Tigers Rival Chapter 8
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay life got in the way. Hope you like this chapter I'm not so sure about it but it will answer some of your questions. Enjoy!
Tiger ran faster than he could ever remember running as her scent became stronger. He knew he had to hurry if he was to save her from his brother. He was not so naive to think that just because they were bonded by blood that his brother would not hurt Tessa. Grey Wolf was no longer the strong willed pup that used to protect and teach him. He was now under Moo's control and that meant that he could do anything and not feel a twinge of remorse. Not to mention Grey's innate hatred of humans, it would be only a matter of time before he grew tired of using Tessa as bait and instead made her supper.
As he came closer to the secluded canyon that had been cut by a river dried up hundreds of years earlier he remembered how that dry patch of land had once been his home, back when his brother still had his soul. It had been the hideout of the famed wolf-monster pack that had once had scores of humans and demons alike shuddering at there howls. Back then the pack had been a haven for all monsters who had felt rejected by humans. Led by him and his brother he had felt for the first time as though he were part of something bigger than himself. The only other time he ever felt those feelings was after he joined up with Genki and Holly. He growled dangerously as he thought again how Moo had destroyed that peace in one fell swoop, and now it seemed as though someone else he cared for would be sacrificed to the never ending greed of that true monster. A fire broke out into Tigers' eyes and as he jumped the last few yards to the canyon he let out a ear piercing howl filled with his anger and a warning to those he was about to meet. He would not let another he cared for meet the same fate as his brother, he would fight Moo and the even the dark imposter that claimed to be his flesh and blood if he had too, Tessa would be saved.
Tessa almost gasped in relief when Tiger landed in front of her and Grey Wolf with an almost inaudible thump. She wanted to run to him throw her arms around his neck and press her face into his fur but as she felt the tension grow thicker in the air she knew that would have to wait. Beside her she felt Grey Wolf move forward so that he was only a few feet from Tiger.
"Well little brother it seems as though not all of your memories have disappeared, what do you think of the old hideout, it hasn't changed too much from the old days a few more weeds perhaps…
"What do you want Grey," Tiger angrily interrupted, "I know you didn't lure me all the way out here just to talk about 'old times'."
Grey Wolf seemed to smile almost as if he were laughing at some joke only he had heard.
"Well dear brother I invited you here because it is nearly time for this dammed curse of ours to be broken." It was at this strange statement that both Tessa and Tiger looked at each other in confusion. What curse? Was this just another of Moo's tricks? Grey's laughter broke them from their thoughts and both turned back to the massive wolf-monster.
"I know you both are wondering what I am talking about, but that's quite okay really for you see I was the only one cursed to remember what happened and how it would all repeat again once I reached my 21st year in this body, that way I would be tortured even more at seeing your insipid little love story once again reach fruition."
Turing his head toward Tessa he pressed his black wet nose into her hair smelling her true scent beyond the smells of her soap and companions, the scent that had haunted him for ages and that had been denied him for so long. He chuckled slightly when he heard his brother growl possessively and jealously at the gesture. Even with his memory wiped clean he still claimed her as his own. Turing back toward his brother he smiled as he saw the full moon was almost completely out from the clouds. Only a few more moments and he would be through with this cursed body forever, not that it didn't have its advantages, he just couldn't wait to walk on two legs after so many years on four.
"And yet dear brother it is that memory that will be my greatest advantage in rewriting history to be as it should have always been," Grey Wolf's face became an angry grimace as he looked between the two lovers before him. "I could never understand why her father chose you; you were only a knight after all while I was a true noble with blood ties to the King himself! Yet I have to think it was his advancing years and the sickness that had plagued him for months that made him prone to bad decisions, I mean why else would he have betrothed his only daughter the princess Tessa to a commoner and not to noble blood?"
As Grey Wolf spouted his confusing and oftentimes insane speech what he said seemed to irritate Tessa. The words seemed so familiar and it frustrated her to no end that she could not remember why they seemed to call to her. It wasn't until he said the name Princess Tessa that the memory of the strange dreams from the last couple of nights came to her. Could there be a connection, I mean how else could Grey Wolf know so many details of things she had told no one. Wait a minute, Grey Wolf, wasn't there a nobleman by that name in her last dream? Yes Lord Grey Wolf the creepy cousin who made Princess Tessa's skin crawl. But it couldn't be, I mean that Grey Wolf was a human this one was a monster it must just be a coincidence. Seeing the connection come together in her eyes Grey Wolf smiled wider showing off his sharp canines.
"I see you are remembering my dear Princess, if I am guessing correctly you have been having dreams lately, which means I have timed this perfectly since my dear brother here is not supposed to remember until after," As he talked the full moon came fully out from the clouds that had been shielding it bathing them all in an eerie pale silver glow. It was then that Grey Wolf bowed in front of her he himself seeming to glow brighter than the others around them.
"Let me reintroduce myself I am Lord Grey Wolf cousin to the King and Duke of Hampshire."
As he finished speaking the glow had become so bright that Tessa had to shield her eyes from the awesome brilliance of it. This only lasted for a few seconds but when she could again open her eyes and look around what greeted her was something she could not believe. Where Grey Wolf the monster once stood was now a man tall and broad shouldered with long grey hair that hung to his shoulders in waves. His cold gold eyes showed no emotion even as a cruel smile marred what would have been a beautiful face. He stretched his arms and looked at his hands as though he had not seen them in quite a while. Yet it wasn't the disappearance of the great grey wolf that caused Tessa's legs to almost crumple beneath her it was the sight before her.; for there stood the Tiger of her dreams. He was six feet tall of muscle dressed up in knights leathers his long blue hair hanging to his middle back with that tell tale white steak still there. It wasn't until he looked at her with those same chocolate brown eyes that she knew for sure. Tiger of the Wind the famous wolf-monster outlaw was now a full fledged human. Not only that he looked exactly like the knight from her dreams right down to the sword with the ruby in its handle hanging from his waist. What the hell was going on and more importantly why was she suddenly thanking God that it had happened?