Page 1 of Claiming Xan
1
RIVER
Redand white lights flashed in the halls while sirens blared a warning shrill, hurting my ears and sending employees in white lab coats scurrying like rats in a maze.
My brother stood motionless, his legs braced and his tail tucked. His ears laid flat against his skull, as if the shrieks were paralyzing, but damn it, we didn’t have time for this!
Frustration and anger bubbling up inside of me, I lunged forward and snapped at Sky’s flank. My teeth scored flesh. He yelped and spun around, his bi-colored eyes widening in shock. I snarled and jerked my muzzle in the direction we needed to go—fast.
That seemed to jolt him back to reality.
With a whimper, he took off running down the long corridor. I tore off right behind him. Our claws scrabbled for purchase over the slick white tile that matched the white walls and the white ceilings and god, I fuckinghatedthis place.
Out. I wanted out. I wanted to smell fresh air, to feel the sunlight on my skin again. To get away from the needles and the drugs and the endless tests.
Because we were nothing more than human science experiments, kept in oversized cages and tortured for some sick bastard’s personal gain.
“It’s for the greater good.”Dr. Thompson’s voice rang out in my mind, seared into my brain-matter like a brand. I snarled and pushed myself to run faster.
Shoes squeaked on the floor behind us. “Stop them!” someone shouted. “Whatever you do, don’t let them get outside! They’re dangerous!”
Up ahead, a scrawny man in a medical coat raced to close off our escape route. The only thing that stood between me and freedom was a large metal security door created to keep specimens like us inside.
It was closed, of course. Locked down tight. But that scientist had a badge on him that would unlock it, and I fully intended to use it.
Growling low in my throat, I launched myself at the man. He screamed in terror, and then agony, as my claws and fangs ripped into his papery human skin. It tore so easily too. Blood splattered the tile and my fur as I tore out his throat without a single thought of mercy.
Because why? They had given us none. We were only children when we arrived here, and they had treated us like prisoners. Like lab rats.
My paws smeared through crimson, painting the pristine white red. Footsteps were coming straight for us, followed by shouts of alarm. I ripped the scientist’s badge off his belt and jumped up on the door.
With a soft beep, the light on the panel went from red to green. It slid open with a mechanical whirr—and we were out.
“NO!” I heard Dr. Thompson howl.
Sky darted ahead of me with a frightened whimper. I was right behind him.
But we weren’t home free. Not yet.
We’d made it out of the main facility, but we were in some kind of lobby entrance. Immediately, people began to scream and panic, climbing over themselves in an attempt to get away from the blood-splattered wolves who’d just burst through the doors.
I snarled at them, gnashing my teeth, my fury reaching a boiling point. Out. Out. Out. I wanted out. Where was the exit?Let me out!
And then I saw it—our escape through the plate glass door of the office, the trees outside swaying in the breeze, cars driving lazily past, a woman in a sweatsuit jogging with her little brown dog…
I didn’t hesitate. With every last ounce of strength I had, I barreled through the glass, shattering it on impact. It crashed all around me, slicing me open and digging into my paws with bites of pain, but I didn’t stop. Not when freedom was so damn close.
I ran.
Sky followed behind me, his heavy pants telling me he was just as exhausted as I was, but we didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. Needed to put distance between ourselves and Dr. Thompson. I never wanted to see his smug face again.
We dove into dense forestry, darting between trees and leaping fallen logs, our paws carrying us farther and farther away.
We ran. And ran. And ran.
I would’ve kept running, had Sky not collapsed with a pained cry. I slowed down and turned, looking back at him, then closed the distance between us. He laid on the forest floor, his body shaking and his sides heaving as he gasped for breath.
I smelled blood.
