Author's Note: jenben: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. :)

Magic-Amethyst80: Thanks. :) Yeah, I decided that for during the scene where he shifts, I should keep it as true to the movie as possible. It always slightly bothers me as well when I read that he becomes a true wolf.

koolcatt: Thanks! And your wish has been granted. ;)

Chapter Two

"Go."

Virginia was frozen by shock. She wanted to run, but something glued her in place. Wolf loosed a long, mournful howl, straining against his restraints. His hands twisted around the sheets, clawing them madly. He snarled at the offending material…and then his eyes fell on Virginia. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. There was no recognition in his face, no evidence that he knew who he was staring at with those flashing red eyes. Only animal fury. Hunger.

He growled deep in his throat, and Virginia knew beyond shadow of a doubt that—at least for now—the man she'd come to know and love was gone. And the wolf was loose.

"Virginia!"

The woman, still unable to move, twisted her head toward the new voice. "Dad?!"

Tony raced into the room, King Wendell hot on his heels. "We heard something," her father blurted, running to her side. "It sounded like a howl—"

He saw Wolf. "Oh no. Not again."

"Quick!" Virginia shouted. "I need rope—chains, something!" Wolf snarled at these words, his fiery eyes defying anyone to dare restraining his arms. His fingers curled like claws and he began tearing at his bonds with new strength.

"Antony, the supply closet down the hall—get the rope that's stored in there!" Wendell ordered, walking cautiously to Virginia's side. "We have to keep him from getting loose!"

"Why me?! I need to protect my daughter in case this animal gets free!"

"If you value her or our lives you will go now—you're the one closest to the door!"

Tony's face was torn with indecision, but when Wolf suddenly ripped through the first of his bonds, the ex-janitor took off down the hall like a man half his age.

"Just…stay still, Virginia." Wendell said under his breath, reaching behind them and pulling the poker from its stand by the fireplace. "We don't want him to get anymore upset…" He slowly brought the poker in front of him and held it like a weapon.

Virginia's mouth fell open. "Just what do you plan on doing with that?!"

Wendell's brow creased. "I don't plan on having to use it for anything, but it's just a precaution—"

"You are not sticking a poker into my husband, even if he is acting irrational!"

"I think describing Wolf's temperament at the moment as 'irrational' may be the understatement of the year," the king muttered under his breath. But he nevertheless dropped the poker, though he kept it within his reach.

Tony burst back into the room. "I've got the rope!"

"Wonderful, now tie the man—wolf—man…whatever, tie his wrists up!"

"Me? I don't want to go near a crazy wolf—why not you?!"

Wendell gritted his teeth. "Antony, as your king I order you to bind Wolf."

Virginia let out a quiet breath. "Too late."

A horrendous tearing sound came from across the room, and with a howl Wolf pulled free. He leaped down from the bed and began to stalk towards them, a growl welling up from deep in his throat. Sweat seemed to drip from nearly every part of Wolf's body; his almost-black hair hung limp across his eyes.

"Tie me up, huh?" he said in a low voice, eyeing Tony. "Why don't you try?" He barked and mock-snapped at Tony, and the two human men took a quick step back.

"Virginia, come on," Tony whispered, edging towards the door. "We can get out of here and lock him in until it's over."

"Leaving so soon?" Eyes glowing inhumanely, Wolf suddenly leaped the short distance separating him from Virginia and pulled her back against his chest, holding his arm against her neck. "We were just getting started."

Tony suddenly stepped forward and picked up the fire poker, holding it in front of him as he started towards Wolf. The half-breed growled.

"What're you going to do? Stick it in me?"

Virginia felt an odd sense of deja'vu pass over her at these words, but quickly dismissed it and wrapped her hands around the arm being held across her throat. Wolf howled at Tony and lifted Virginia, retreating to a far corner of the room.

"Wolf, let me go." She managed to get out before he tightened his hold and cut off most of her air supply. "You don't—" she gasped. "You don't know what you're doing!"

"Oh, I know perfectly well what I'm doing, my little meat pie." He took a whiff of her scent. "And you smell good enough to—" He tensed suddenly and took another, longer sniff. His arm loosened around her neck as he whispered, "Oh cripes." He dropped his hold on her and, as she gasped for breath, his eyes widened in shock. "What was I doing—you're my mate!"

"Yes." She coughed, turning around to face him. "Yes, it's me!"

Wolf's eyes squeezed shut. "No no no, oh no…my mate, I attacked my mate—what came over me?!" He turned and pounded his fists against the window. "I'm bad, bad, bad…I thought I changed—but I can't control it, no, can't keep the wolf in!" He spun back around and gripped the front of Virginia's shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I'm so bad but I can't stop it, can't stop it!" He fell to his knees and let out a long howl. "Forgive me!"

And then a loud metallic clang reverberated throughout the room and Wolf fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Virginia's eyes lifted from her husband and to meet her father's, who was now holding a poker with a Wolf-head sized dent in it.

"He's going to be feeling that one in the morning," he muttered, tossing the poker across the room. "Wendell, help me get him to the post and tie him up."