Page 40 of Let Us Prey
“Whyyyy are we out here, Professor? My Leopartins are going to get ruined, ughhh!”
I exhale slowly. While it isn’t strictly forbidden to kill a student at Apex—even for being an annoying twat—these interchangeable Heathers are Council heirs, and therefore mostly untouchable. I can still technically call on Romulus aid if things get fucked, but the fallout would involve a lot of headaches and red tape.
And my patience is already thin.
“The reasonmyclass is out here, inmytraining ring,” I growl. “Is because I want to show you helpless children how real shifters fight. We’re focusing on ourhumanforms today, as I can’t have you fish flopping around on the ground. I also don’t trust that you idiots know what you’re doing, so a controlled environment is best.”
As expected, Little Miss High Society does not get the memo to shut her trap. “I know how to fight,” she snarks, idly examining nails long enough to render her useless against an opponent. “Daddy hired a kung fu expert for me after the movie came out.”
I swear to Fenrir, if she’s talking about Kung Fu Panda…
“Hey handsome, mind if I assist today?”
I turn to find Zhenga approaching, already dressed for a match. While this implies the obsessed lioness is way more aware of my teaching schedule than she should be, I find myself oddly thankful for her presence.
Maybe a woman’s touch is needed here.
An extremely bloodthirsty and slightly unhinged woman… but beggars can’t be choosers.
“Yeah, how ‘bout you and I get in the ring together and show them what we do?” A sharp inhale snaps my attention to Delores Drew, but she immediately buries the outburst beneath a cough.
The sound doesnotescape Zhenga’s notice either, and she zeroes in on the bunny like the pred she is. “Oh, I wouldloveto get my paws on you again, alpha. You’ve been playing so hard to get since the last time we… wrestled.” To her credit, Delores maintains eye contact with the formidable Leonidas, but I catch the tiniest clench of her pretty little jaw at Zhenga’s suggestive words.
Aww… is the wittle bunny jealous?
Deciding to really put on a show, I pull off my tee shirt, being sure to not-so-subtly flex my enormous muscles for Delores’ enjoyment. Bash could bulk up like me if he wanted to, but my beta relies on speed and agility when beating our enemies to a pulp. I prefer to be built for power and maximum destruction. When I’m done with someone, the end result is less pulp and more a bloody smear.
Which is probably why I can’t find preds willing to fight me.
Although I haven’t slummed in Zhenga’s bed in months, we still meet in the ring regularly to spar. Not only is the lioness a worthy opponent, she never comments on the well-known baggage I’m punching my way through. Thanks to these semi-private opportunities to work through my shit, I’m able to maintain control everywhere else in my life. I would almost say I consider Zhenga a friend, but that’s where it ends. She may occasionally provide temporary relief—both in and outside the bedroom—but she’s not filling any of the gaping holes in my life.
I deserve to feel this way, after all.
Despite my inner turmoil, I flash a charming Romulus smile to my students, noticing how the vapid piranhas are rapt with attention while their little boyfriends look like they’re gonna piss themselves. “Sounds good, Z. I’ve been needing a new assistant. The current one isn’t fulfilling my needs.”
Delores’ tiny fists are balled up at her sides, that intriguing rage of hers showing as Zhenga smugly removes her shirt as well, revealing a blood red sports bra and almost as many abs as I have. “That’s too bad,” she purrs, backing into the center of the ring as I stalk after her, cracking my neck and knuckles. “But I know exactly what you need.”
A good fight followed by absolute submission.
While the irritated huff from Delores does more for my ego—and libido—than I care to admit, I can’t have Zhenga trailing after me like a lost kitten after class. Refocusing, I bring us back to the task at hand. “All right, enough talk. Let’s run through a few grappling positions and show these newbs how to possibly stand a chance with hand-to-hand combat.”
Zhenga nods and assumes a neutral stance, which I mirror. During Pred Games, those of us in the highest tiers shift, and half-shift, throughout the course of a fight, but that requires an incredible amount of control—another reason we’ll be remaining in human form for today's exercise.
The lioness doesn’t wait for my count before making her move. With the speed she’s known for, she attempts to dart around me, no doubt intending to take me down from behind. I easily pivot and grab her tricep with one hand, cupping the other around the back of her head and neck. Using my body weight, I pull her down to her hands and knees, instantly sliding one arm under her neck as the opposite arm reaches behind her knee. My hands lock beneath her captured form and an instant later, I have her flipped onto her back in a bow and arrow cradle.
“You’re not even fucking trying,” I hiss down at her, keeping my voice low so my students don’t overhear.
She laughs throatily, doing nothing to lowerhervoice as she replies, “Guilty as charged, alpha. I do love having your cock so close to my mouth.”
Fucking Zhenga!
The growl Delores emits is so intense, even my useless sparring partner shuts the fuck up for a minute. Releasing her, I sit back on my heels and give our angry little bunny a stern look. “Sounds like someone’s eager for a fight. Wanna get in the ring, Miss Drew?”
She pales slightly; her gaze trailing down my exposed chest and abs as she nervously licks her lips. “With… with you, Sir?”
I am incredibly grateful my cock is no longer anywhere near Zhenga’s face, as the thought of pinning Delores Drew beneath me makes it give a roundhouse kick of approval. “No, Blondie,” I chuckle, rising to stand and helping my partner to her feet. “You couldn’t handle me. Pick out one of your classmates and show us what you’re made of.”
I don’t know what I’m expecting. Maybe, that Delores will back down, or begrudgingly obey, but pick one of the least threatening predators to scrap with. Instead, she lifts her chin, and points directly at the Heather who acts like she’s in charge.
