The Beauty's Hidden Beast

The guy had the kind of build that made you notice. Every muscle under his tactical gear looked like it had been carved from stone, the result of years of hard training. He radiated confidence, the kind that made people step aside without him even asking.

His face had that dangerous, almost predatory look to it, the kind that made you want to stay out of his way. His features were sharp, his tousled white hair standing out against the dark aura he carried. It made him... harder to read, more intriguing.

Sensing my anxiety, Curtis moved before me, shielding me protectively, "Do you know who he is?" he asked, his expression grim.

"Yeah, that's Dickhead," I muttered, leaning back to relax. For a second, I'd thought he was here to drag me back to my father, but that didn't make sense. If he was planning on that, he wouldn't be standing here. I'd just vanish without a trace. So, that meant I had at least a few days of freedom left.

The "Dickhead" fixed me with a pointed look, and corrected me with an unmistakable hint of possessiveness, "It's 'fiancé', my precious. Try to keep up."

"Sounds the same to me. Both make me want to puke," I shot back, covering my mouth like I was about to throw up for extra drama.

Curtis glanced back at me, his eyes questioning, "Do you want me to kill him?"

Without hesitation, I responded, "Yes."

The jerk chuckled in response. "Did you get yourself a new pet, Yaya?" he taunted, effortlessly dodging Curtis's aggressive swipe.

"Curtis isn't my pet," I declared and stuck out my tongue to show off my spousal imprint in provocation, adding fuel to my words. "I've chosen him as my SOLE mate."

My declaration seemed to breathe life into Curtis, lending him a renewed burst of energy.

"I see." A dark gleam flashed in his beautiful blue eyes, eyes so piercing they seemed to deserve a dagger's touch. As he advanced towards me with deliberate steps, he effortlessly deflected Curtis's attacks without counterattacking.

Dickhead didn't need a weapon. His movements alone screamed combat expertise. Every dodge and parry seemed effortless, like he didn't even need to think about it ─ he just moved, like a second skin.

When Curtis unleashed his full power, the ground seemed to shake with it. His half-man, half-snake form made him fast and brutal, the kind that could crush anyone unlucky enough to face him.

But Dickhead? He danced around Curtis like it was a game. There was no panic in his movements, just a calm, controlled ease, as if he was barely even trying.

The fight shifted when Curtis, already on edge, let his serpent side take over completely. He grew, twisting into a massive serpent that nearly filled the clearing. His scales caught the dim light of the moon, gleaming with a dangerous, threatening glow. He was power, raw and untamed, his presence filling every corner of the space.

But even Curtis's full transformation didn't make a difference. The jerk weaved around him effortlessly, dodging every attack as if Curtis's size and strength were nothing more than an inconvenience. He moved like he wasn't even there, his steps so fluid and precise that they made Curtis's ferocity seem clumsy.

The jerk wasn't just dodging Curtis—he was toying with him. Curtis looked fierce, all muscle and power, but the guy made him seem like he was dragging dead weight. It was like brute force was no match for speed and strategy, and the jerk knew it.

I gritted my teeth, trying to push through the frustration, but as he closed the gap, I turned and bolted. I didn't get far. He was on me in a flash, catching me effortlessly and pulling me into his arms like he'd been waiting for this moment. It hit me then: he'd been holding back this whole time, waiting to make sure that when he moved, it would be game over for me.

His grip tightened around my neck, pulling me toward Curtis. I didn't need to look at Curtis to know what the warning was ─ any sudden move, and I'd be dead. The guy wasn't just threatening me with his hands; he was telling Curtis without saying a word: you're not fast enough to stop me.

He leaned in, pressing his body closer, and I felt him inhale deeply, like he was trying to take me in. There was a tremble in him, just barely noticeable, but enough to tell me that this wasn't just about control for him. It was something more. "Should I mark you like him? Make you mine, too?" he murmured, barely loud enough to hear, as if the idea had just occurred to him.

"Let her go!" Curtis hissed. His voice cracked with something that wasn't just anger ─ there was desperation there, too. He sounded like he couldn't breathe. His eyes? They were wild, like his worst nightmare was unfolding.

The fingers around my neck gently stroked my skin. His hold gradually tightened until it became unbearable, and I struggled to breathe. "I could take you right here, right now, in front of him. That way, he would have to watch as you submit to me, screaming my name."

"F.U.C.K. Y.O.U." I spat out each syllable, my voice dripping with contempt and defiance, every word a knife aimed straight at him. "I'll scream Curtis's name until my last breath."

Curtis's hiss was low and dangerous, his eyes burning with fury. His massive frame shifted, like a storm brewing, and I could feel his patience snapping.

The jerk just smiled, loosening his grip on my neck. The sudden release sent a dizzying rush of air to my lungs, and I coughed, gasping for breath. "Are you headed to that village, Precious?"

I nodded, knowing it didn't matter what I said. He had his own plans, regardless of my answers.

"Good. Why don't you take a little detour to the village for some fun while I have a chat with this Curtis of yours?" His tone was sickeningly calm. "Don't worry, Precious. I have no intention of killing your pet."

"And if I refuse?" I challenged, struggling against his iron hold. Physically overpowered, yes, but mentally? Not now.

He pressed his cheek against mine, the side of his lips touching the corners of my lips, a soft, gentle touch that seemed completely at odds with his current demeanor. "You'll do it regardless."

I shot a glance at Curtis as that dickhead let me go. "Don't believe a word he says," I warned. "If you do, it's a betrayal of our bond."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and sprinted toward the village, not bothering to look back.

╔═══ Author's note ════╗

A homicidal maniac, a groomer, who's next? A potential yandere, perhaps? 💀

The highly anticipated Muir will make an entrance next! Yay! 🎉

I used to scoff at the description of toxic dynamics in some books, but there are some gems that make you droll at the sexy bad boys. 🥲 From afar, of course. 😈 I hope YY won't disappoint as the MC too much, as she'll have a hand in shaping their 'growth/downgrade'. 💀

I had so much fun writing this chapter but YY is such an unreliable narrator. 😭 I want to get into Curtis's head and write down his POV too. 😭

I love fluff, so this novel will contain plenty of it too. 😌

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