The Change: Episode one by Angela White

I really would have that loving owner.
    It wouldn’t be as easy to satisfy her before
she flipped next time, though, and the slight fear hit me when I
stepped from the room to see her pink gaze. I knew from my training
that the temporary methods wore off quickly, and then the female
was constantly hungry for it to put out the fire. From now on, I
would have to get her near the bed so I could use the cuffs.
    Aware of her flickering eyes and my own
surprising interest, I carefully tried to distract us both with
some of the thousands of questions I had.
     
    C
    “ How long will we be
here?”
    I pushed my empty bowl away, shrugging.
“Would you stay a while?”
    His look was all the answer I needed. He
couldn’t wait to go.
    “ In the morning. Our
passage is booked.”
    His eyes darkened at that
and I understood, but said nothing to comfort him. Transportation
of prizes was done like livestock, even down to the crates. It was
a Network rule, humiliating, but I wouldn’t break it. The Pruetts
were careful to appear loyal.
    “ How long will it
take?”
    “ Three days.” Seventy two long hours where anything could
happen, I thought. “I’ll be on the train
with you, one car away.”
    Discounting the expensive
train ride we were about to take, by foot and horse were still the
most common forms of transportation. Even hunting still held more
lure than the odd stores that popped up. There had been very little
advancement, and I was sure it was due to the lack of ambitious men
with strong backs. The only people with access to the small bits of
technology left were the Network and their lackeys. Also, their hired labor ,
I thought with a mental sneer. The Pruetts had been using their
Network connection to pad stocks for years.
    “ What will I do
there?”
    Daniel’s fears were endless, and some, a
surprise. The Network claimed the males had no real desire to be
freed, but I hadn’t believed it until now.
    “ You’ll help my family
clear the old roads.” And help me control
the Changeling inside.
    He seemed satisfied with
that, and I wondered how deep into our mix he would fall. Would he
be at my side when we went out on a run, or left at our homestead
with the other mates? Would seeing his childhood home make him
remember me? Us?
    Needing space to avoid demanding a repeat
performance, I headed for the master bedroom that I hadn’t used
yet, still exhausted and extremely sore. “I’ll sleep in here
tonight. Do what you like, but don’t leave this apartment without
asking.”
    Daniel seemed horrified at the thought, and
I settled into the large bed, filled with an emotion I almost
didn’t recognize. Happiness.

Chapter Eight

    Day 6
     
     
    C
    Hours later, I tossed restlessly in the bed
alone, the nightmares not ugly, but still disturbing. Outside, a
lightning storm had begun.
    Bang!
    A loud strike rattled the complex. An
instant later, Daniel tapped on the door. “Can… Can I come in?”
    I sat up with shadowy images of blood still
spilling behind my lids. “Yes.”
    He had stripped down to just the trousers
I’d brought, a size too large, and my eyes went straight to that
bare chest. I wanted him, there was no denying it, and it wasn’t
all from the Change. His beautiful eyes were huge, full of fear
that was almost desperate. He didn’t like to be alone during
storms… or maybe at all. I cursed myself for not thinking of it.
During his… stay with the Network, he had probably been around
other males at all times.
    “ I’d be where you
are.”
    Hunger . It took me by surprise so quickly I couldn’t breathe. I
forced a curt nod.
    The bed dipped under his weight, and I lay
down, closing my eyes. A minute later, I was back under the edge of
sleep, certain it would be more restful with him closer. I didn’t
like having him out of my sight.
     
    D
    I waited until she was snoring softly and
slowly inched onto my side to stare. Like most Changelings, she
didn’t use a blanket. The heat inside was more than