Page 6 of Free Beast Mate

Chapter Three

Emma

Dinner hour wasat six every night. The iron doors of the kitchens in each sector opened, and people formed two lines. The warriors on duty portioned out food, making sure everyone got equal. Well, almost always everyone got equal, though less often as of this year. Once people got food, some went back to their huts, and some socialized in the sector’s square, an open space surrounded by huts. The sector had several doors. One for the kitchens, six for the bathrooms, and one exit into the Community.

This Sunday night, I got my bowl of…stew, maybe, and a piece of four-day-old bread, then made my way outside and into the main community square for the public lashing Tom required everyone to watch. Since Tom had picked the girls, I knew one or both had rejected breeder’s duty.

Bred for the future of humanity, raised with an understanding of their purpose in life, allowed special privileges like nice-smelling soaps and shampoos and a better education—they had access to our library—and better food, the breeders should mate our lord beast. But still, they didn’t comply with Tom’s requests. Instead, they ran from Amoris.

Tom exempted them from working in the community, unlike some of us who worked until our feet couldn’t carry us so that breeders could live a comfortable life. Needless to say, I couldn’t summon compassion for the ones compromising our existence. Breeders should entice the lord into mating. I didn’t fully understand the mating thing, but I understood enough. It meant to have sex with the beast male who would take you as a mate for life. Breeders ought to breed like rabbits with him, because once we uncovered his mate, the Beast Father would send supplies. For the lord’s mate, we’d get not only supplies, we’d also get freedom so we could live Above.

Though I’d never seen Lord Amoris in person, I could imagine why the breeders would be terrified. Still, one of them ought to do something other than get lashed. The fear of lashing alone would make me spread my legs for the beast. It couldn’t be as bad as lashing.

By the time I found my corner behind the crowd and sat down with my back against the wall, Whitney was already begging for mercy and tugging on the rope. Adam checked her bindings, made sure the rope would keep her secured to the pole, then backed away. He faced the crowd. The hem of his black robe fluttered around his boots as he circled Whitney, flicking the whip as he went.

He lashed out.

I winced at her scream, could almost feel the burn on her shoulder.

Okay, so maybe I wasn’t a heartless person after all. Breeders should breed. They had special privileges. But the lashing really hurt. I’d know, I’d been lashed last year for stealing from the kitchens.

I dipped my bread into the bean stew (or something similar) wondering what all went in there, when I caught Tom in the corner of my eye. The crowd parted so he could make his way to my corner. I went to stand, but he patted my head and looked around. A man appeared out of nowhere and brought Tom a chair. “Thank you, John,” Tom said. “Have you met Emma?”

John remained on the other side of Tom, so I couldn’t see him.

“No,” John said.

Tom stroked my head. “She’s like a daughter to me. If you need anything, she’ll help. Won’t you, Emma?”

“Yes, Tom.”

Tom put a spoon on the floor and sipped his soup. I caught his wince at the taste, but he didn’t comment.

“We’re really short, aren’t we?” I asked.

“On food, yes. John brought us news from Above, so we’re not short on information.”

I didn’t care about information. My stomach churned, and I put the bowl away. I’d go hungry for the night if I didn’t eat. Tom sipped some more while Whitney cried some more.

People chanted louder, most wanting Adam to lash the breeder harder. He was giving her a break. Tom extended his hand to John, and John walked away with Tom’s empty bowl.

I scooted closer to Tom’s chair and poked him in the thigh.

He didn’t take his eyes off the lashing but patted my head, telling me he’d listen. “How long before we start starving?”

“One week of supplies is left. John is going Above again. Should be back on Tuesday with more. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everyone.”

I scooted closer so when I whispered, he’d hear me. “I’d like permission to appear before Lord Amoris.”

Tom shook his head. “The beast goes into the cube when you work inside his quarters.”

“Yes, but why?”

“So he doesn’t hurt you.”

“He hasn’t hurt any of the breeders.”

“Breeders are different.”

---