open the woman’s ribcage with a fountain of blood.\u00a0 She tore the woman’s beating heart out of her chest.\u00a0 A part of her demanded her to eat it but, in her mind, the woman was still human.\u00a0 She tossed the heart aside and turned to Richard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard was doing less well against his adversary.\u00a0 William had Richard pinned to the ground with Richard’s arm up behind his back.\u00a0 Mary snarled, launching herself against her uncle.\u00a0 He somehow anticipated her attack and rolled away at the last instant.\u00a0 Richard immediately sat up on knees, panting with the exertion.\u00a0 Three of his teeth were missing but he could feel an itching in his gums that he hoped were new ones growing in.\u00a0 Mary crouched beside him, butting his head with her own.\u00a0 A low growl started in the back of Richard’s throat before being picked up by Mary.\u00a0 He pushed forward to his hands and feet, tail erect behind him.\u00a0 They ran, together.\u00a0 William howled loud and long when they crashed into him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

William’s massive paw crashed down into Mary’s shoulder, crushing through bone and muscle, nearly separating her arm from the shoulder.\u00a0 Mary howled in pain, her good hand clawing curiously in front of her.\u00a0 Richard latched onto William’s other arm and he did bite through.\u00a0 Blood and fur flooded his mouth in a torrent.\u00a0 Richard spat the piece of forearm to the side and then jerked back, narrowly avoiding a swipe to the muzzle by William’s other arm.\u00a0 Mary was still scrabbling when her paw found William’s manhood.\u00a0 Something like a grin pulled the lips of her muzzle back and she yanked, tearing William’s thick member away from his body.\u00a0 William’s scream was inhuman.\u00a0 He twisted, throwing Richard and Mary away before collapsing in front of them.\u00a0 He was mewling while kicking his legs over and over in the dark earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard pounced, slamming the breath out of William.\u00a0 Richard’s muzzle worked furiously at William’s neck, tearing and biting through tendons, muscles and veins.\u00a0 Blood spurted in time to William’s heartbeat.\u00a0 His kicking slowed.\u00a0 Still, Richard bit and tore until William’s throat was a red ruin.\u00a0 The beast kicked once, twice and then lay still.\u00a0 Richard looked to Mary and found her tapping the claw of her index finger against her breast.\u00a0 Richard finally understood.\u00a0 He bent over William, digging expertly to extract his heart.\u00a0 He pulled and it came away easily.\u00a0 Like Mary, he threw the heart aside rather than devour it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Mary and Richard were covered in dark brown blood.\u00a0 Mary’s long tongue made a slow circuit of her muzzle, clearing away blood, dirt and pieces of flesh.\u00a0 He went to her but then stopped.\u00a0 Ranjit!<\/i> He remembered suddenly.\u00a0 He whirled but the creature was gone.\u00a0 Where Richard had tangled with him lay a dusty, rotted hand.\u00a0 I got him after all.<\/i>\u00a0 He knew he could follow him if he had to but he risked exposing himself to the townsfolk – a risk neither of them was willing to take.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Instead, they collapsed together, simply happy to be alive.\u00a0 Their change back took a long time but it finally did.\u00a0 They buried the bodies of the unnamed woman and her uncle – both still locked in their half animal forms.\u00a0 Ranjit’s hand turned to ash when they tried to move it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sun hung fat and red on the horizon.\u00a0 They bathed together inside, making love slowly in the hot water and again on the bed when they were finished.\u00a0 Every time felt different – every position wondrous.\u00a0 He could barely remember why he had bothered waiting; it felt natural to physically share their love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By nightfall they finally rested.\u00a0 Mary\u2019s head rested on Richard\u2019s shoulder while she made little circles in his chest hair with her fingers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where will we go, Richard?\u00a0 I can’t stay here.\u00a0 Not any more. \u00a0The town feels too small now.\u00a0 I want to stretch my legs and see the world.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Richard considered for a moment.\u00a0 “To India.\u00a0 Or wherever that creature is headed.\u00a0 I feel as if the world is new to me, Mary.\u00a0 Creatures like Ranjit and the woman, ourselves – what else is there?\u00a0 I want to see it.\u00a0 He will show us.\u00a0 We will track him and learn about this strange new world.\u00a0 I have enough money saved to fund our journey until the asylum and cottage are sold and I can offer my services as a traveling surgeon with you as my nurse.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He kissed her forehead gently.\u00a0 “Miss Havers, if you would do me the honor of accompanying me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mary grinned at Richard – a toothy, impish grin.\u00a0 “No, Richard.\u00a0 But Mrs. Miller would follow you anywhere.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

EPILOGUE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

October 13, 1835<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Dearest Father,<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I am writing to you from the HMS Vindictive.\u00a0 I\u2019ve signed on temporarily as the ship\u2019s surgeon (secondary) while on route to India where I will make my own way.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I have unexpected news!\u00a0 Mary Havers and I were happily married this past night by the ship\u2019s captain.\u00a0 She is accompanying me to India while acting as my nurse.\u00a0 I have shown her a few things useful for the trade and she is a quick study.\u00a0 I love her dearly and I know that, in time, you would love her as your own daughter.\u00a0 Perhaps one day we will visit \u2013 if our journey takes us that way.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I pray this letter finds it way to you via our mutual friend.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you received my message earlier and, if so, please pay it no mind.\u00a0 Mary\u2019s uncle has decided to find his fortune in other lands far away from here and will no longer be a threat.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I have learned quite a lot since we were together last and I expect I shall learn even more before we meet again.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Your Loving Son,<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Richard Miller\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CHAPTER 1   Richard sat on a marble bench inside the courtyard.\u00a0 A warm breeze ruffled the small trees surrounding him.\u00a0 He sat, back straight with his hat sitting on his knee.\u00a0 A dark walking stick leaned against his leg Continue reading The She-Wolf<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,71],"tags":[22,20,43,11,50,74,8,30,15,19,46,38,12,10,7,9,73,23,72,5,6],"class_list":["post-71","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-story","category-the-she-wolf","tag-blood","tag-cum","tag-erotic","tag-erotica","tag-furry","tag-historical","tag-mf","tag-mental-changes","tag-nsfw","tag-pack","tag-pain","tag-romance","tag-romantic","tag-sex","tag-she-wolf","tag-transformation","tag-victorian","tag-violence","tag-were-leopard","tag-werewolf","tag-werewolves"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42NMN-19","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=71"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71\/revisions\/73"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=71"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=71"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hidden-shelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=71"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}