Page 22 of Fated to the Orc

I stare at her, but she does not say the words I need to hear. Instead, she glances at my wrist. The wrist was once bound, and is now free.

She is afraid of me.

That claws at my insides. I am an orc, a proud warrior, a savage beast to my enemies.

I am many things… but I amnota monster.

She takes a step back.

That small movement sends ice coursing through my veins. She is retreating. Distancing herself from me.

She is leaving.

She cannot leave.

My orc instincts roar to life. I willnotbe locked away again. I willnotbe caged like some wild animal!

The bonds still holding me all snap as I flex my muscles.

Evelyn gasps, stumbling backwards. Her fear hurts me to my very core, but I cannot stop myself. My body is driven by instinct, by something ancient and undeniable.

The door to bursts open. A dozen human soldiers flood into the room, weapons raised. Their guns gleam beneath the harsh, fluorescent lights.

Evelyn spins towards them, her voice filled with panic.

“Wait, don’t?—”

Too late.

The first shots ring in my ears.

Pain explodes in my chest as the first bullet slams into me. Another one follows. And another.

I lurch forward, reaching for her, but my legs give out.

The floor rushes up to meet me. My vision darkens at the edges.

The last thing I see before the world fades to black isher.

Evelyn.

Her blue eyes are wide with horror, her lips parted in a scream I cannot hear.

I’m sorry, my mate.

And then — nothing.

Evelyn

“You shot him!”

“Wecalmedhim. Big difference. Varkul is alive and well. He’ll get over it. Orcs are notoriously hard to kill, I’ll have you know. Now, was there anything else?”

Dr. Kelly barely looks up from his desk while I stand fuming in his office. He’s got the biggest room in this entire facility all to himself, with no expenses spared.

Mahogany desk. Designer chairs. A panoramic view of the ancient jungle outside.

I cross my arms and blow out air through my nose. I’ve showered for over an hour since theincident, but I can’t get the smell off.

---