The two split up, circling the outside edges, their growls echoing in the empty garage. I flexed my paws, bringing out my deadly claws. That was my advantage against the mangy beasts. They had teeth, but I had both teeth and claws and I tightened my muscles, getting ready to spring.
Damian raised the crowbar like a bat and turned his back toward me, covering me from that side. I focused on the beast closest to me and I don’t think either one of them was aware of who I was, so another advantage. They were here to kill Damian and right now, I stood in their way.
“Let’s do this,” Damian whispered and I launched, twisting in the air and landed on top of the mangy beast. My claws latched onto the dog’s torso and I bit down on the back of its neck, hoping for a quick kill. It reared up and his howl of pain filled the garage. I shifted my nails, tearing at the beast’s front chest. It tried to turn its head but my jaws prevented him from reaching me. I ripped until blood started shooting and the thing stumbled to the ground. I shook it with a growl and then released, focusing on the one circling Damian.
The crowbar swung and connected with the beast’s shoulder, but it got a piece of Damian’s thigh with its teeth. Not enough to latch on, but enough to rip through jeans and flesh, drawing blood. With a roar, I launched. I hit the beast full on, my teeth clamping down on the underside of its throat, ripping through flesh and arteries in one powerful chomp. As we rolled, I raked my claws down its abdomen, tearing strips of flesh out and then I was on my feet, ready for more, but both hellhounds were down and Damian stood with the crowbar, waiting for another attack.
It took him a moment, but he looked between the two downed dogs and me.
“Holy shit,” he muttered and took a step toward the door.
A flash darted from the door and I moved just as quickly, launching at the same moment the mutt launched at Damian. I caught it in the air and took it the same way I had the other one, quickly, efficiently and bloodily. I didn’t let go until the beast’s heart stopped and Damian spoke my name.
“Naomi,” he said and I released, turning my attention to him. The taste of demon blood filled my mouth and the smell of death hung on the air.
I glanced toward the door and stepped away from the dead hellhound toward Damian. My paws were soaked red and I’m sure my white coat was sufficiently stained as well. After two paces, my view altered and I looked down at bloody hands.
“I guess the danger has passed,” I said brining my gaze back to Damian’s wide eyes.
“How’d you know?’
“I didn’t. One minute I was watching the news stories and the next I was the tiger. I thought I just changed because I got angry at the thinly veiled accusations on the television. They’ve even brought in some ex-FBI expert and you’ll never guess where the hell he’s from.” I shifted, trying to make the pants I was wearing more comfortable, but I couldn’t. Before Damian could venture a guess, I said, “I need a shower.” and headed toward the hatchway.
Damian didn’t follow me and I paused halfway down the tunnel, conflicted about going back until he was ready to come with me. The fact I was still human and not a carnivorous tiger clinched the decision. I continued to the downstairs bedroom and stripped when I stepped into the bathroom. The details in the marine mural still captivated me; stepping into the shower was like stepping into an underwater world of vibrant fish and coral reefs.
The water ran red for longer than I anticipated, even with scrubbing until my skin burned and my hair squeaked when I ran my fingers through it. When the water cleared, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the pummeling heat.
A breeze caressed my skin, creating goose flesh under the hot stream and I opened my eyes. Damian stood naked in the doorway to the shower stall. His gaze slowly scanned my form, lingering on my breasts before travelling lower. A crease appeared between his eyes and his gaze bounced from my stomach to my face, locking with mine.
The question in his eyes made me drop my gaze to the bump in my belly. I had been so consumed with cleaning off the blood that I hadn’t noticed the newly stretched skin. Bump was an understatement. Between the time I pulled on my pants this morning and now, I had popped and my gaze jumped back to his.
“Holy shit,” he said and stepped under the spray with me, his hands finding the soft skin stretched over my abdomen. My gaze dropped to the red water running down his thigh and I turned him so I could inspect his wound.
“It’s just superficial. Leave it be,” he said studying my belly with the same intensity that I gave the cut on his leg. When he lifted his gaze, there were a hundred unasked questions swirling in his vibrant irises, but I had no answer for him. I looked like someone who was at least six months pregnant and that explained why my pants were so damned uncomfortable when I transitioned back to human form.
“I know how long human incubation is, but how long is a tiger’s?” he asked and I stared at him.