Page 29 of Free Beast Mate

“Eight.”

“And now you are?”

“Nine.”

“Way to go. I wish I shot my dad when I was eight.” I reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m impressed.”

The boy grinned from ear to ear.

Got him. I winked at John, who stared at the kid in horror. These fucking humans and their sensibilities. At the age of ten, my dad put me in a ring against Jamie. Jamie, much older than I, refused to fight me, and I happily ran off. My dad proclaimed me a pussy-boy for not challenging my brother. So did I give a shit an eight-year-old shot his brother? Nope.

“So people in my community were getting sick. We didn’t have medicine, and even Momma Jo refused help. But then all these beasts came. Hunters of Mayhem, you know them?”

I glanced at John. A fucking statue. I glanced up at the camera. Still recording. “It’s recording.” I stated the obvious.

“Let it,” John said. “I’m not worried.”

“I am.”

“About what?”

“About the kid,” I said. “He shouldn’t be talking to me. I’m sure of it.”

“Emma is talking to you.”

“Emma is different,” I bit out.

John smirked. “I’m the only one allowed here. Besides Tom. I sleep here, if you haven’t noticed.”

“And Emma,” I reminded him. “She is also allowed here.”

“Is she now?” John winked at me.

“I can’t find Emma,” Cole said.

I tapped my fingers on my thigh wanting to burst out of my skin. My teeth descended, and I felt my jaw move into position. They were playing me.

The kid continued. “I like her. She’s been good to me.”

“Tell me about Hunters of Mayhem.”

“They ravaged my community and took over. Momma Jo didn’t like them and didn’t like me going over to their wing. But there was a girl there. Sienna. Momma thought I should breed her when I grow up, you know. She was hot. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and nice tits.”

“Christ,” John muttered.

“What?” I said to John. “He’s nine. He can crush on girls. I’m impressed. Go on, kid. I like you.”

“Her mate came and…and I got mad. I closed them all in the room and let them fight it out, hoping they’d all die. They didn’t. John found me there, told me to run. He didn’t catch me. He didn’t punish me. He just told me to run. I ran and hid, hitching rides here and there trying to find Men of Earth. ’cause where else would I go? One night, I saw John dock a boat, and I thought Allah must’ve sent me a sign. And I was right. John asked if I wanted to come with him. And so we came, as father and son. And when we leave here, I’m going to—”

“That’s enough, boy.”

Cole nodded. “John’s good to me. I ain’t got nobody else. Emma is good to me. Taught me how to read. I don’t know where she is.”

“John,” I said. “Do you know where she is?”

“Why do you care? She’s just a beast whore.”

I leapt and closed my hand around his throat. I squeezed and watched his face go red, but his eyes were cold and fearless. “They need medicine,” he choked out. “They’re telling me your father has landed and is holding medicine and supplies hostage until your mate is found.”

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