Page 95 of My Wild Pet

The silence returns, and I close my eyes, trying to imagine a life where any of this makes sense. “Gabriel, do you think Aefre would ever give us this kind of freedom? A room to ourselves, to just… be?”

He considers my question. “If we win, maybe. Aefre’s strategic, not generous. But it’s possible. Why?”

“If we win, it could be a start,” I say. “A chance to learn more about Gael the Returner. And maybe next year… we go.”

He exhales sharply, muttering something in French, his voice laced with frustration.“Si nous gagnons, cela ne veut rien dire, Briar. L’année prochaine? Tu crois vraiment qu’ils nous laisseront partir?”

“I don’t understand you,” I say softly.

He turns to me, his golden eyes blazing with intensity. “Next year?” he repeats in English. “You think they’ll just let us leave?This year may be our only chance. I don’t want that image we saw in the mirror maze—the child with the collar, our child—to become a reality here. Getting two adults out is difficult enough, but a child?” He throws a hand up in the air, “Forget about it. Impossible.”

Before I can respond, he leans over, cupping my face gently. His lips find mine in a kiss that’s tender but filled with purpose.

When he pulls back, his voice is full of raw emotion. “I want freedom. And I won’t leave without you. Je ne peux pas imaginer ma vie sans toi.We’re a team, Briar. We’re not meant to be pets. We’re human. We’re meant to be free.”

CHAPTER 59

Aefre

I watch Ash and Ember warm-up. Their movements are stiff at first, likely still feeling the strain of yesterday’s challenges. But there’s something different in the way they carry themselves this morning. A steadiness that wasn’t there before.

Last night was what we all three needed. When I returned to my room, I checked their collars' readouts as a precaution. Cortisol levels were a steady baseline, heart rates were stable, but slightly lower indicating calm. A new rise in dopamine confirmed contentment, while a subtle increase in oxycontin told me there was an emotional closeness between them, perhaps even trust between all three of us. And their endorphins were elevated, indicating satisfaction. The balance I sought between them and me is solid for the moment. But, I’m going to keep monitoring them and making adjustments until I am certain their bond is unbreakable.

I study their synchronization as they move through the warm-up drills, noting the way Ash glances at Ember more often now, as if seeking silent confirmation and Ember gives her more assurance that what she’s doing is right. This is exactly the kind of progress I had hoped for after our session last night.

Kaelin enters followed closely by two other trainers. Their skepticism is evident in the way they linger, watching Ash and Ember with scrutinizing eyes.

“A bold gamble,” one of them remarks. “Allowing them to have sex with each other as well. Are you that confident, Aefre? Or are you experimenting with breeding them already?”

The bait is obvious, and I don’t bite. My gaze remains fixed on the pair below. “They needed to connect and it was completely supervised.”

“Connection?” the second trainer echoes. “Withthatfemale? I wouldn’t risk my prize male even with a muzzle and a leash. She’s dangerous.”

“Shewasdangerous,” I retort. “But I’ve trained her now. She’s no longerthathuman animal. And Ember doesn’t need protection from Ash. Their bond is strong.”

“Didn’t Ember have a strong bond with your last female?” the first trainer asks. “What was her name? Fifi?”

The mention of her reminds me of what I lost. Fifi, the one who slipped through my fingers. “Ember won’t make the same mistake twice,” I say quietly, though the weight of that statement is directed inward.Neither will I.

“You’re certain you’re not letting sentiment cloud your judgment?” the second trainer presses.

“It’s not sentiment,” I counter, turning to face them fully. “It’s strategy. They’re both progressing exactly as I intended.”

“It’s still a risk,” the first trainer says. “Calculated or not, you’re betting everything on a pet who was forced on you. Let’s not forget that the Octopods practically shoved her into your hands.”

I allow myself the faintest smirk. “And how lucky I am they did. Thank you for reminding me, I’ve been meaning to send them a bottle of their finest nectar as a ‘thank you.’”

Kaelin breaks his silence then. “Ash and Ember are the strongest pair on this circuit. Aefre’s training has taken Ash from a liability to a contender. If anyone doubts his methods, they haven’t been paying attention.”

The trainers exchange glances, their skepticism thinning, but not disappearing. They leave shortly after.

“They’re different now,” Kaelin says quietly looking at Ash and Ember below.

“If they weren’t, I wouldn’t be standing here defending them.”

Below us, Ash and Ember tackle the coordination drills. Their movements require precision and trust through an intricate sequence of mirrored actions that leave no room for error. Ash hesitates at a particularly complex turn, but Ember adapts instantly, guiding her with a subtle shift. They finish the drill flawlessly.

“Good,” I murmur.

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