Page 16 of My Wild Pet

The next human is taller, with blonde hair and striking brown eyes. She stands trembling, clearly terrified. But there’s potential. Fear can be reshaped. She’s exactly what I’m looking for.

The bidding begins, and I find myself locked in a battle with several other trainers. The price climbs higher than I’d like, but in the end, I win.

When the auction concludes, I leave the Auction Hall to pay for my purchases and collect my humans.

My two humans are brought out on leashes, naked and filthy. The standard state for humans in Octopod custody.

I step forward to claim them, keeping my movements deliberate, calm, and assertive.

The auctioneer hands over the restraints, and I take them. The smaller human, who I’ve already begun calling Yellow One, keeps her gaze fixed on the ground. I lift up her chin with my finger, forcing her gaze up. She has the most exquisite browneyes. Then I cup one of her breasts with my free hand. It’s perfect. I slap it to see how far it’ll move and it’s just the right size. Then I caress the fur between her legs, running a finger over her inner fold there. She’s completely dry. Yellow One is frozen and all I see is fear in her eyes. The perfect human pet to mold. It’s better when they’re like this to begin with.

“Soon you’ll crave my touch,” I tell her. Then I turn my attention to Wild One. She’s looking at me curiously.

I tilt my head slightly, considering her demeanor. Then, for the first time with any pet, I activate my external translator. In a perfect human language, I reply, “Listen to me now, as this is the only time you will hear me speak in your tongue. I don’t expect submission, Wild One, I expect strength. And you will give it to me. I am your master now.”

I turn to the auctioneer. “I’ll need a muzzle for Wild One.”

“That’ll cost you,” the Octopod replies, clicking lazily.

“No, it won’t,” I counter. “I’m doing you a favor by taking her off your hands.”

The auctioneer considers this for a moment, then produces a muzzle. As expected, Wild One resists the Octopod’s attempts to restrain her.

“Give it to me,” I say, extending my hand. The auctioneer hesitates, then relents, handing me the device. I pass Yellow One’s leash to a guard and focus on Wild One.

I pull Wild One into my arms with firm control. At barely 170 centimeters, she doesn’t even reach my chest. Holding her tightly, I cradle the back of her skull, gripping her long hair at the nape as I begin to fit the muzzle around her face, but I pause.

My external translator is still on. So I ask her, “Do you know why they fear you?”

She’s momentarily caught off guard. “No one fears me. I’m treated like an animal.”

“That’s incorrect,” I say, holding her gaze. “They fear what they can’t understand. And what they can’t understand, they can’t control. That’s why they left you to me. Not because you’re especially dangerous—you’re just a little thing—but because they lack the will to forge strength from fire. But you’re mine. And now I will hammer you into something useful or you’ll die in the process.”

I don’t wait for her response. I fit the muzzle into her mouth and activate it, silencing her.

Wild One immediately tries to pull off the muzzle, but it’s futile. Only someone who can read the access code on the back can remove it, and humans can’t decipher anything but their own crude languages.

I retrieve Yellow One’s leash from the auctioneer and lead my new pets out. My guards fall into step behind us, but I keep the punishment taser in one hand and the leashes in the other. Experience has taught me to always be prepared.

Sure enough, as we near the docking bay, Yellow One tries to bolt. Without hesitation, I deliver a quick shock with the taser, dropping her to the damp misty floor.

She looks up at me, her brown eyes wide with shock.

Yes,I think,you have a lot to learn.

My guards haul her to her feet, and when she refuses to walk, I swat her backside with my hand. “Walk Yellow One, Walk,” I command, knowing she doesn’t understand the words yet. But there’s no time like the present to begin her education.

We join the disembarkment line, a tedious affair that stretches longer than I’d like. My new humans aren’t ready for this levelof patience. I don’t want either of them embarrassing me by urinating here. Humans can be unpredictable when stressed.

I spot a human play area, a pitiful little enclosure with basic obstacles and toys. It’s poorly maintained, but it will serve my purpose. I lead my pets inside and secure their restraints to a central tether. I notice there are a few male pets also here, but I think maybe it’ll calm Yellow One if she has a male inside of her so I don’t bother putting a chastity device on her. I look at Wild One and decide the muzzle will keep the males away. Then, I leave them to their own devices while I handle the bureaucracy of disembarkment

By the time I’ve worked my way through the line, presented my documentation, and cleared the formalities, I’m the last one to collect my humans.

The play area is quiet as I step inside, save for the faint sound of whimpering. My stomach tightens.Wild One.She must have frightened Yellow One—perhaps even attacked her.

I stride toward the back, past the miniature obstacle course. Yellow One is huddled in a corner, tears streaming down her cream-colored cheeks. Wild One stands at a distance, still restrained and wearing her muzzle.

Yellow One’s distress is problematic. I crouch in front of her, studying her carefully. She’s not injured, but something is clearly wrong. I reach out to soothe her the way I’ve found humans often respond to—by stroking the patch of fur between their legs. Instead of calming her, she swats my hand away.

---