Page 64 of My Wild Pet

Aefre then orders me, “Ash on your knees and lick Ember clean. You may have fucked like humans, but you’ll still finish up like good Imperial pets.”

I get to my knees, look up at Ember, and then take his whole penis in my mouth again. It touches the back of my throat and I push my thighs together wishing it were somewhere else.

He closes his eyes and leans back.

Aefre shocks me on the collar. “Bad girl. Not like that. Lick it up. No sucking.”

I release Gabriel from my mouth and lick as he, Aefre, and the doctor watch me. And I’m enjoying myself. Is this what captivity has done to me? Or have I always had these tendencies?

The morning begins like any other training day, though I wake up feeling off. There’s a dull ache low in my abdomen. I push it aside. Pain isn’t new here—it’s as constant as the collars around our necks.

Aefre dresses me in the same kind of thin leotard that reveals my breasts, underarms and sex like he always does, but today I feel like its tighter than usual.

Kaelin is already waiting in the training area when Aefre drops me off. He’s leaning against the console, scrolling through something on his data pad. When he glances up and sees me,he says, “I heard you got a big treat last night, Ash. I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to be lazy today.”

I don’t reply. He doesn’t want me to.

“And you didn’t ask for me to join?” Kaelin asks with a tone that makes me uncomfortable.

I pretend like I don’t understand him. “Where’s Ember?”

“He’ll join us later. He’s with the doctor now.”

I mull over that briefly. What could he be doing with the doctor? “Is he sick?”

“No. But it’s beyond your understanding, Ash. Now come on. It’s time to train.”

The training course today is another maze of shifting platforms, glowing obstacles, and drones. My body already feels heavy as I stretch, the ache in my stomach sharper now, radiating down into my thighs. It’s not until I take my place at the starting line that it clicks.

My period.

Fuck.

Of course, it all makes sense now. I was so horny yesterday and not just from Aefre’s methods or Gabriel’s handsome looks, but my own biology. I’m always not quite myself the day before my period, but it’s difficult to track because I’ve always been so irregular. And obviously here without a calendar or my phone, there’s no tracking of anything. All the days are the same. If Aefre’s culture recognizes weekends he doesn’t take them.

“Begin,” Kaelin commands.

I take off and I can already tell I’m slower than usual.

The first set of platforms shifts beneath my feet, and I struggle to find my balance. The drones zip toward me with precision. I dodge one, but the second one grazes my shoulder, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I stumble, barely catching myself before I hit the ground.

Kaelin’s voice booms through the training area, “Focus, Ash!”

I push forward, ignoring the sudden cramping in my abdomen. If I had any hope the blood would wait until after training, that’s gone now. I can feel the wetness on my thighs.Damn. I thought I’d been exercising so much my body had stopped menstruating.A fairy tale. And I’m worried about how these aliens will deal with my female bodily function.

The course shifts again and the platform tilts sharply. I jump to the next one, landing awkwardly. I feel blood everywhere on my thighs. I glance down at my larger than life pubic hair and the pink tips are soaked in red blood.

Kaelin yells, “Stop!”

I freeze mid-step, my chest heaving. The room goes silent except for the buzzing of the drones.

Kaelin steps onto the training floor, his eyes narrowing as he approaches me.

My blood runs cold—no pun intended—as I watch his gaze drop to my vulva and upper thighs.

“You’re bleeding,” he says unnecessarily.

I swallow.No shit, Sherlock.

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