A big screen flashed images, symbols and words. Even with earplugs, the music nearly shattered her eardrums. Yep brainwash central. Did they even wear earplugs?
The yips, howls and yowls beneath the blood red moon gave the place an eerie ambiance. More like a horror movie cult scene than a political assembly.
The guard dragged her up the stage. Not good. Maybe her eggs wouldn’t be harvested after all. Would she end up on tonight’s menu?
He pointed to a chair on the side of the stage. “Sit.”
“Great. Front row seats.” Not that anyone heard her. Cricket lifted one of the earplugs and immediately fur prickled her skin and her fangs emerged. Never mind. She secured the earplug back in place. She glanced at th
e disturbing images. From photos of humans killing wolves, pollution, acts of terrorism, human wars, and disgusting images of werewolves devouring humans. Yuck.
Slade held onto the arm of the buxom she-wolf, Agrippa, and sauntered on stage. He and his mate sat across from her. He narrowed his eyes at her, then looked away. Agrippa glared at her the entire time.
Cricket slumped on the chair. A waking nightmare. Prince Slade, her charge, was lost to her and the team. She’d failed him. She turned to her guard and shouted above the din, “I’m not feeling well.”
He sniffed and snickered. “You smell okay.”
Cricket stood. “Really, must I stay?” She covered her mouth as if gagging. Watching Slade with Agrippa made her stomach roil.
The guard forced her to sit.
“What’s wrong with her?” boomed Slade.
The guard bowed. “Must be the noise, sir.”
Cricket gazed at Slade. Could part of him still care about her, but didn’t understand why? Or had he been faking the entire time? If you were acting, I’ll give you an A for undercover work.
“Take her back to her room then,” he snarled.
“I’m sorry, sir. Master Wolfstrom says she is an important part of the rally.”
Slade glared at her. “Sit still and don’t you dare ruin our assembly.”
“May I at least go to the bathroom?” she asked.
“Very well, but be quick,” Slade snapped.
The guard kept his eyes downcast. “Sir, she isn’t…”
“Obey beta, before I bite off your disrespectful tongue.”
Agrippa bared her long sharp fangs and pulled him away. “Don’t concern yourself with this foul-smelling runt.”
“No worries, love.” He drew Agrippa in and ravished her with a long hard kiss. She opened her gown, letting her large breasts spill out and moaned in pleasure.
This was harder to watch than the bloody images on the screen.
The guard grabbed her arm and took her away from what looked like a porno film. He took her to a small wooded area. “Go ahead.”
“What? No woman’s bathroom?”
He scowled. “Wolves don’t need bathrooms.”
“Turn around then.”
“I thought you were going to throw up.”
“Now I need to pee.”