I sit up in bed, dripping with sweat, screaming, expecting to see the panther, but I’m staring into Jackson’s green eyes.
“It’s okay. You’re safe. Don’t worry.” Jackson’s voice is soothing as he rubs my arm.
“The beast,” I pant, “turned me into a panther like it.” Jackson’s eyes widen, his green eyes reminding me of the panther. I jump out of bed, hollering, “You’re the beast, aren’t you?”
“What?” Jackson seems shocked by this revelation and avoids meeting my eyes as he slowly moves further away from me.
“You’re the beast! My dream was trying to tell me that you’re the panther.”
“I…I…” Jackson stammers, his gaze still looking anywhere except at me, but he finally locks his eyes with mine. “Yes, I’m a panther, also known as a shifter.” Hearing his confession, I try to leave the room, but Jackson grabs my arm, stopping me. “Please, listen to me. I need a favor from you, and I’ll let you go.”
I struggle to get out of his grasp. “Why should I?” I snap.
“Please don’t tell anyone about me being the beast. I promise no one will harm you or your friends. You have my word.”
“Your word? You lied to me. Why should I believe you?” I demand as he releases me.
“Polly, it’s very complex.” He paces the bedroom. “I didn’t realize you would have dreams that are shifter premonitions. I heard some humans can dream about shifters once they’ve met their mate, though,” Jackson mumbles, and I can barely understand him.
“You said in the dream I was yours, and this is my destiny. Are you supposed to turn me into one of those beasts?” I ask as I pull on my pants.
“I don’t know what your dream means. I never thought that you’d dream about this ‘beast’ as you call it,” Jackson says, his voice louder than normal.
“I need to go.” I start to march out of the bedroom. “If you follow me, I’ll tell everyone that the Dark Leopards Motorcycle Club are the animals who are killing people in this city.”
“Polly, can I come and see you after work so we can talk?” Jackson, the once confident biker, is now backing himself into a corner, avoiding eye contact with me again.
“No.” I slam the bedroom door closed and run out of the apartment building.
I swivel my head back and forth, making sure Jackson didn’t call his buddies to kill me. I finally get to my tent, and I sit up all night, trying not to sleep until the sun comes up. Once the sun rises, I fall asleep.
My tent begins to shake, and I wake up quickly to hear Walter informing me I need to get ready for work. My heart calms down.
“Thanks, Walter,” I yell out at him.
Quickly, I pull off Jackson’s clothes and change into my work clothes. However, as I leave for work, I see Jackson standing next to his bike.
“I didn’t bring the clothes I borrowed from you last night. I should’ve known you’d be here.” I stop in front of him, wondering if he can hear my racing heart and can tell my body is trembling.
“I wanted to see you.” Jackson doesn’t appear as confident as he usually does. He bounces from one foot to another, unable to meet my gaze.
“Why? To scare me into not telling anyone?”
“No! I don’t want to frighten you. You don’t know the whole story. It’s something I’d like to tell you before you form an opinion about me or my club.”
“My opinion has already been formed. You’re a freak. I want nothing to do with you. Ever,” I growl at him in hushed tones so that no one around us can hear.
“Okay. I’m sorry to bother you.” Jackson gets on his bike and drives off, and I sigh in relief.
The next nine hours are spent working my ass off. Once I lock up and leave the diner, I can feel someone watching me.
“Jackson, you can come out,” I shout over my shoulder and immediately hear a rustling behind me.
“Hi. I was trying my best to stay hidden.” Jackson steps out from the side of the diner, and I laugh.
“You’re not doing it very well.”
“Thanks, but I’m known for my stealthiness,” Jackson smirks.
“If you say so. I thought I told you I didn’t want to see you.”
“I know, but I needed to see you.” Jackson’s tone is quiet and unsure, and when I look at him, his eyes seem to peer right into my soul.
“I have so many questions for you or rather about you,” I confess while my hands shake. I spent my whole shift thinking about Jackson and how I needed to see him, talk to him. I can’t explain it.
“I don’t know if I can answer all of them or not, but I’ll try. Do you want to head back to my apartment? It’s about the only place where it’s okay to speak freely.” I swallow hard. “The offer to stay at my apartment is still there. I promise to lock my bedroom door, but you should know that it’s not like a werewolf during the full moon, I can control it. Your safety is important to me.”
I bite my bottom lip as my head and heart argue. My head tells me to run away from him, but my heart is telling me to run into his arms and make him never let me go. “Okay. I just need to get my stuff from my tent,” I reluctantly agree. “You can come with me.”
“Can we not talk about the panther thing until we get back to the apartment?” Jackson whispers, and I nod.
We stroll in silence, soon arriving at the bridge. I give the leftover food to Walter and tell him I will be back in a few days or so.
“Are you hungry? We can stop somewhere if you’d like.” Jackson is acting really nervous. His fingers are fidgeting, and he seems utterly unsure of what my answers are going to be to anything.
“I’m hungry and could go for something other
