Free Full Moon Feral by Jackie Nacht Page B

feel like this?”
    “A little.” Brendan was feeling something, but it was clear that Ripley was far more aggressive at the moment.
    Elder Lewis walked in, and Ripley growled.
    The Elder just stood there, assessing them with his arms behind his back. The silence continued for several minutes and even Brendan was ready to shout out, What?
    “I think it would be best if you both went into lockdown as of right now. We’ll make sure we have a guard bring you everything you need.” Elder Lewis turned to leave.
    “Wait a damn minute,” Ripley snarled. “What the fuck is happening to us?”
    Elder Lewis turned and lifted a brow. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” He turned and left the two of them alone.
    Ripley went over and slammed his fist against the wall several times until his hands were bloody and bruised. Ripley slumped to the ground, and Brendan rushed over to him.
    “I hate this. This has been one hell of a month. I’m trying to adjust to a fucking world I never knew about, but every damn time I turn around, there’s a curve ball coming my way. I hate this cell with a passion.” Ripley tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.
    Brendan didn’t know what to say. He'd always known he was an Omega, a shifter and one day he would come here. He couldn’t even imagine how hard it was to be in Ripley’s shoes, to find out after you went feral, to wake up to a mate. He had been doing so well but now…was this the final straw? Would Ripley turn his back on me and wash his hands of the whole situation?
    That night, they stayed locked up, but Ripley was in his own world. Ripley never said a word to him, and Brendan couldn’t take it anymore.
    “Malach,” Brendan called down the hall.
    Malach approached the bars. “You guys need something?”
    “Can you take me to my room, please?” Brendan glanced back to see that Ripley still wouldn’t even look at him.
    “You sure?” Malach asked, getting the keys out.
    “Yes,” Brendan murmured as he left the cell, walking across to his. Malach locked him in, and Brendan walked over to his bed, falling upon it and curling onto his side. The room had never been so cold.
     
    * * * *
     
    The night of the full moon, Brendan was snarling at anyone that passed his cell doors. He felt like his whole body was working on another wavelength, and his composure had taken a vacation since he woke up that morning. He wanted to scream at Ripley who had yet to say anything to him. Pissed, hurt and confused was one hell of a way to go into a shift that night.
    He was about to snarl at the next person but changed his mind when it was Malach that approached the cell. “Come with me.”
    Malach gripped Brendan’s arm and pulled him toward Ripley’s room. “No fucking way!” Brendan roared, and all heads in the hall turned to look at him.
    “Ripley wants to see you, and you have ten minutes before we lock you both up. Now, get in there,” Malach all but tossed him in. Damn guard!
    Brendan shook the bars a couple times before giving up and leaning his head on them.
    A warm touch to his shoulder indicated that Ripley was right there. Brendan wanted to slap it away. He was hurt, but this was the first time in twenty-four hours that he had felt warmth.
    “Bren, turn around, please.” Ripley turned him and wrapped his arms around Brendan.
    “I’m sorry. It’s just…I’ve had so much come at me and I just needed to think about everything that’s happened. I’ve been thinking how this last month has been a nightmare and that I wish I could go back to the way things were before, but then, I stop myself. I think of not having you and somehow going back to that world seems unbearable. I love you, Bren. I just wanted to let you know before we have to shift tonight. I love you, and when tonight is over, I’m going to make it up to you.” Ripley huffed into his hair.
    Brendan understood where Ripley was coming from. His whole life had changed in the last couple