Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

Standing in the middle of the chamber between Toshi and Sebastian, I wait patiently for the verdict of the Council. While I am not seriously worried, I think Toshi and Sebastian are less confident, and when the doors finally open again, I hold my breath, hoping that it is what we all hoped it will be.

One by one, the members of the Council, all shrouded in black, take their seats and once they are all seated, the oldest member, the last remaining Dragon, rises.

“I will ask you once more,” he says as he stands before me. “Are you sure that no one else is left to carry out Project Eden? That there are no survivors nor witnesses from either side?”

“Yes,” Sebastian answers. “We made certain of it.”

“Then we will let this matter go,” the Dragon announces.

I let out a breath of relief.

“However, let it be known that should another slaughter happen for whatever cause, there will be harsh consequences,” he adds.

“We understand,” I say, bowing my head, accepting this judgement with a certain amount of relief. It could have gone much worse.

“Then this matter is done. No more shall be spoken of Project Eden or the Cat Syllas. This will be the last time.”

He lifts the scroll in his hand and opening his mouth, reduces it to nothing with a fiery breath. Then he exits the chamber, the rest following him.

A separate set of doors, the ones we entered before, open and Toshi, Sebastian and I leave the room, walking down the long corridor towards the exit.

“Well, that’s done,” Toshi murmurs.

Sebastian throws him a warning glance.

“Theo!” Someone calls after me.

Turning around, I see the Chief of my tribe and I go to him, bowing low before him.

“Thank you for your clemency,” I tell him.

“Don’t thank me,” Chief Olwen says, shaking his head. “I wanted you punished for your uncharacteristic recklessness. As it is, I’m still punishing you. I will not be naming you the next Chief of our tribe whether you take a mate or not. You are not worthy.”

It hurts but it wasn’t unexpected. I bow my head lower. “I understand.”

He turns his back to me, heading to the opposite end of the corridor and I wait until he’s gone before I re-join Toshi and Sebastian, who have both surprisingly, waited for me.

“You were scolded, I see,” Toshi says.

“Were you exiled?” Sebastian asks.

“Just disqualified from being the next Chief,” I answer. “No matter. It’s a small price to pay. I’ve never wanted to be a Chief anyway.”

“A Wolf without a pack, a Cat deemed a traitor by other Cats and a Bear with no place in his tribe,” Toshi says, shaking his head. “We sure are a bunch of misfits.”

Sebastian and I don’t answer, not speaking until we’re far away from the building. At a cliff, we stop, staring at the horizon.

“So, what happens now?” Toshi asks.

“She chose Kyle,” I say. “We should be happy for them both.”

“I still think she made the wrong choice,” Toshi says, being petty when he should be thankful he’s still got his head firmly attached to his shoulders. Even so, I only just keep from clouting him behind the ear to remind him of that point.

“It’s her choice,” Sebastian points out.

“So, you think it’s really possible for her to live a normal, human life?” Toshi asks, raising one eyebrow.

We’re all silent for a moment.