THE AWAKENING

“She needs meat,” a sharp voice sounded from a distance. “She will not survive the mating if she does not eat.”

“She is in no shape to mate, Koris,” another voice snapped. “She knows nothing of her heritage and has had no one to teach her our ways.”

“That is unfortunate, but the fact remains…her body knows what it needs. Her temperature is elevated, her skin is beaded with sweat, and her tits are enlarged. The time is now.”

Cassidy struggled to regain consciousness and opened her eyes blearily to find two men — no, check that, two very large men — standing over her.

They wore all black and seemed almost indistinguishable from one another. Their muscles bulged from beneath tight T-shirts and narrowed to lean hips.

Hanks of black hair, almost too long to be fashionable, dusted strong shoulders and impossibly dark eyes stared into her soul.

Oh, and she was lying on her bed, naked.

“Oh my God,” she managed to squeak as she attempted to cover her breasts but she felt weak as a kitten. “Help me, please! I need to go to the hospital,” she implored the handsome strangers, hoping for some shred of decency in either of them. “Please, I’m very sick…I think I might be dying…”

They ignored her plea but the one named Koris shot the other a knowing look, saying, “Prop her up. She will need sustenance,” before leaving the room.

“Hush, Cassandra,” the other said, coming to sit beside her. “My name is Jandin. We are here to help you.”

Her body had begun to shake. “H-how? What’s wrong with me?”

He smoothed her damp hair from her brow with a surprisingly gentle hand. “What do you remember of your childhood?” he asked.

“What? Why are you asking me about my childhood? Didn’t you hear me? I’m very sick. I think I have food poisoning or something. I could die if I don’t get to a hospital!”

“You’re right. You could die. But there is nothing that humans can do for you.”

Humans?

her grip

you tore your

would never do that,” she whispered but a foggy part of her memory recalled doing exactly that. She’d been burning up. The clothes had felt as if they were scratching against her tender, sensitized skin.

lunacy. “The females of our species…if not bred properly, become inflamed with an internal fever that can consume them if not cared for. Normally, a female would be guarded and under protection, but

been watching

claimed you first. Breeding females are rare. Especially ones from your bloodline. Claiming you would be a coup for

away from him. “I was raised in rural New Jersey in a subdivision with normal parents. I was high school valedictorian and editor of the school newspaper. I dated the quarterback and came to college on a full-ride scholarship. Nothing about my childhood is

adopted,” Jandin stated

that? She swallowed a lump of fear. Who were these

are the most revered in our species because your kind are so rare these days. You are also still a virgin. I can smell it on

such private details about her, but even more terrified because somewhere deep

wait until marriage,”

wait until the Breeding Time and simply convinced your

nausea followed as she fought with the urge

fight your hunger, Cassandra,” Jandin warned, motioning for Koris to come forward with the

“Survive what?” she asked.

“The breeding.”

“I don’t want-“

her hands and held them above her head. She tried to scream but her

the smell from the meat began to do weird

a juicy chunk of the raw meat from the plate and brought it to her mouth. “Eat,” he commanded sternly. Her eyes filled with tears but her mouth reluctantly opened. He placed the meat in her mouth and her jaws

sliding down her throat. Strength returned to her limbs

He continued until the plate was empty. Cassidy eyed the pooled blood remaining on the plate and Koris smiled