Pride's Run Read Free Page A

lessons I asked
Miss Kara what it meant. Instead of answering, she paled and darted
to the bathroom. I took that opportunity to do a quick search on
her computer, and what I found sickened me.
    The master likes to collect people in much
the same manner as he collects animals. His entire staff is made up
of these immigrants, men and women who’ve come to this country
looking for a better life. Should any of them question his orders
punishment would, undoubtedly, come in the form of deportation. Or
perhaps even worse.
    As my mood darkens, clouds move across the
sky, eclipsing the summer sun and giving us a break from the dry
heat.
    “Have you looked over the course?” he
whispers quietly, his dark eyes darting around nervously.
    I know what he’s talking about, and I know
he’s taking a risk in even hinting at it, but I don’t respond.
Instead, I turn my focus to the master who commands the attention
of all those around him as he moves through the imprisoned
courtyard, examining his pets. Since I’d like to eat today, I use
that time to gather myself and get my head into the game. It will
take all my intelligence and concentration to match Stone’s
strength.
    Bones crack in protest when I turn my head
from side to side, stretching my neck. As I call on my wolf, the
pain of the shift pulls at me and I focus on it fully, using it to
fuel my blood and power my body.
    Shifting is never easy, and while our wolf is
ruled by the moon, we can morph anytime we like. I usually only
transform when forced, like during our training sessions or when
the master demands I make a kill. During the full moon, however, we
have no choice but to shift. There is nothing we can do to fight
the power it has over us.
    My body begins to shake, air rushes from my
lungs. Unstable, I drop to the ground. Landing on all fours, my
flesh stretches, tears, and my bones elongate. Blood burns in my
veins as my wolf claws its way out of my young, human body. A
moment later I feel the warm, dewy grass beneath my broadening
paws.
    Cartilage pops, my teeth extend, and my snout
lengthens until my female face is no longer identifiable. The
unhinging of my jawbone turns a scream into an inhuman growl. Pain
seizes me and I fear my heart is going to stop as the ungodly noise
of my shift mingles with the sounds of those morphing around
me.
    Soon the pain fades, my body reforms, and I
shake the buzz from my head as my wolf emerges. I sit back on my
haunches and examine my paws, readjusting to the feel before I’m
forced to perform for the master.
    With the shifting complete, and given little
time to adapt, a gunshot sounds and a hush falls over the
courtyard. Head high I walk to the beginning of my course, Stone
beside me facing his own obstacles.
    I steal a sideways glance at him. He looks
good. Strong. Well fed. Maybe he’s the one ‘doing it’ with the
master. Fit and muscular, he has at least a good forty pounds over
me. His body is long where mine is short and his fur is dark where
mine is light.
    His big beefy paws sink into the grass, and
he peels his lips back and bares sharp canines in an attempt to
intimidate me. I ignore the grumble in my stomach and stare back.
Tucking tail and fleeing is not an option.
    A bird of prey squawks loudly overhead and
flies toward the grapevines. I don’t look up, it will only make me
long for that kind of freedom, and right now I need all my wits
about me.
    A second gunshot cracks the air and as the
smell of sulfur penetrates my senses, I dig my paws into the soft
ground below and sprint forward, Stone easily keeping pace beside
me.
    Just then the clouds split open, the sun
peeking out in time to catch the action. Panting beneath the
glaring rays, my legs eat up the ground and I hit the first wall
running. Concentrating on the rasp of my own breath and the
pounding of my heart, I tune Stone out.
    The silence of the crowd is broken by a
chorus of frenzied barks at my rear. The sound of other wolves
cheering us on makes me