Page 10 of Daughter of Garnet

A low rumble in the beast’s chest is the only warning I get before he pounces.

I fall to the ground, and the feline crowds me, pushing me to my back as it pants in my face. Those deadly teeth are inches away from tearing me apart. My heart feels like it wants to run away with how fast it is pounding.

“Steady.”

The word floats through my brain, and an almost unnatural calm washes over me. I take a deep, shuddering breath and lie as still as possible as the beast sniffs my neck. Despite his hot breath fanning across me, I'm shivering beneath him. Eventually, it steps back and lets out a sound that feels frustrated and confused. I didn't know a beast could make sounds like that.

I clamor to my feet and bolt, leaving my shirt behind. I know there is no way I could outrun this beast, but that doesn’t stop me from trying.

A roar pierces the air, and I pick up the pace, but by the time I exit the woods, I realize I’m not being chased at all. I don’t stick around for the man to change his mind and come after me, sprinting across campus to my building. I don't stop to think until I'm under the hot spray of a shower.

What was that? Why was he so convinced that I’m an Omega? I was in a class with over thirty Alphas today. One of them would have said something. The head of the Institute and all the high priests are Alphas. He would’ve known the moment it happened.

No, that Alpha is obviously out of his mind. He’d have to be, to threaten me with his beast like that. I’ve not studied the rules of this place, but I have a feeling that this wouldn’t be allowed.

I scrub the sweat from my body, hands still shaking, trying to let my worries and fear wash down the drain, hoping that they’re not so large they’ll clog the pipes.

CHAPTER 6

Zoe

I’m still reeling from the interaction with the Alpha in the woods last night. I don’t know who he is, why he thinks I’m an Omega, and why it's so important to him, but I have a feeling he won't let this go.

What does it matter to him if I am an Omega? Not that I am, of course. But why does he care?

“Why are you being so weird?” Warren shoves the rest of his muffin in his mouth and speaks around it. “You’re acting like you’re heading to your funeral. It’s just Menagerie Management.”

I shake my head and gather up my half-eaten breakfast. Warren didn’t insist on dressing me this morning, so I’m wearing comfortable denim and a red blouse. My mother has always said I look good in red, but I’ve never understood how to match colors to my appearance. I grab what I like and what feels good on my body.

“I’m not acting weird.” He raises an eyebrow, not believing my denial. “What? I’m not. I’m not thrilled to be here, but that’s nothing new. I didn’t really like university either.”

He loops his arm through mine and slows his steps to walk in pace with me.

“But isn’t this more fun? It’s more hands-on now that we have our designations. I have to admit, I'm excited to learn how to handle Alphas when they’re in their beast forms.”

This does not sound like my idea of fun, especially after my encounter with an Alpha last night. I think it’s kind of bullshit that we have to know how to calm an enraged Alpha and manage their beast forms. If they’re the ones that are so important that they are trusted to run our government, shouldn’t they have more control over themselves?

The classroom is small, big enough for thirty students at the most. Warren and I are some of the last in, if the number of empty seats is anything to go by. A woman stands at the front of the room with a friendly smile and gestures toward two empty seats near the front of the room.

She’s lovely, with long, sleek red hair that is a shade too vibrant to be natural, and creamy ivory skin. Her brown eyes track our movements, and then flick to the clock on the wall behind us.

“Good morning, students. I think we’re good to get started.” Her voice is soothing, and I could imagine myself falling asleep in her class very easily. “I’m Professor Trisha Kayhill. You can call me Professor, Professor Trisha, Trisha, I’m not picky.”

She sits on the top of her desk, crossing her ankles over one another. “This is Menagerie Management, which is a fancy way of saying that your goal in this class is to learn how to manage the beasts that Alphas can shift into. We’ll start by learning which beasts the Gods most commonly Bless the Alphas with, how those forms can affect the Alphas’ temperaments, and how to coax a beast into the background so the Alpha can regain control of their body.

“As much as they hate to admit it, sometimes the beast can override their better senses, and when that happens, the Alpha may need a little help. The best thing is for them to be exposed to their Omegas, but we have so few that it’s rare to risk them around a raging Alpha they aren't bonded to.”

“So they’re willing to risk us?” a low voice behind me asks. “Are we cannon fodder?”

Professor Trisha sucks on her teeth and shrugs. “You could look at it that way. Or you could see yourself as the protector of our most vulnerable population by stepping in.” She sweeps her gaze across the classroom. “You may think there is no glory in being a Beta, but when an Alpha is on a rampage or stuck in a rut, we are who they call. It’s up to us to get the beast to cede control to the man.”

“What’s a rut?” The question comes from the back of the classroom.

“Great question. We’ll have a whole section on it later, but you should know the basics now. A rut is a period of increased sexual desire that an Alpha can be trapped in. Typically, this is in their human forms, but I’ve heard of some beasts being affected as well. They become overwhelmed with the instinctual urge to find an Omega and impregnate them. They can get extremely aggressive if not given access to an Omega.”

“So what, we’re supposed to let them fuck us instead?” a voice to my left asks.

The professor’s laugh is tinkling and pretty, as she flips her hair over her shoulder. “If the Alpha has selected you to be a part of their pack? Sure. But for most of us, we find other ways.”