Chapter 52

Beca's POV

Blood pours out of my stomach and I want to drop from the pain, but I know I can't. Already, I can feel the wound mending. It'll take longer if I keep pushing but what other choice do I have? I can't just give up because I think I'll die. I'd rather die fighting than die a quitter.

Gritting my teeth, I shove off of my knees and when a creature comes after me, I slice their throat. Creature after creature comes after me, but I push through. I have one goal in mind and that's the doctor.

A large creature jumps in front of me, it's face in the process of sliding off. It's eyes hang out of their sockets and it's mouth droops. Stunned, I take a blow to the head and stumble backward. Get focused, Beca.

Shaking my head, I lunge at it and rip it's head clean off. Satisfied, I start to go around it when the body comes after me.

"What the hell?" It's burned hands grab my throat and squeeze. Removing my hands from my wound, I grab it's wrist and twist it. It snaps and loosens its grip just enough for me to shove it backward and out of my way.

"I got this," Jesse says, coming up next to me. "You go get him." Nodding, I sprint toward the doctor who just grins.

"Well well, you made it past my soldiers."

"Yeah, and now I'm gonna put your ass into the ground."

"Oh yeah?" Dr. Fergus smiles. "Do you really think that after all these years perfecting the perfect weapon that I wouldn't have made something to protect myself?"

"What did you do?"

"Oh, just a little serum I cooked up. It'll probably kill me but at least it'll give me the chance to kill you first." With that, the doctor pulls out a syringe and plunges it into his neck. For a second, it seems like time stands still as nothing happens.

Then, his skin begins to ripple and dark golden fur sprouts up all over his body. His clothes split as his body forces itself into a new shape. His fingernails fly off as claws sprout out and he screams as his back snaps. With a guttural sound, he falls to his hands and knees, completing the transformation. What's left, isn't pretty.

His face looks like a demonic lion while the lower half molds into a scorpion. His tail swishes back and forth, making me focus on the stinger. Who knows what that can do?

"It worked," Fergus mutters, his voice sounding too full and deeper.

"What are you?" With a snarl, he focuses on me.

"After years of searching, I found the body of a manticore, the only one in existence and extracted it's DNA. With some testing, I found a way to transform a human into it. All it took was little doses of its DNA here and there to prepare for it. Couldn't just introduce that to my system. Who knows what that would've done to me?"

"What makes you think that this will help you fight me?"

"Because little girl, I'm bigger than you." He growls and starts toward me.

"We'll see about that." Taking a deep breath, I shift and let out a sigh of relief when it's almost painless. Now, it's me, a giant wolf, up against Dr. Fergus, a manticore.

We circle each other, sizing our opponent up. With each step, my claws sink into the ground and my heart seems to beat a million miles per second. Without any warning, I lunge toward him and we go at it. Claws slash skin, ripping it open like it's butter and making the ground turn red with blood. Teeth sink into fur, but neither of us can get a grip.

His tail swings at me, making me lose my focus on everything but that. He uses that to his advantage and his claws rip across my face. My snout suddenly burns and my left eye goes blurry. Growling, I back up and analyze the situation.

That tail looks deadly and if he gets me with it, I may be down for good. But if I focus too much on that, then he'll get me with his claws. Shit, I need help. I glance around, but through all the bloodshed and fighting, no one is available. I'll have to do this on my own.

When I turn back to the doctor, he's gone. Crouching, I turn in a slow circle, trying to find him. Suddenly, he lunges out of a tree and onto my back. We roll, claws slashing at each other. Even after we stop rolling, we continue to fight and I manage to get on top of him until his tail comes toward me. With my claws wrapped around his neck, I have nothing to stop it and the stinger sinks into my side.

Roaring, I scramble off, feeling as though my fur was lit on fire. My breath starts to come out in gasps as the toxin makes its way through my body. Little does the doctor know, my body was subjected to poisons way worse than this which helps me. I guess I have him to thank for my ability to battle the toxin as it pumps through my bloodstream.

"Don't hurt her," Dad suddenly yells, jumping in front of me.

"Too late," Fergus laughs. "Now it's your turn." He swings his claws, but my dad is able to dodge it. A sword appears in his hands and I vaguely recall the box of weapons him and Chicago brought. He lunges toward the doctor with it, but Fergus has the jump on him and shoves his claws into his gut. My dad stops and blood comes out of his mouth instead of words. I howl in pain as I know that my chance of making everything right with him is now gone.

My dad falls to the ground and Fergus turns to me. He sneers, his giant yellow teeth glistening with blood.

"Oops." With a roar, I attack Fergus but he swipes me to the side. My legs shake with effort as I attempt to get back up. The toxin still courses through my body, making me weak. Fergus starts toward me and stops when he stands over my trembling body.

"You were supposed to be my killing machine. All I ever wanted was to create something that wasn't a screw up for once. I was this close but even if you had listened and worked with me, it still wouldn't have been enough. I made the serum too powerful. If I wasn't about to kill you, you still wouldn't be able to live a normal life. Your powers would continue to grow, eventually making it hard to be around others. More and more, you would've become a wolf until eventually, you stopped thinking and started being one.

"So I have to kill you, you know? Put you out of your misery. Maybe after this, I'll start over. Let go of the past and just-" Fergus suddenly stops and a long whine releases from his throat. He glances behind him and sees my dad standing there with his sword, now covered in blood. Fergus's tail lays on the ground, detached from his body.

While he's distracted, I jump up and grab his throat. Without any hesitation, I rip his throat out and he falls to the ground. Not even a last sigh escapes his body. My dad falls to the ground and I walk over to him. I can't shift back, not without showing everyone my junk, so I remain a wolf and let every emotion I feel show in my eyes.

"Beca," Dad gasps and reaches a bloody hand toward my face. He gently traces my wounds until his strength gives out and his arm falls to the ground. I whine and push at his hand with my muzzle.

"I'm sorry. I...wish that I had...been there. For...everything." Dad gasps out the words. "I hope...you know how much...I love...you. Do...you think...you...could ever forgive...me?" I stare into his eyes, seeing the same fear and pain that I saw that night. Feeling everything that I felt that night. After everything he did, how can I forgive him? How do I let him know that I might not be able to forgive him, but I could look past it and start new?

"I...know," Dad sighs and sets his hand on my paw. "It's...okay. I understand. Just...take care...of… Chicago. He...needs you." I nod and he sighs. With that, my father is dead. Whimpering, I get up and head toward the battle, ready to join in. Jesse stops me.

"Beca, Theo just called. The building is about to go." Isn't that what we were supposed to do? I frown, hoping that Jesse gets my confusion. Thankfully, he does.

"Chloe is still in there." With that, I take off, not caring if anyone sees me.

Baby, get out of there!

I know, Becs. I'm trying. It's just- oh god. There's only a few seconds left. Beca, I love-