Page 71 of Born Savage

For a few seconds, I was pulled back in time to when I’d had my puppy. Maybe Peter and everyone else were right and that Wren and Jake had been sent to me, a gift or a reminder that the future could be changed.

Rage accepted Wren’s hug, appearing as uncomfortable as I thought the moment to be, but I walked toward him, realizing it was time.

Once I was standing in front of him, I touched Wren on the shoulder. “I’m going to take you to bed in a minute. Just wait a second. Okay?”

Wren seemed to realize I needed to talk to him alone, returning to my mother’s bedside. Using two fingers, I pushed him into the corridor where the other Savages were waiting. Even with the tattoos I’d seen, I refused to accept that they were anything special.

“Don’t wake my father. He hasn’t slept in a long time.” My words of chastisement brought a smile to his face.

Did he not understand how much he irritated me?

“Plans have been expedited. We are about to eliminate the enemy.” He was so calm about the whole thing I wasn’t certain if he was trying to impress me.

It wasn’t working.

“I’m coming with you.”

At least I continued to surprise and irritate him. “No, you are not. There are complications including a storm heading toward us.”

“How do you know?”

“I know.” Rage was so certain of himself, every aspect dominating, and a complete know it all. Maybe that’s what pissed me off more than his basic presence.

However, if he was right about storms, that could mean anything. With the unpredictable microclimates, there could be torrential downpours and heavy, damaging winds that would make traversing the terrain impossible.

“I may have relinquished control with this fight, but as I’ve already told you, this is my home, these are my people. You can’t stop me.”

“It’s dangerous, princess.”

“Isn’t everything? And stop calling me princess. As I said, there is nothing you can to do to stop me.”

“Let her go, Rage. This is her destiny. She has been trained as a warrior and will be helpful.” Peter had also been lurking in the shadows. At least he was on my side.

I didn’t need any additional lighting to know his displeasure. I felt it in my bones. He shored up his massive shoulders, which managed to fill a doorway, and nodded only once. “Very well, but you will do what I say.”

“Wren. Come with me. You need some sleep.” When she accepted my hand, curling her fingers around mine, I leaned into him with a harsh whisper. “Over my dead body.”

There was no need to wait for his retort, nor did I care what he had to say. With Jake dutifully following, we headed toward my quarters. I was surprised she didn’t argue, didn’t really pay attention to my messy room.

Jake curled up by her side and when she was tucked in, I sat on the edge of the bed. “Alright, sweet girl. I have a couple things to do and I’ll be back. I promise.”

She nodded profusely, already stroking Jake’s head and I sensed it was a calming mechanism.

“Just do me a favor and stay in this room. You’ll be perfectly safe here and you need your rest. Okay?” She was staring at me as I rubbed my fingers across her forehead. She even looked a little like I had as a child.

I kissed two fingers and pressed them against her cheek before heading to the door, looking back only once. I thought about Peter’s comment that I was a warrior. Maybe he was right, but only because I knew nothing else.

But someone would need to explain to me in vivid detail why all this was my destiny.

CHAPTER 15

Star

Rage had already figured out how to raise the hatch and did so without making any noise. With the heat-seeking console doublechecked, we knew exactly where the marauders were hiding for the night. The others were none too pleased that I was joining them, Wrath and Vicious especially.

I had to give the scientists who’d provided their new names credit. Rage. Wrath. Vicious. Blade. Ghost. Wizard. Rock.

They were all incredibly handsome, all with sculpted muscles that were no longer seen in the survivors. When people were starving, muscular structure disappeared first. But even with indulging myself at enjoying their chiseled features, a little voice inside my head reminded me they were a product of laboratories.