Breeds…

  They were supposed to be our equals yet in the darkness of the south, far too many of them continued to be hunted like game. I swallowed hard, trying to push aside the ugly thoughts.

  “Are you okay?” Cassie asked as she flanked my side, her head tilted in my direction.

  Exhaling, I plastered on a smile. “I’m fine.” I was anything but fine. The images that continued to course through my mind were both erotic and hypnotic as well as disturbing. I shifted back to stories my mother told me about the Breeds. I hadn’t thought about that in years.

  “Uh-huh. You seem off today.”

  Off. That wasn’t the word I’d use. Drawn into some kind of altered reality maybe. A possible premonition? The realization was difficult to embrace. I’d envisioned situations and people all my life. My mother had been certain I could talk with ghosts. Only this time, the visions and words seemed far more real. “Stop worrying about me.”

  She sighed and I couldn’t help but notice she was rubbing her arm, wincing as she did so.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, giving her a slight smile.

  “Just the damn vitamin shot had more of a reaction this time.” Her answer was followed by a slight shake of her head.

  Vitamin shot. I thought I was the only one on the planet who had to endure them every month. Mine were to decrease the various allergies I’d obtained over the years. “You too?”

  She shot her gaze in my direction, a grin on her face. “Yeah. I’m allergic to almost everything in this freaking state. You?”

  “Add chocolate and almost every spice to that mix and I’m there.”

  We laughed together, although my mind reeled at the coincidence. There was something odd about the job that had landed in my lap, my qualifications mediocre at best. It seemed everyone had been handpicked. I’d ignored the notion for the most part but a vitamin shot? The coincidence nagged at me.

  The giggles of the two dozen children filling the hallway pulled me back to some concept of a normal reality. I refused to be lost in my insane fantasies.

  “Miss Wells!” The tiny squeal always made me smile.

  “Miss Ginger. What did you draw?” I asked as I peered down, cringing more than I should seeing the picture the little girl had colored.

  “A tiger,” she said as she swung back and forth, holding out the very detailed and vivid art project she’d come up with. “Just like you told us about.”

  “That is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen, Ginger.” I hunkered over, tugging on the pigtails of my most animated student, her bright eyes something I hadn’t seen until only recently. She’d been drawing pictures of animals since we started learning about Breeds, something that I knew wasn’t going over very well with the majority of parents. Ginger had been talking about tigers ever since I’d showed them several images of Bengal tigers in the wild.

  “Thank you, Miss Wells,” Ginger said ever so politely. She’d finally said my name for the first time only thirty days before. We were making significant progress. I couldn’t believe she’d been the little girl who’d seen her father killed in front of her eyes, her little mind shutting down her ability to speak. I was proud of the work I’d done with her.

  I noticed Ginger’s mother standing just outside the door, tears in her eyes, her hands clamped together.

  “Will you do me a favor, Ginger?” I asked in a hushed voice.

  “Yes, ma’am, I will.”

  “Give that to your mommy as a present. I think she’d like that very much.”

  Ginger grinned, giggles pushing up from her little throat as she nodded over and over again.

  “Go on. You can go now,” I encouraged, sighing as the sweet girl scampered off into her mother’s arms. I watched as Ginger proudly showed off the drawing, jabbering to her mother more than usual.

  I expected harsh eyes from her mother. Instead, the rather conservative woman gave me another smile, allowing me to take a deep breath. Thank God, she wasn’t going to berate me. I’d had enough of that lately to create violent images in my mind. It seemed a good third of the upper echelon parents had something to say about the way the staff was teaching their children.

  Fuck them.

  “What you’ve done with her is remarkable.”

  I shifted my gaze in Cassie’s direction, giving her a slight smile. My bestie had her share of difficult children in her classroom as well. “She’s an amazing little girl.”

  “I think you’re an amazing teacher,” Cassie retorted before pushing my arm. “You really do seem tense today. Everything okay?”

  The day had been tolerable until the moment I noticed Joseph Sampson. The arrogant asshole took the word ‘condemnation’ to an entirely different level than any of the other parents.

  “Christ. Don’t look now but you know who is on his way over here,” Cassie whispered, remaining at my side.

  From what I’d heard from the man’s son, Joseph had been away on business. With his return meant a constant barrage of nasty innuendoes. After almost no sleep the night before, I wasn’t in any kind of mood for his bullshit. The moment he pushed his son aside, the little boy’s face filled with apprehension. Even several of the other parents shied away.

  “Ms. Wells. I need to have a conversation with you in private,” Joseph barked as he stood over me. The vicious expression on his face was one I was used to. However, there was something entirely different about his eyes. Today they were soulless.

  “Whatever you need to talk about, you can do it right here, Mr. Sampson.” I could tell immediately that my refusal further fueled the fire in his belly.

  As if I gave a shit.

  The asshole had been giving me a hard time since the very first day I started teaching about the various Breeds. My intention was to ensure that the new generation had a realistic as well as appreciative understanding of them. Their predicament. Their difficulties.

  Their sacrifices.

  A man like Mr. Sampson continued to condemn them openly. He also didn’t mind throwing his weight around, his premier position within the Georgia government system giving him a pass.

  Or least the jerk of a man believed he had.

  I knew what was really warranted was a sharp stick to the eye. At least the violent thought gave me the ability to smile brightly.

  He huffed and he puffed, planting his hands on his hips in his usual intimidating manner. His actions did little but fuel the same anger that had been building in me for several months.

  “Fine, Ms. Wells. Have it your way. Maybe it’s time that the principal of this school begins to understand that your particular brand of education isn’t acceptable. You need to be fired for your ridiculous representations.”

  “While I’m certain Principal Givens appreciates your concern, my job description not only allows for my selection of teaching criteria, it encourages providing the truth about the Breeds,” I said just as casually as it was possible given my excessive heartbeat. The asshole had done everything in his power to derail my work. I was used to the vile looks he gave me but the fact he’d turned bright red in the face was cause for celebration. I’d finally gotten to the jerk.

  “How dare you teach my child that Breeds are acceptable? They are nothing more than filthy animals!” he snapped.

  “How dare you accost any teacher in this school,” Cassie huffed. “We work very hard to provide an education even though men like you attempt to thwart us at every turn.”

  I could almost hear the words ‘fuck you’ ready to slip from her mouth. Granted, they were the very ones I’d wanted to use more than once, but that alone would be grounds for immediate termination. While we had the full support of our aging principal, men like Joseph Sampson were considered untouchable, the upper echelon of society. I’d found it reprehensible that he’d been outed as a member of a dissident group months before, the violent masses of people continuing to increase all throughout the United States. Even though the president and his cabinet had done everything in their power to outlaw the dissidents’ behavior, nothing seemed to matter.

  The reason was simple. Various factions of the government remained members, likely guiding the insurgents with top-secret knowledge.

  “It’s okay, Cassie. Mr. Sampson has difficulty understanding the attributes provided by the Breeds. In fact, he doesn’t have enough intelligence to realize they are superior to humans in just about every way.” They were the most direct and rebuking words I’d said to him thus far and it had taken every ounce of control not to step deeper into the muck.

  Or the quicksand.

  His entire body shook from the heightened level of anger coursing through him. I could almost read his mind, his hatred and plan for revenge written out in shades of crimson, much like strings of blood.

  “Daddy. Can we go home?”

  I felt so sorry for his son, the shy boy flinching at the sound of anyone raising their voice.

  “Just a minute, Justin. I told you that Daddy had something to do,” Joseph half growled, never taking his eyes off me. He inched closer, crowding my space, managing to slide into his signature smile. “Be careful, Ms. Wells. I’m not the kind of man to be fucked with on any level. My influence is extremely powerful not only within the Savannah city limits, but up and down the East Coast. I suggest you remember that.”

  “And I suggest you remember that the Breeds are considered free individuals. I will teach my class as I see fit.”

  Inhaling, he held the contemptuous breath for a full five seconds before blowing his hot air over my face. The stench of bourbon was unmistakable. I should call social services on him for being an unfit father. Maybe I would.

  Chuckling, he shot Cassie a look before tilting his head. I could easily read all the nasty things he wanted to do to me and only part of them had anything to do with getting me fired. The fact I could read his mind was just as disturbing as everything else that had occurred. I wasn’t just guessing what he was thinking.

  I knew without a doubt he wanted to capture and cage me, keeping me naked and waiting for his arrival.

  The man was a freaking pervert.

  “Mark my words, Ms. Wells. We are very well aware of who you are. We’ve been watching you.”

  Joseph’s words were whispered, the husky sound still managing to reverberate throughout my body.

  “Yeah? Take a number,” I managed even as I heard the way Cassie sucked in her breath. She was terrified. I was furious.

  He tipped his head, a smirk crossing his face as he undressed me with his hateful eyes.

  When he finally stormed away, the heavy weight of his boots caused the floor to vibrate. I refused to take my eyes off him as he jerked his son by the arm, leading him out the front door. Only then did I take a deep breath.

  “Jesus. What a freak,” Cassie said under her breath. “Was that a threat?”

  “I believe it was.”

  “You need to be very careful of him.”

  I shifted a quick gaze in her direction. “Why?”

  “Because he’s the damn director of human operations. That’s why.”

  “I admit he’s a dangerous man but I can handle him.” I walked toward the door, waving at several of the children as they were led off, watching as the asshole headed for his very expensive vehicle, still jerking his son like the poor boy was a ragdoll.

  “And he’s after you. Be careful, Nicolina. You don’t want to fuck with a man like that. You can’t handle him. You don’t understand.”

  I’d been warned by just about everyone I knew to curtail my regard toward the Breeds. After the freedom proclamation issued by the president almost two years before, public opinion had seemed to get worse instead of better. The Breeds had every right to live out their lives exactly like humans. While only a fraction of them had taken advantage, more and more of mankind worried they were banding together in order to take over.

  I shook my head, a slither of fear sliding down my spine. I knew I should heed her warning, my instincts telling me the man’s threats were very real.

  “Then why don’t you explain it to me,” I stated dryly before turning back to face her.

  Cassie seemed more unnerved than I’d seen her before, her usual happy-go-lucky attitude anything but. She took me by the arm, leading me into her classroom and closing the door.

  “You do understand we’re lucky to have these jobs,” she said with no joy in her voice. “We were hand selected.”

  Hand selected. What a crock of shit.

  “At low pay and only a few benefits. Such luck,” I retorted. Teaching jobs were now controlled by aspects of the government, openings rare and selection almost impossible.

  “But we make a decent salary. Did you ever wonder why?”

  I shook my head, uncertain of what she was getting at. “What are you trying to tell me, Cassie?”

  “You have to be sponsored by someone high up in the world of the government in order to be considered at all.” She narrowed her eyes when I remained quiet. “I thought you knew that.”

  I’d heard all kinds of things regarding various professions. There were unscrupulous methods of obtaining almost any job.

  With the exception of highly revered scientists and others in the medical profession. They were in high demand, offered incredible opportunities for their valued work in their efforts to save the human race.

  “I was well aware.”

  “I was lucky. My uncle sponsored me,” Cassie continued. “He told me that there are thousands of applications.”

  I was also aware of that, her uncle an important senator in Congress. My sponsorship had come anonymously, which was fine by me. I didn’t like to owe anyone a damn thing. “What do you know about Joseph Sampson?”

  “Human operations is a fancy way of saying ensuring humans are the only species able to control Earth. Do you get what I am saying?” She kept her words whispered, constantly checking the window leading to the outside of the facility. Why the hell did this make her so nervous?

  “I knew such factions existed. There is very little difference in them and the dissidents who took a run at overthrowing Philadelphia a few months ago.”

  She shook her head. “I think it’s entirely different.”

  “According to your uncle?”

  “According to rumors I’ve heard. I’m just telling you to be careful and take his threats seriously. If ‘they’ are watching you, then watch your back.”

  “You can’t run from me.”

  The words echoed in the light breeze, the sound coming from every direction. I turned in a full circle, trying to identify the source. I knew he was there. He was always there. Watching me.

  Hungering for me.

  Ready to devour me.

  There was an urgency in his voice, the kind of darkness that would haunt me forever. As the wind whipped the hair in my eyes, I fought at the loose strands, gasping for air. I was all alone, unable to call out for anyone to help me.

  To rescue me.

  A single crack of a limb forced a whimper to erupt from my mouth. I could feel his massive presence as he came closer. Backing away, I almost tripped on the wet grass, the heavy dew adding to the nasty humidity of the early morning air. My heart racing, I scanned the perimeter of the trees, their blackness even more foreboding than they’d been before. I could swear the forest was alive, the canopy of foliage attempting to block out the limited stream of sunlight.

  Goosebumps popped along every inch of my skin, my mouth dry as fear and sickening anticipation rushed into my system.

  But that wasn’t what was so horrible and nasty. I was wet and hot, my pussy aching.

  As if the intruder was a lover.

  Instead of a monster.

  A wash of panic blanketed me, my throat threatening to close. I took off running, racing toward the protection of my house. Within seconds, I could sense him closing in, the sounds of his advance creating another wave of absolute terror.

  He was a beast, a creature.

  A predator.

  And I was his prey.

  Run. Run. Run!

  The words flowed through my mind as I tried to navigate my way through the forest, fighting the dense terrain. My bare feet hindered my movements, the stones and briars causing wave after wave of agony.

  And he was closer.

  His snarls.

  His growls.

  His desire…

  “I’m going to fuck you, claiming you as mine.”

  His growl permeated the air around me, leaving me aching all over, my nipples fully aroused and enlarged. No. I couldn’t be turned on by something so horrible.

  Crack!

  Boom!

  He was getting closer.

  And how could I understand his words? He was nothing but an animal. A screech finally left my mouth, the adrenaline fueling me as I powered on, able to see my beautiful little cabin in the distance. I was going to make it. Then I would kill the bastard. I knew exactly how to protect myself. I should never have gone into the woods without my weapon.

  “If you try and run, I will punish you. You belong to me. Mine forever. Mine!”

  I was maddened, unable to process what the hell was going on. I shifted around in another full circle, my eyes opening wide.

  No. No.

  There was no way.

  I had to get away from him.

  Another echo floated into my ears, this time the sound more distant, as if he was fading away. He couldn’t be real. I was just imagining the horror. When the oddity of quiet slipped into the air, the only noise I was able to hear were crickets and other early morning creatures. I stopped running, trying to catch my breath before turning to face the other way.

  There was no sign of him.

  I stood staring at the riverbank, my entire body shaking as the creature walked out of the shadows, his long, muscular legs powering him as he moved closer.

  He was completely naked, his long blond hair trailing behind him. I was yanked into a vacuum, imprisoned by the sight of him. He was all male; a perfect body with sculpted muscles, his abdomen carved out of the finest granite stone. His jaw angular, his luminescent green eyes bore into mine as he took purposeful steps in my direction. And his cock was long and thick, the tip of his fully hardened shaft purple from his burning desire.