Christian's P.O.V.-

It was full-on night-time dark by the time we reached the Dollars' hideout. It was shockingly unconcealed in the middle of the city centre. "There's not much Lincoln's trying to hide from," Hidoku explained to Paul and I. While the situation was dire, from the moment we stepped foot onto the grounds, I could already smell traces of Anastasia's pink scent. She's here! My heart flared up in pure delight. She's really here; so Eric did take her after all… What's more, I'm certain that I couldn't detect her blood- her blood and skin smell different. Both still perfect but I could tell the distinction.

That's when it also hit me like a speeding train. There are bastards in here that have touched Anastasia- my Anastasia. My eyes instinctively sharpened while I bared my teeth in a growl. I swear, if even one of those creeps laid a hand on a single hair, I'll….. My rage train of thought broke at the sensation of Hidoku giving my back a hard smack. "Snap out of it, boy! You need to stay focused; save that aggression for Eric," he scolded. We were currently crutching down to hide behind the cement staircase leading up to the front, steel doors.

All of us ducked and peered over the ledge at the sound of the door suddenly opening. Out stepped a white tiger in a suit; he shut the door behind him. It sounded heavy. "Ok, here's what we're gonna do," Hidoku began to instruct us. That didn't last too long however, once I smelt Anastasia's scent on the man. Hidoku and Paul watched with alarmed expressions as my body took over. All fear for myself and them went out the window. I stood straight up and marched out from behind the steps to block this monster from going any further. The white tiger- hereby known as WT- blinked at me in genuine surprise.

"Wha-…..?" "Where is she? What did you do to her?" Despite the fact that I was seeing red right now, my voice was shocking low and calm. But WT wasn't fooled; he knew that I was brimming with fury. "Who? The lamb?" "Where is she?" I repeated in a very, very threatening tone. It took him a second for his lifeless eyes to grow in comprehension. "Oh, I see. You've come then to save her, have you? You? A wolf of all things? How very strange." Strange…. He's calling our relationship "strange". I'll kill him; I kill him. He had the audacity to chuckled softly. "I'm sorry to tell you but you're a little too late. If you want to meet her, I'll have to barf her up for you."

My hands curled into fists so tight, my palms were bleeding again. He's lying… I know he's lying to me. I can't smell her blood anywhere on him. And yet, my body was starting to convulse on its own accord. My jaw clenched so hard; I thought some teeth were going to break. All of this was only made worse by his continuing to taunt me. "I'll gladly let you see her again, if she hasn't already digested in my stomach, that is." My blood's beginning to boil; it feels like my whole body's on fire. You could actually hear my arms and back shift as my muscles expanded. I'm sure this was an agonizing process, but I didn't feel a thing. All I felt was heat; heat emanating from the most basic, unadulterated form of wrath. This is more powerful than any drugs could ever be.

This- this right here- was the protective instinct at its finest.

I truly felt all my humanity leave me as I lunged forward, grabbing hold of his throat. WT seemed surprised, not just by my sudden outburst but by physical strength. I clasped his throat, digging my bloody fingers deep into his skin. I was able to use my other hand and feet to knock him down back first onto the concrete. There I kept him pinned down, continuing to strangle him with only one hand. WT was soon desperately gasping for air.

"Tell me the truth! She's not dead; I can't smell any of her blood on you! Where is she?! Tell me where she is or so help me god, I will kill you!" My hand tightened its grip to prove my threat was real. "N-no! S-stop! I-I can't breathe…." He struggled to utter. "I know it! I know what her blood smells like! Her blood's not on you! That means she's still alive!" "P-please…." His gasping became lighter. I bared my teeth more as I lifted him up a little by the throat alone. I'll admit I was very quickly losing control of myself; that dreaded beast-mode I'd repressed all my life was rearing its ugly head. I could feel it rise up from the deep, dark depths where I kept it hidden all this time.

"I-I don't…. I don't know i-if she's s-still alive. I-I can't…" He was really starting to fight back now, and by that I mean grasp my arm with both his hands. It was no competition really; he was already dead if I wanted him dead. "Where is she?!" I gave him a hard shake. "I-I…!" "Tell me!" "E-Eric…. S-she's Eric's now," his voice was really, really quiet now. Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. Very, very wrong. "Shut up!" I wasn't quite aware of what I was even saying now- I was seconds away from giving into my beast-mode. I just kept shaking the man violently, as if I wanted to make him pay for what he said. My eyes glowed red as my jaw stayed clenched. I don't remember the next three seconds because I was completely overcome by my apex predator nature for the second time in my life. I had officially entered beast-mode. "Anastasia belongs to me!" My mouth opened wide as I prepared myself to give the fatal bite to his neck.

"Anastasia is my prey!"

The moment these words fell from my lips, it's like the world transitioned to black and white. Those were the only colours I could see momentarily. It was akin to being tossed into an ice-cold tub of water while being asleep; it honestly shocked my senses. And all I could do was stand there petrified with my mouth still open and resting mere inches away from WT's neck.

"Christian!"

W-what did I just say? I…. I called Anastasia my "prey"; not my "mate". My "prey". I said it while in beast-mode. I said she was my prey and…. a voice called me back; someone allowed my consciousness the chance to push away my inner demon. It took me a moment to realize that the voice was Hidoku's; he called out my name right after I declared that Anastasia is my prey, and… and I almost killed this man.

I peeked over my shoulder see Paul and Hidoku now standing at the bottom of the staircase. However, this was enough time for WT to slug me right in the left cheek. Seeing as I wasn't expecting this, I fell backwards, releasing his neck in the process. "Damn brat, I'll kill you!" He went to get another swing in. "Christian!" Paul rushed to my aid, tackling the guy down again and consequently separating us. Hidoku gave me a severe and solemn glare before going to help Paul with WT, who was putting up a considerable fight considering that I almost strangled him to death.

Paul didn't have to hit him more than three times before WT was out cold. They left his body on the steps, turning to face him after the fact. While Paul looked horrified, Hidoku kept glaring at me with disappointment. But it wasn't him I was afraid of offending just then….. My eyes lowered a bit before glancing over to Paul sadly. "Paul, I…"

"Didn't I tell you imprinting on her would be a mistake? I know you have no control over it, but it looks like you have a ways to go with controlling your beast-mode too. Don't forget, Christian Grey: Anastasia is your mate, not your dinner. I told you before that carnivores have loved herbivores so much that they've eaten them alive. If you don't want to end up like they did, you better learn to deal with that unquenchable thirst of yours."

I glanced downwards after Hidoku's lecture was over. He's right. I just have to accept that a part of me will always crave Anastasia's flesh; I am a wolf, after all. But…. But I love her. I have to be ok with loving her, while also desperately wanted to eat her. How sick and twisted is that? Maybe imprinting on her was the worst thing to ever happen to me…. Anastasia's face flashed speedily through my mind and my lips parted a sliver. Despite how unspeakable happy she makes me.

"I'm sorry; I know you're right, Hidoku. I'll never bare my claws at…." "Idiot! Why didn't you bite him?" Both me and Paul blinked at him shocked and dumbfounded. W-wait, I thought he just told me to control my beast-mode? So then why…..? He went on. "That's the only way wolves like you can beat these battle-hardened bastards. Paul and I can use our fists, but you're an apex predator. It's time you started fighting like one." "But you just said he should learn to stop his beast-mode," it was like Paul was reading my mind. "I said he needs to learn to control it- not to never use it. On the contrary, a carnivore's beast-mode can be useful, provided they use it for amiable purposes." "So….. you're saying I should fight like a wolf, then? A real wolf?"

Hidoku's eyes locked onto mine; they were stern and serious. "You are a real wolf, just like how he's a real rhino and I'm a real panda. You have a jaw- use it. And turn the focus of your beast-mode from wanting to devour your mate to protecting her. You may not eat her, but you can make sure no one will either. It's time you grow up and embrace who you are, boy. In other words, I want you to rip them open. Aim for the neck; bite them in the neck." And all I could do was stare at him in awe and understanding. His gaze sharpened in the edges.

"Yours is a love born from a hunting instinct. You imprinted on her- it already done. Knowing that, don't you want to change the outcome of your actions going forward? In that case, don't hide your beast-mode anymore from yourself or her; give it to her instead. Give it to Anastasia and let it protect her.

I'm sure she'll gladly take it."