A Gift for the Beast

Lauren All my life, I've known nothing but cruelty and pain. Currently, I'm simply trying to survive from one day to the next, when suddenly I'm standing on the back of a wagon being sold like an unwanted piece of livestock. A deep voice echoes through the crowd, only for everyone to go silent. Massive hands carry me away, and I realize I've been sold to the one the townsfolk call 'Beast'. He promises gentleness, caring, possibly love ... but do I have the courage to allow myself the time to see if his actions are as true as his words? Grant All I wanted was to be left alone. If they feared me simply because of my size, well, that was fine by me. Then I saw her there, trembling and terrified, and before I realized what I was doing, I was claiming her as my own. Only now I'm confused because I never wanted to care again. It hurts too much, but the pain in her eyes calls to my own. I know I'm a grumpy loner, but I will move heaven and hell to make her smile again, even if that means facing my own past and taking a chance to love again.