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 clothes off,”

but a foggy part of her memory recalled doing exactly that. She’d been burning up. The clothes had felt as

have entered your Breeding Time,” he said as if it were the perfect explanation when in fact, it was total 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 we did not find out about your existence until your body started sending out signals. Then

one who has been

that no one from the rival clan claimed you first. Breeding females are rare. Especially ones from your bloodline.

school valedictorian and editor of the school newspaper. I dated the quarterback and came to college on a full-ride scholarship. Nothing about

Jandin

How did he know that? She swallowed a lump

have lived a normal, human life but you are not, in fact, human. You 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

details about her, but even more

wanted to wait until marriage,” she

Breeding Time and simply convinced your brain to

bloody on a plate. A wave of nausea followed as she fought with the

to come forward with the

“Survive what?” she asked.

“The breeding.”

“I don’t want-“

Koris instructed and Jandin grabbed her hands and held them above her head. She tried to scream but her voice was weak and unable to

as much as she struggled, the smell from the meat began to do weird things to her resolve. Suddenly, it smelled like heaven even

to her mouth. “Eat,” he commanded sternly. Her eyes filled with tears but her mouth reluctantly opened. He placed the meat in

her throat. Strength returned to her

she eagerly accepted. He continued until the plate was empty. Cassidy eyed