Pride's Run (6 page)

I can’t bear to think about the elders, or
what the master might have planned for them, so I turn from their
empty cages and begin to pace, welcoming the feel of the cold
cement pad beneath my feet. The damp floor feels icier than ever,
and my pain censors react, sending warning signals to my brain. I
should listen to those jangling alarms bells and climb into my bunk
before I freeze the rough soles of my feet, but since I’m in need
of a distraction, I embrace the pain and let it fuel my wolf. It’s
my pain that keeps my instincts sharp and helps me stay alive.

I continue to pace, and my thoughts bounce
around my brain like a pinball as I work to strategize an escape.
Even if I’m able to conquer the first roadblock and make it past
the electric fence where would I go? How would I hide?

Would I head north, like my mother, and hope
to find a pack that could help me? What if no such pack exists?
What if it’s only false hope?

I’m not sure where I’ll go or what I’ll do
but decide to narrow my focus on the first roadblock at hand. As I
wrack my brain, trying to figure a way around the fence, the hours
slowly slip by, and soon enough I hear footsteps and muffled voices
trickling down through the floorboards overheard. I still and stare
at the door, waiting for what feels like forever for it to
open.

Even more hours tick by and soon enough my
bladder fills to the point of urgency, yet no one comes to my
rescue. No handler has come to let the rebellious dog out. Then
suddenly, understanding dawns in small increments. I’m paying for
yesterday’s disobedience.

Since I refuse to relieve myself in the
corner, and give the master that kind of power, I drop to my knees
and desperately try to ignore my body’s basic needs. I spread out a
thin layer of dirt and use it as a distraction. As I draw a picture
of a beach, my own personal symbol of freedom, I repeat my mantra:
I will not let him break me.

My senses perk when I finally hear the soft
click of the lock overheard. I remain hunkered down in a defensive
position and while I tune out the chaos erupting inside me, I mask
my features and present a hardened exterior to my approaching
handler.

Exercising caution, Lawrence descends the
stairs slowly, but when a loud boom sounds from above, and the
house practically rattles from the impact he braces himself on the
steps. I wince at the sound, and choke back a cough as the noise
disturbs a deep layer of dust on the overhead beams. My stomach
drops and a terrible sense of foreboding fills me as small cloudy
particles rain from the ceiling and wash out my drawing. I’m not
superstitious, but I hate to think that it’s a sign of sorts.

I wait for the aftershock. When none comes I
can’t help but think the commotion coming from above feels more
like the wrath of the master and less like a California earthquake,
which can’t be good for any of us.

When the house stops vibrating, Lawrence
resumes his approach, each menacing step meant to threaten my wolf
and send it into hiding.

He exposes those rotten teeth of his and
says, “Hey, kitten. The master wants to see you.”

I glance up the steps and take in the slant
of the sun on the barren stairwell wall. Judging by the angle, I
can tell it’s well into the late afternoon. As happy as I am to see
daylight, I can’t forget what the dawning of a new day really
means. Five more sleeps until the full moon, until my fate is
sealed.

Anger wells inside my gut but I push it down,
knowing I need to keep my head clear. I rise up from my crouched
position and my lips peel back as I glare at Lawrence.

“What does he want?” I ask, even though I’m
fully aware that Lawrence has no idea why I’m being summoned. When
it comes to the master’s business affairs, the handlers know little
more than the wolves do. But I ask anyway because it’s my way of
reminding him that he’s not all that high on the pecking order
either.

“If I tell you, then I have to kill you,” he
taunts.

“Try,” I say. I’m in such a foul mood that I
don’t even care what punishment comes with my disobedience.

His smile quickly dissolves and he throws my
collar at me. With my lightning fast reflexes I catch it before it
hits my face and that only seems to anger him more.

He exposes his gun. “Leash up, kitten.”

As I snap my collar into place, my thoughts
return to my master and I lose interest in sparring with Lawrence.
Moving about numbly, I let Lawrence secure my chain and lead me
toward the stairs. As I climb, I hear the other wolves in the
courtyard. I listen for Jace and Clover, but can’t quite
distinguish their voices in the crowd.

A warm breeze carries the succulent scent of
meat past my face, and my stomach rebels, a reminder that I haven’t
eaten since yesterday morning.

When we reach the landing, Lawrence guides me
toward the hall but I stop outside the small bathroom door. He
gives a ruthless yank on my chain and I grunt as it sends my body
jerking forward.

I quickly regain my balance and our gazes
clash in a silent battle. “Would you prefer I go on the master’s
floor?” I ask.

Something akin to fear passes over his eyes
before he quickly masks it. Trying to look unfazed, he shifts on
the balls of his feet, but I can tell he’s uncomfortable and
working hard to hide it.

“You have one minute.”

He doesn’t let go of my chain, instead he
grips it tighter and stands guard outside the open bathroom door. I
have to relieve myself so badly I don’t complain. I dart inside,
pull up my nightgown and quickly go about my business. Once
complete I wash my hands, and then cup them to take a generous gulp
of water. I glance in the mirror and see yesterday’s makeup smudged
beneath my tired eyes. It reminds me of how the master wanted me
prettied up. Just thinking about him has the hairs on my nape
prickle in warning.

What more could he want from me?

“Time’s up.” This time Lawrence yanks my
chain so hard, it practically snaps my neck. A soft growl rumbles
in my throat, and in an instinctive move my nails begin to
elongate, my primal side wresting for control.

He glares at me and moments before he gives
the chain another savage yank—to keep the unruly pup in line—the
master barks out an order from his office door. When the sound
reaches our ears Lawrence straightens. Eyes wide, he pinches his
lips together and they tremble slightly as they form a tight white
line. He immediately falls into place in front of me and hurries
down the hallway.

I follow Lawrence inside the office and
instantly take note of the master’s stiff posture as he speaks
quietly into the phone. When he sees me, darkness clouds his eyes
and he pitches his voice even lower, whispering in muffled words to
prevent me from overhearing.

In an instinctive response my tongue darts
out to taste the danger in the air. The unstable energy swirling
around the room hits me like a slap to the face and triggers a
reaction from deep within. As black angry waves roll off the
master, my senses go on high alert, warning me. Every muscle in my
body tightens, prepares. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, all I
know is that something very bad is going down. I can taste the
tension and feel it in every fiber of my being. Then again, I’m not
sure what could be worse than the news he delivered to me
yesterday.

My gaze skates over the room and when no
immediate danger presents itself to me, I let my glance shift to
the bountiful spread of grapes, cheese, breads and those tiny
finger sandwiches that I love so much. While it might simply be an
afternoon snack for my master, there is enough food to feed me and
the elders for at least a month. My stomach growls loudly, the
noise filling the cracks in the walls as my hate for my master
reaches new heights.

Lawrence looks on as hungrily as I do. When I
hear his stomach’s response I know it’s his greed talking. He’s
already been fed today. The master diverts his attention and snaps
his fingers at Lawrence. Lawrence’s baggy jeans rub together and
his heavy boots scuff the floor as he turns toward the door, to
lock the others out, and us in. The bolt slides home and a moment
later he drops my chain and nudges me forward.

Late afternoon sun trickles in through the
open window and warms my bare feet as I shuffle along the polished
floor. I stand there, and quickly catalogue the room a second time.
That’s when I notice the marble statue smashed on the floor, small
broken pebbles are scattered around the master’s desk. At least now
I know what caused the commotion. But the sight of that broken
statue alerts me to the master’s rage and has me worried. The blood
in my veins thickens and my pulse begins to jackhammer.

The master finally lowers the receiver and
looks up from his desk. When I see darkness invading his cruel
eyes, the inky black pupils bleeding into the brown, I instantly
know why I’ve been summoned.

The lines beneath his eyes deepen as he
gestures with a wave. “Have a seat, Pride.” The master might be
trying to present a calm demeanor, but I know it belies his true
emotions. Anger resonates beneath each word, the cacophony of noise
warning my wolf to tread carefully.

Once again my nape prickles and I draw on my
inner strength as I stalk closer. I swallow and try not to stare at
the scrumptious spread of food sprawled across my master’s desk as
I lower myself into the plush seat.

“Have you had anything to eat today?”

I steal a quick glance at him. His smile is
brutal and twisted as he stares down at me, and while I know he’s a
hard man driven by greed my wolf still doesn’t cower, like he wants
her to. In fact, it’s all I can do to keep her leashed and prevent
her from going for his throat.

“Answer me,” he demands, his voice lacking
any sort of tolerance for me today.

I give a quick shake of my head.

“Then please, have a bite.”

The nerves tracking along my spine tingle and
I briefly meet his eyes, wondering what he’s up to. I don’t like it
when he’s nice to me. I know nothing good can come from it. As I
consider his offer, the scent of the food calls out to me. I want
to resist, I really do. I hate to take anything he offers me, but
I’m so hungry I feel faint. If I try to escape when I’m this light
headed, I wouldn’t make it ten feet out the front gate.

After a quick consultation with myself, I
slowly reach for a finger sandwich, then lean back in my seat to
eat it.

“What have I done to deserve this?” I
cautiously ask around a small bite.

The master props one elbow on his desk and
scrubs his hand over his chin as he studies me. As I stare at him,
I see an element of desperation on his face, one I’ve never ever
seen before. It piques my interest and has my wolf stirring.

“It’s not what you’ve done. It’s what you’re
going to do.”

Not at all surprised by that answer, I force
myself to chew slowly, even though I want to gobble it up and go
for another. I continue to eat and try not to fidget, anxious to
find out what’s so important to the master that it’s forced him to
call on his best tracker.

Finally he says, “I have a job for you.” When
he leans forward and narrows those deadly eyes, I can smell
something on him that I’ve never smelled before. Fear. It teases my
wolf and triggers my senses.

As if to emphasize the importance of his next
point, his voice takes on a hard edge when he adds, “And I need you
to follow my orders exactly.”

I swallow the rest of my tiny sandwich and
gauge the master as I reach for another. He doesn’t stop me and the
fact that he’s letting me have seconds can mean only one thing. He
doesn’t want my wolf ravenous during this hunt, doesn’t want my
carnal hunger getting the better of me. Whoever this mark is, he
must be needed alive and that makes me curious. What threat does
this mark pose to my master? How much would my master suffer if I
purposely screwed this job up on him?

Then another thought strikes, and I nearly
choke on my next bite.

The master is sending me out!

I can hardly believe it. After delivering
yesterday’s news, why would he take such a huge risk and allow me
to leave the compound? I don’t ask because I already know the
answer. I’m the best tracker he has and this mark is important. But
does he not understand that he’ll be helping me past my first big
roadblock, the electric fence?

Excitement wells inside me and I try to keep
my face expressionless, I don’t want the master to know what I’m
thinking, but the telltale gleam in his eyes speaks volumes.

He knows I’m going to run.

The master gives me a small, shrewd smile
that holds no humor. “I’m sure you’re smart enough not to try
anything foolish.”

Just then I hear voices in the courtyard. I
glance out the window in time to see Mario lead Jace and Clover
past the window. The bottom falls out of my world when
understanding hits like a hard blow to the stomach. Air rushes from
my lungs and my last vestige of control snaps like a taut wire.

“No!” I bark out, when I see the weariness on
Clover’s face. Her glance locks on mine and she mouths something to
me. Something that sounds like
run.

My heart seizes and I draw a savage breath.
It’s clear they know my fate—they also know theirs—yet they still
want me to run, to fight back, to take over where my parents left
off. They’re willing to accept the punishment that comes with my
disobedience.

Rage unfurls inside me and a growl rips from
my lungs as I jump to my feet, but the gun cocking behind me is the
only thing preventing me from shifting and crawling over the desk
to tear flesh from bone.

Lawrence closes in from behind. “Easy,
kitten.”

My chest heaves as I glare at my master, my
wolf scratching at my insides as she struggles to free herself.