Author's Note: This story takes place after the third season of "Beauty and the Beast". Young Jacob is about 20 months old. I have not actually seen the second or third season yet, so I apologize if any of my information is outdated. I've had this story rattling around in my head for a bit and decided to get it down on paper ... or in Word. This is a love story between Vincent (a character in "Beauty and the Beast" that I do not own!) and Katrina, my own character. Please let me know what you think. This will probably be a very long story.

Full Moon Lust

September 1991

She ran. She ran faster than she'd run her entire life. She ran like a hunted animal.

Which, she guessed, she was.

Everything in her wanted to Change, to shift shape and become the animal they hunted. Then, at least, she'd have a chance.

"Keep on her, men! We can't let her get away!"

And to think she'd once believed that the cops in New York City didn't care about anyone but themselves.

Her feet were shoeless, her clothing dirty and tattered. Twigs and leaves stuck out of her long, golden hair. To the common person, she looked like a homeless woman, too old to be a street urchin but much too young to be one of those bird-ladies sitting on a bench in the park.

At the age of 24, she also felt like she was too young to be running for her life through Central Park. She was sweating buckets and her breathing was labored, but she was outrunning the cops.

Unfortunately, a shot rang out and the tree she just passed splintered and cracked, reminding the girl not to get cocky; she couldn't outrun bullets.

The trees parted and gave way to a clearing. She hated to lose the cover of the branches, but she sighed in relief when she saw what she'd been searching for: the large drainage tunnel.

The police reached the clearing moments later and more shots rang out. A bullet grazed her right arm and she cried out in pain. She held her injured arm, trying to staunch the flow of blood, and made her way into the storm drain.

A little ways into the tunnel, she came to an intersection of sorts. There was another tunnel she could travel down that would exit back into the park and there was what looked to be a blocked off tunnel. Only, the blocked tunnel had a locked gate in front of it. Why would a tunnel that doesn't go anywhere need to be gated?

She pulled on the gate, wincing as pain shot through her arm, and was mildly surprised to see it swing open. It wasn't locked after all. She closed the gate behind her and stopped. She was fairly certain that this was the entrance, but how would she move solid rock?

Her eyes scanned the small area she stood in, searching for a loose rock or a button of some sort. The police were drawing nearer. None of the cops had been able to bring their K9 backups because, ironically, the dogs were all afraid of her.

Hell, she was afraid of herself.

It was then that she found it: a small, almost invisible button of sorts. She pressed it and almost cheered for joy when the rock wall slid to the side. She darted quickly through the opening and saw another button on the other side. Pushing it, the door proceeded to return to its place of rest.

When the rock was back in place, she leaned her ear against it, straining to hear the voices of the police. Hoping against all hope that none of them had seen her disappear into the tunnel.

"Hey, where'd she go?" one voice yelled.

"She was just here a second ago," a second voice stated.

A more authoritative voice boomed. "Split up. You three go down that way. You two double back. Richards and I will search the area. We'll find her."

Her jaw dropped. She had had seven cops on her tail and she'd only been shot once? Wincing, she realized that once had been more than enough. Blood still flowed freely from the wound and, as the adrenaline in her body started to wear off, she began to feel dizzy. She ripped off the bottom of her shirt and used it to bandage her arm. It would have to work for a little bit. Her stomach was now bare but she didn't care.

She turned from the rock door and faced the tunnel. The dirt floor beneath her feet was soft and, somehow, soothing. She could see footprints all over the floor. There was a sort of metallic tapping sound resonating off of the walls. It sounded like Morse Code, but it wouldn't have mattered if it was or not because she didn't know Morse Code anyway.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply through her nose, sifting through all the different smells. Rock and dirt. Candles and smoke. Human body odor and … there it was … the musk of a feline. Her hormones sped up and her heart pounded as she reveled in the scent. She opened her eyes and followed the trail.

She had gone down two tunnels and had turned into the third when she almost ran into a boy. Boy was the wrong word, though, as her hormones recognized the pheromones of a young man. Warmth spread through her entire body and it took more effort than she thought she possessed not pounce on the boy and take him right then and there.

"You're the stranger," he said. She could sense his fear, but also recognized the underlying note of courage. He wasn't going to let her go any farther.

"I'm looking for someone." Her voice came out shaky and weak. Whether it was due to her wound or her hormones, she didn't know, but breathing was becoming more difficult.

"How did you get down here?"

He was probably waiting for backup, stalling for time by talking to her. Well, time was not a luxury she could afford right now.

She moved to get by him. "None of your business."

"Mouse knows all business." He moved into her way again.

Mouse? He had to be joking. Well, she was a cat … and cats like to play with their prey.

"Mouse, huh?" she stepped closer to him and he took a step back. "Get out of my way, little mouse."

His fear increased, but so did his courage and Mouse stood his ground. The cat in her wanted him, his body or his blood. Either way, it was the cat that lunged at the mouse.

They thrashed on the floor, a tangle of arms and legs. Pushing and shoving, sometimes clawing, the two wrestled on the ground. Pain moved through her body as her arm throbbed, a constant ache that she was beginning to think had always been there.

"Enough!"

The roar echoed through the tunnel as she and Mouse were ripped away from each other. She didn't need to see who held her by the back of her shirt; she could smell him. And her hormones jumped for joy at his nearness.

"Vincent," she breathed, her voice a husky whisper full of desire.

Vincent had put Mouse down before her. She wondered if he recognized her yet.

As if in answer, Vincent put her down. His blue eyes searched hers and his breathing became shallow. She wondered if the pheromones she was putting off were really that strong.

"Katrina?" His voice was a soothing rumble; she had forgotten how heavenly it sounded. Her body flushed and it felt as if any minute now her heart would explode out of her chest. She could barely nod.

"I thought you were supposed to leave the city," Vincent said. "That was our agreement."

"I know, Vincent," Katrina replied, licking her lips. It wasn't meant to be a suggestive gesture, but she noticed that his eyes followed her tongue and his breathing hitched. "But, Vincent, you've got to help me. I just can't bring myself to … do it with any other guy. I feel so … cheap."

Katrina didn't know what she expected. It was supposed to have only been a one time thing. Now, here she was, a month later, begging for round two.

Vincent closed his eyes a moment, and then opened them. "The urges are stronger this month." Somehow, she didn't think it was a question but she nodded anyway. Katrina wasn't sure if she could trust her voice right now.

Although, it wasn't her voice, but her legs that couldn't be trusted. She wobbled a bit, grateful when Vincent's steadying hand rested under her elbow.

"You're wounded," he said.

"Cops got a shot off." Katrina could feel the darkness closing in. Her hormones were starting to quiet down, probably due to the fact that she would be unconscious shortly.

Katrina could feel Vincent's concern as he gathered her into his arms, but there was also puzzlement.

"How did you find this place?" he asked, making his way to the infirmary.

Dark spots clouded her vision and Katrina was barely able to answer his question before the darkness claimed her. "Just … followed … your scent."