Feral

by Vesper Brooks

  Radia stumbled forward, a low whine escaping her as she collapsed at Daxel’s feet. He stared down at her as uncertainty slowed his movements. She took one gasping breath before her entire body relaxed, peaceful in death in a way never possible in life. Around him, they wailed, throwing their heads back to give voice to their grief.

  Within the room, a different cry sounded. Jubilant. Victorious. More of the pack spilled forth on burnt and bloody skin, eyes shining in joy at the precious life they found still within. Protected by their mother’s body, a few pups survived. Less than half the litter, but enough.

  Enough to give them hope that the pack would prevail.

  Daxel stepped past the body of his fallen mate to inspect the pups. One labored as it fought for breath, but the other two squirmed with vigor. Fine offspring that continued to thrive.

  As he lifted his head and bared his teeth, a rage flooded him. Revenge, first and foremost. The remaining lives that hid in this place, emanating fear with their pathetic prey bodies, would be hunted down and exterminated with the same ferocity shown to him and his mates. No mercy. No exceptions.

  Daxel paused and sniffed one of the pups, and the pack stopped their scrambling and snarling as they watched him expectantly, waiting for his command.

  One. One exception. The favorite human female, half converted already. She would be the exception. She would take her place as the new mate and mother the surviving pups. The rest would die.

  “Keep them safe. Mine,” Daxel told the two that held his offspring. Both of them were females, and they fawned before him, pleased to be given his attention and a task. His gaze raked over the remaining ferals as they shifted nervously, bodies shaking with the need to run, to kill.

  He lifted his head and howled the command to attack, pleased with the readiness the ferals showed to slaughter their former packmates. Humans. So fickle in their nature. Ready to betray and quiver any moment. It sickened him that he’d allowed them to reign over himself, Sensee, and Radia for so long without fighting back.

  As the pack began to surge toward the nearest exit to clamber back to the surface, Daxel paused. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his head and looked up through the glass ceiling to the room that hovered above. Once, so long ago, he remembered watching humans above him, calling out commands with an authority that he never questioned. Now, a lone figure stood there, and his spines rose at the sight of her.

  The human female who killed his favorite packmate, Sensee. Even now, her scent permeated the room, proving she’d also had a hand in Radia’s cruel death. He turned to make his way up the stairs, but stopped cold when the whirring of the elevator behind him kicked in. The bitch was controlling the doors, closing them to trap himself and the ferals in this room. Small flames still licked at the walls in Radia’s cell, and smoke burned his nose, spurring the need to get out.

  He charged up the stairs and didn’t bother with the doorhandle when he reached the top. His bulk allowed him to splinter it into pieces that fell to the floor in a loud clatter. The female stood, squaring off with him, never uttering a sound. The look in her eyes made her objective very clear. She intended to die.

  That knowledge drew him up short. This female, Jaxx, always acted as a protector for the humans. She dominated with action and a lack of hesitance. Now, she stood before him, no weapons in hand, body language ready to fight. But an air of determination and…resignation clung to her.

  The scent of his favorite female human clung to this female’s skin. Mates, the smell told him, and everything fell into place. Jaxx was distracting him while the one he wanted to keep fled. Motion caught his attention as Jaxx extended a hand and beckoned before tensing into a fighting stance. Daxel found her attitude laughable…and admirable, in a strange way.

  An idea occurred to him. One so interesting that he found himself pacing past her, intentionally baiting her. Something slammed against his side, and he glanced at the stool as it bounced across the floor. When he lifted his gaze, Jaxx stood there, chest heaving and sweat trickling down her skin.

  “Speak,” he demanded, realizing he’d never heard a word from her.

  Her hands wove in a flurry and though he didn’t know what the motions meant, he knew she communicated with other humans that way. The slashing motions made it clear what she tried to convey meant anger and frustration. He could smell it on her despite the communication gap.

  Good. Let her be frustrated. Daxel knew that emotion well enough.

  When he turned to leave, ignoring her, she hurled herself at him, and delight zinged through him. Once again, he’d outwitted a human. The rush it provided made it easy to absorb the shock of her body colliding with his. To roll with the attack so she ended up pinned beneath his paws.

  “Mine now.”

  Her eyes widened at his declaration. Before she could react, he darted in, clamping his teeth into her shoulder. The sweet heat of her blood trickled into his mouth, coating his tongue with a taste that made his body sing. A few inches to the left and he could have tasted her pulse that thudded with adrenaline.

  When he released her, Jaxx’s frame shook with fear for the first time since he’d met her. It intoxicated him as he backed away, eyeing her. Daring her to try again. When she stood, he rammed against her, sending her sprawling across the room.

  “Stay. Stay or die.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him but made no move to get up again. Good. Her obedience would come with time. Or the bite would kill her as it did so many others. Alive or dead made no difference to him. But if she lived, once she changed, she’d prove a worthy second mate. Once more, he’d have the intelligent and knowledgeable Sensee and fierce, strong Radia at his side.

  He exited the building at a casual pace, all senses on high alert as he awaited a surprise attack from Jaxx. A few of the ferals followed him out, and he watched the ones carrying his pups as they headed to the large feeding place the humans used. When the door shut behind him, he strained outward, looking for any indication of where the favored female human fled to.

  A group of cries sounded in the distance, and he knew exactly where the largest group of humans huddled. Within minutes, he loped to the edge of the trees and took in the sight of them. The breeze brought him hints of relief and excitement from humans who had no idea how easily he could romp through the center of them and chase all that away.

  Daxel redirected his attention to what stirred them and saw a pack of things moving toward them across the salty water. He racked his brain, trying to remember the word. Boats. Yes, he knew about boats.

  The favored female turned to gaze into the trees, and he caught fear and longing in her gaze. She awaited her mate. With Jaxx’s blood fresh on his tongue, he could give her that. Easily. A few seconds of discomfort and concentration, and he strolled out onto the beach, joining the others.

  The idiotic others who would submit or die by sunset.

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