Saving the Beast by Lacey Thorn Read Free Book Online Page B

turned back to her then. “You’re his mate. He won’t be able to keep his hands off you when you get close to him.”
    Diane flushed brighter red. Good grief! She prayed the Professor wasn’t about to give her a sex talk.
    “Remember he’s primal right now. He could be a little…rougher than he intends,” the Professor told her, clearing his throat in the middle of the sentence and attesting to how uncomfortable he was, as well.
    “Yes, I know,” she muttered, hopping off the stool and standing. “Is that all? I still need to throw a bag together.”
    He nodded then called after her before she stepped into the hall. “Diane.”
    She turned back to him. “Yes?”
    “I may not always say it, but I think the world of you. You’ve become like another daughter to me.”
    “Thank you, Professor,” Diane said. She often thought of him as a father figure.
    “There’s very little I wouldn’t do to help those I love. My methods and means may not always be easy to accept, but everything I do is geared toward taking care of those who mean the most to me, family.”
    She nodded. “I know that. I won’t share your secrets.” Was he still worried about her venting session upstairs when she’d almost thrown him under the bus? It had been an empty threat on her part. She’d never do that to him.
    “I know that,” he told her with a nod. “I want you to be happy. I thought from the beginning you could be happy here if you allowed yourself. I’ve watched you bloom, creating friendships and becoming a viable force. They look to you. I look to you, and maybe you find that terrifying, but you shouldn’t. We don’t expect perfection from you the way it’s been demanded of you in the past. We merely want the reassurance that you are in this with us. Remember that when you’re out there, attempting to save Zane. He’s not just a man, and you can’t just save the man. There is a darker side to him, a beast that lives inside and, at the moment, has more control. That beast needs saving, as well. You need to accept and love them both, to be claimed by them both.”
    “I understand that. I promise. I do.”
    “Be safe,” he whispered and cleared his throat. “Come to my office when you get back. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to discuss.”
    She nodded and on impulse rushed over to give him a hard hug. “Thank you, for everything.”
    He patted her shoulder and sighed before easing back and shaking his head at her. “Go. You’ve waited long enough as it is.” He glanced at his watch. “How soon do you expect to leave?”
    “Tah and Reno want to go over a few things with Kenzie and me,” Diane said. “I’m guessing at this point it will be early morning before we set out.”
    He appeared thoughtful. “Great time to leave. I’ll see you when you return.” With those parting words, he turned and headed to his office.
    Diane left the lab and hurried up the stairs, eager for the day to be over so she could leave. Now that she’d made up her mind to go after Zane, to believe she was his mate, she wanted to head out immediately. Maybe Tah would let her and Kenzie leave this afternoon instead. Diane’s heart raced with anticipation and a touch of fear. She’d be foolish not to be afraid.
    The rest of the day flew by. Tah was still not completely on board with Kenzie and Diane leaving. He ordered them to see him and Reno again in the morning before they headed out on their own. Diane spent half the night fretting Tah would change his mind at the last minute and forbid them. The other half was consumed with worry over Zane, and whether or not she’d taken too long to go after him. When morning finally arrived, she was anxious to be on her way. Maybe she’d get lucky and find Zane today.
    “Please, God, let Zane be okay. Let me save him, all of him, and bring him home,” she whispered in the quiet of her room as she tossed clothes haphazardly in the backpack Clara had loaned her. She made sure to grab the