Page 58 of Let Us Prey
The gong sounds and I immediately half-shift, raking my claws across Rusty’s chest in a mirror image of Cash’s previous blow. His other nipple goes flying and the grizzly howls before wildly swinging, but I’ve already darted behind him. Before he can turn, I climb the behemoth like a tree, wrap my arms around his neck, and squeeze until I hear a glorious crunch.
Rusty drops to his knees, gasping for air, despite the crushed windpipe. Although I’d originally planned to draw out his torture for at least a few minutes, it’s just as satisfying to fully shift and engulf his head in my mouth before ripping it clean off.
I spit out the head, momentarily reveling in the blood dripping down my chin to coat my white fur before shifting back to human form. Rusty’s flaccid dick looks a lot less threatening attached to a corpse, so I rip that off for good measure before shoving it down the throat of his severed head.
Who’s choking on a cock now, bitch?
The crowd loses their ever-loving minds—rightfully so—and I face the stands to dramatically bow and accept my due. Cherry is the only bystander I care about, so I seek her out, smirking when I notice Cori dry heaving on one side while Rufus makes lewd hand gestures toward his mouth on the other.
Delores is on her feet, her eyes locked with mine and I swear, her baby blues flash red for a moment. Seemingly oblivious to the commotion surrounding her, she presses her delicate hands to her heart, her expression displaying nothing but pride, pure devotion and…
Yup. Definitely unbridled lust.
My wolf practically purrs like Nico’s fox, and for a moment, I forget we’re exiled, or that Cash is back at the townhouse, probably wallowing in self-loathing while I celebrate the victory that should have been his. Because I have the hottest piece of cherry pie coming home with me, and Iwillget my brother back on the throne, no matter how many enemies I have to kill to make it happen.
Long live Romulus, motherfuckers.
THIRTY-FOUR
End Game
Delores
“Did you see the part where I ripped that fucker’s head clean off? I’ve only been able to do that a couple times before, butfuuuuuuck…I feel like the king of the world right now!”
I jog alongside Bash as he practically bounces off the non-existent walls on our way across campus. Despite what he’s morbidly excited about, I grin like an idiot right along with my warrior wolf. I didn’t quite know what to expect at Pred Games—and worried my prey instincts would cause me to panic—but I ended up having a blast with Rufus and Cori. The scent of blood almost gave me a natural high, and when I witnessed Cassius and Bash fight that ferocious bear, all I wanted to do was jump into the ring and join them.
I’m the weirdest prey ever.
None of this istoosurprising, after how the hunt with Aubrey and Renard went. Flying was amazing, but watching them stalk their game from the ‘safe spot’ they insisted on tucking me into was just as exhilarating. It must be because I was raised as a ruthless predator that the whole thing didn’t bother me more than it did. My parents wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who pissed them off, even if they had no interest in eating them. Of course, seeing what Aubrey and Renard’s prey is versus whatothershifters consider food helped me understand why they haven’t even told the other guys what they eat. I was sworn to secrecy, so unless they give me the go-ahead, I’ll keep it to myself, since I definitely understand why they actively work to hide their ways.
I wouldn’t want them to be exiled any more than they already are!
We arrive at the townhouse, and though my pussy is drooling like a Pavlovian dog, I hesitate on the doorstep to glance around nervously. I’ve only ever come here under cover of darkness, but it’s noon on a Saturday, and students and teachers alike are milling around.
“Um… are you absolutely sure it’s okay for a student to, you know, be seen here… with you... " I babble, before Bash sweeps me into his arms to help me swallow my words with his tongue down my throat.
After a very long—verypublic—kiss that leaves me breathless, he releases me and swings open the door. “Cherry, I don’t give a fuck who sees us. I just kicked major ass at the Games, and you’re my girl.”
He states this so matter-of-factly,I pause a moment to fully absorb the implications. By then, we’re already inside and Bash has shut the door so he can cage me against it. “Now, are you hungry, little bunny?”
The ravenous look in Bash’s eyes makes me shiver, but not from fear. Even though this man has now demonstrated he could tear me to pieces, I’ve always felt nothing but safe around him.
I wonder if he’d kill someone for me, or let me watch…
Or help.
My dark thoughts startle me so badly I flinch, and Bash immediately backs off. Realizing he misunderstood my reaction, I grab his shirt and pull him close again, standing on tippy toes to boldly meet his gaze. “I’m famished, but what I want is upstairs, I think... "
He growls, licking his lips as he looms over me, and I’m once again uber aware of how threatened I might feel if it wasn’t him. “Mmm… I believe both Nico and Cash are up there. Should we go see if we can find them?”
A whimper of pure need escapes me, and Bash smirks before grabbing my hand and pulling me up the stairs. While my brain is struggling to reconcile his declaration on the doorstep with his obvious willingness to share me with his pack, my pussy has already bought tickets and boarded the train.
Now if we could just throw a dragon and a gargoyle into the puppy pile as well…
It’s strange to think I’d be okay with the idea—especially after believing for so long that Todd and I were fated to be monogamous mates—but something about these five men just feels right.
Even if they’re not all climbing aboard the Delores Drew express just yet.
