The Rebellious Mate

13(ii) The Viewing

When Moggie yawned, Asena mimicked her, covering her mouth when her fangs emerged.

She wondered if Victoria had seen her image in the Cahier of Eros, the Summer collection. The ink faded within an hour after removing the cellulose wrapping. At home, they'd employed the same proprietary tech. So, either the USCA licensed its patented design or Europa developed its own version. The vaporizing ink ensured what they printed never fell into human hands. Their species was paranoid about homo sapiens discovering their existence.

Asena didn't hate homo sapiens. But as a species, they were swarming locusts that destroyed everything they touched. No creature rivaled their propensity for violence. In the last four centuries, they had waged uncountable senseless wars. Enslaved each other. Annihilated the environment. Somehow forgotten the earth was their sole refuge and created an arsenal of planet killers.

'How many countries now have atomic bombs?' Moggie asked.

The possibility of nuclear winter plagued Shifters and the reclusive vampire population. As is, Sirens and Ancients were nearly extinct.

Worldwide, human lore and literature were spellbound by Lycanthropes.

'Also, with strange concepts—aliens, faes, witches, mermaids, and whatnot.'

While traveling between packlands, Vic bought second-hand paperbacks from stores in towns. She'd sit at their dining table and read them aloud. Papa blushed and hightailed out of the house. Nessi and Moggie guffawed at the humans' interpretation of them, but their idea of romance was weird, and the smut was hilarious.

'Don't forget their definition of fated mates,' Moggie chuckled.

In reality, the bond was a seed. It germinated in the right conditions, soil, and irrigation to grow. There was nothing instant about it. The New World Shifters' greed and impatience had warped the concept. Oldens had very different belief sets.

Beasts recognized potential partners through hormonal profiling. Studies proved it established they were healthy and compatible breeders. Most defined it as kinship. Some believed emotional connections developed. Of course, a school of thought attributed it to mystical soulmates. Werewolves swore by it. But then, only when males were attracted to a female did their scent change. Their target reacted to pheromones, namely darcin. However, ample examples demonstrated their ability to form multiple bonds. Also, such connections broke and reformed; or replaced. Labels complicated the issue.

'Europa's done away with them altogether. They favor alliances.'

To dyke the tidal wave of homesickness, Asena turned her attention to the hardback lying on the desk.

Besides it sat her drawing pad and oil pastels. She scoffed at Zane's blatant attempt to strong-arm her into peddling her skills.

The presence of a book showed she was literate. She flipped through the Comprehensive Annals of Europa. The opinion on the Betrayers, or the four rebels given the honorific title of Berserkers in the Americas, fascinated her. It glossed over the role played by the Trinity of the Romulus, Romanov, and Rasputin bloodlines. The alliance of the Ghurals and Lycans kept the earliest feral werewolf packs in control. All they mentioned was the Oldens treated New World Shifters, who transformed into actual animals, as rabid beasts. Pages droned on about their cruelty.

'History's written by the victors, Asena, It is not a testament of veracity. There is no absolute truth, yes?' Moggie asked.

She speculated what the Emperor would do to radicals like Kirkland, the late Harald Finnigham, and the outcast Nomads. Their writing challenged conventions and proffered alternatives, along with their unrelenting criticism of all cherished therianthrope 'norms'.