35 (part 1)

“I love you.”

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Beast hadn’t meant to let his feelings slip, but after seeing her face again, he couldn’t deny his feelings any longer. The days he had spent without her had been the longest moments of his life. So many times, he wanted to go to her, to drag her back home and make her see that she belonged with him, despite what she might think. Each time he went to take a step through the castle’s iron gates, he would freeze, unable to walk into a world that had changed so much he could no longer identify with it. But he had resolved himself that day would be the day he brought her back. He wouldn’t care about the stares he got or the screams, nor would he care about her father and sisters. He would take back what was his and damn everyone else…

That had been his plan until he had sensed the presence of others on his land. Trespassers intent on taking what was his. There was no way he could let them live.