“Then she is brought into the village and any alpha interested fights for her honor. Her body. The right to mate with her to bear children. She is then bound to procreate until she produces two females to be raised within the city walls.”
“So a female once brought here, is forced to stay.”
“She is treated with the utmost care. Fed the best foods our country has to offer and is only mated with the most able-bodied alphas.”
“Is that supposed to make it any better that she’s trapped?” I ask. “And what does this have to do with your father?”
“Who do you think makes the rules?” he asks.
His eyes turn toward me, and I don’t like the look in them. He takes a step toward me and I back up. I can feel myself approaching the bed. I can feel it knocking against the backs of my legs. Vlad’s scent is overwhelming. I cough, trying to get rid of it.
“Where are you, Sebastian?”
“Tell me about the feud between the Wolves and the Cats,” I say.
“What is there to say?” Vlad asks. “We’ve always been enemies.”
“Why?” I ask. “Why can’t they get along?”
“For centuries, those animals have preached about falling from the gods. Being the greatest gift to creation and claiming they are the only ones who deserve this planet. Are you familiar with the Council?”
“Yes,” I say. “I am.”
“Why do you think it was formed?”
“I don’t understand.”
Vlad reaches out and caresses my cheek, and I have half a mind to bite his hand off.
“It’s okay that you don’t. But the Council was formed originally to keep the vision of the Cats at bay. To keep Wolves and Cats from slaughtering each other until we were both wiped from the face of this earth. All Primals are represented, including Wolves and Cats, forcing them to co-habitat.”
“Though you don’t like it.”
“Me personally?”
“Who else would I be talking about?” I ask.
“I figured we were still on my father.”
“What about your father? Does he not like cohabitating with Cats?”
“He’s a little more progressive than most.”
I’m close. I can feel it.
Suddenly, I’m pinned to the bed. Vlad’s face is in the crook of my neck, and my legs are flailing. His claws are bared, and his teeth are sharp, and he’s growling against my skin.
“You smell so good. And nothing like that mutt Sebastian.”
“What are you doing? Get off me!”
“You’re mine, mate.”
“I am not your mate!”
I knee him in his groin, and he howls out in pain. I scramble up from the bed and roll off the side. My claws are growing, and hair is sprouting along my hands. But Vlad is too strong. His hands grab my shoulders as his claws dig into my skin. I cry out, my mind swirling with ways to get him off me as he slams me into the wall.
“Sebastian lost the right to you when he went to get us a drink.