Page 81 of Her Feral Beasts

Embarrassment crawls up my spine like acid. The vision of Lyle seeing where I lived—in myhovel, as Xander calls it—is truly awful. I didn’t mind so much when the others saw it. But this refined beast who dresses like a European model and is responsible for this school? Mother, take me dead. I can’t look him in the eye.

“Now, if I ask myself why a father would put his daughter in a place like that, I can only come up with one answer.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “And what’s that?”

“You did something. It was punishment for somethingyoudid.”

The backs of my eyes burn because I’m triggered. Massively.

Serpents are the most hated court of animalia kind. So hated that there was an effort to kill them all off in the ‘70s. They called it The Serpent Purge. A group of other orders got together and tried to eradicate them. It all happened because the king at the time was heavily using blood magic and poison, like he was addicted to it.

Because of this, my father has spent his whole life doing everything he can to turn that around. He’s carefully constructed himself a reputation of being a kind and generous man. He goes to council meetings, buddies up with rich, influential people. Does illegal favours for them, often using me. If anyone suspects he’s a power hungry, devious, conniving, sinister man, they ignore their instincts. In fact, Xander is the only one who openly expressed hate for him.

All I did to deserve my exile was genetically take after my mother.

So when Lyle Pardalia accusesmeof being in the wrong, I want to cry. Instead, what do I do? I abruptly turn around and storm away.

As if it somehow confirms my guilt, he lets me.

Chapter36

Savage

I’m soaping myself with my new Aurelia-scented liquid body wash, because obviously I had to get the same one as she just starting using, when a black energy hurtles down the corridor on the floor below. Fear spikes within the wolves of the building and I jump out of the shower, not bothering to put clothes on, suds still sliding down my abs when I step into the bedroom I share with my brothers. On the level below, every door of the dorm corridor slams shut, leaving it deserted. The beasts here have the good sense to flee. A fight between powerful beasts can get nuclear-level nasty.

The door crashes open—no, itfliesinto the room completely torn from its hinge—and standing there with a look of pure murder in his whiskey-coloured eyes is Lyle Pardalia.

Scythe and Xander are already on their feet. Eugene gives a scared squawk from where he’s perched on my headboard.

“What’s wrong, Lyle?” Scythe says in that heavy, calm rasp of his.

Lyle can’t even speak he’s so angry, and it makes my hackles rise, a growl beginning in the depths of my chest. He’s looking at me like he wants to fight, his fists clenched, his eyes on fire.

I like that look. It means I’ll get to taste blood.

“What did he do now?” Xander puts out his joint, ready to defend me in his own way.

But Lyle only has eyes for me, and the challenge in them sets me off. I’m never matched in a fight, but I think rabid Lyle might just be a beast who actually stands a chance. I shift on instinct. My joints pop, my bones change shape, fur bursts from my skin, and I relish that sweet burn because I was born to be a wolf, and no one does it better than me.

Landing on my four massive paws, I snap at Lyle, my long, loud growl filling the room.

But our deputy headmaster doesn’t move an inch, and his fear doesn’t perfume the air for my pleasure like it should.

“Change back, wolf,” he snarls. “Or I will string up your carcass from the ceiling.”

Well, now I’m so fucking excited I could get hard. But my brother goes and ruins it.

“You won’t.” Scythe takes a step forward and tries to poke my brain with his psychic power, but I don’t let him. I’m too angry. This lion has been seeingmyAurelia in private sessions, so I’m ready to mutilate him. But my brother is a ruthless bastard and knows me too well because he slams into my brain and commands,“Control, brother.”

Growling, I shift back, remaining in a low crouch on the floor, my eyes on Lyle’s perfect face, imagining his face would be even prettier with glistening red slashes.

“You’ve been stealing her underwear,” Lyle states down at me.

I go still and so do Scythe and Xander. They both turn to look at me at the same time and I sigh, standing up.

“Oh, is that all?” I drawl, leaning on my dresser where I’ve hidden my loot in a scent-proof box because they’remine.

“What the fuck, Sav?” Xander scoffs like the child of nepotism he is.

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