Threshold shift

Chapter 31

The t-rex gazed down at the human behind the fence, her expression curious, actually quite intrigued, and her mind was openly inquisitive. She felt him quite clearly, drawn to the absolute alpha like a puppet on a string, and she was rumbling at him like Owen knew what she was trying to communicate.

And she was.

And he understood her.

Owen Grady could feel this imposing creature, beautiful and wild like all of them, and older than all of them. She had lived for a quarter century, had been on this island for twenty-two years. And for a while she had roamed free.

Her tiny steel ball of a mind was open to him, but Owen didn't really want to touch it. He caught the gist of her surface thoughts. That was enough.

Not your trainer.

She rumbled, a deep bass sound that went down to his very bones. Her nose touched the window and her breath clouded the pane.

::Power:: Owen heard from her. At least it felt like he heard that. ::Lead. Alpha.::

Not yours, he said forcefully.

Sue snorted. She tilted her head, looking at him.

::All:: Owen was told.

No!

From the little ebb and flow between them he caught her amusement at his stubbornness. She was so completely unlike the raptors, he felt out of his depth. She was older, though not wiser. She was strong, deeply settled in her ways, her mind like a fortress. There was this smoldering fire deep within her, her years of experience, her knowledge of what had been before. But she was also this wild, untamed force, held back only by the walls around her enclosure. Sue was very much aware that getting out wouldn't be easy.

Aside from a complete park failure or someone being negligent, she wouldn't be able to escape.

She seemed to laugh at him as those thought flitted between them.

A maw full of sharp teeth opened right in front of him, only the safety glass separating them. She had tasted human flesh, had eaten her share of tiny creatures that screamed and still filled her stomach.

She was territorial, too.

She had once reigned this island.

Only the alpha was her equal, not the others who were weaker copies of his ability to sense her. She felt them, she let herself get pushed back if she was in the mood.

Owen blinked and pulled back.

I have my pack. Just my pack. You are your own. You have trainers who care about you.

Laurel and Josh were... inconsequential to her. She knew they were feeding her, that they took care of her needs, but if push came to shove they would be on her menu like anyone else.

No mercy.

She was a wild animal who had gone up against humans before. As long as she was well-fed and happy, her mood would be laid-back and cooperative.

But if provoked, no one would be safe.

Owen calmed his nerves, centered himself, facing the massive creature.

They are on your side.

Josh was a challenge to her. She was aware of his receptiveness and it was almost a game. Sue was looking for weak spots, exploiting them.

If you damage him, if you even destroy him, you will gain nothing.

Nor would she lose anything.