“If I had not killed Grogan, he would have beaten and used you.”Urazi had witnessed Grogan striking her, so the first part came as no surprise, but how could he have known the alpha had intended to avail himself of her?“Do you think I could not read his behavior? That I did not notice him rubbing himself against you? Do you think I am mentally deficient?” Urazi growled. “If I had not intervened, you would have joined forces against Marlix, Dak, and Ilian without knowing it.”

Anika’s face heated with guilt and shame.

“You are impulsive! Rash,” Urazi continued to rail. “You fled without concern for the consequences.”

“I knew the consequences! Marlix would have sent me to Ilian.”

Urazi looked away. “Commander Ilian would have kept you safe.”

“Maybe safety represents the greatest danger of all.”

“Your words do not make sense.”

“I wish to choose what I do. “

“Protocol makes the choice for you.”

“Protocol. Protocol. Protocol! I am sick of Protocol.” Anika stomped around, too angry to remain still.

“It is the way. Our way.”

“Our way allowed Corren, Commander Dak’s beta, to slit my throat and leave me for dead.”

Anika traced the fine scar bisecting her neck. “It allowed Qalin’s guards to hunt Tara and me, to kill Tara’s friend Ramon.”

“That is not the fault of Protocol, but of the individuals involved,” Urazi said.

Anika shook her head. “No. It creates the environment that encourages such behavior.”

“That is incor—”

“Protocol allows the male offspring of my sire to send me to whomever he wishes without concern for my desires.” Anika cut him off.

“Ilian is Alpha. He is the best possible choice for you.”

“Qalin is Alpha, too. Would he not be a best possible choice?”

“Now you speak rubbish.” Urazi turned away.

“You know I am right.”

“I know we all have our duty. In obedience, we achieve honor.”

“Easy for you to say. You are male. Your duty affords you some choices.”

“I am beta. Do you not think I wish for more?” Urazi whipped around, his gray eyes ablaze.

“But I owe my allegiance to Parseon and to my Alpha! I accept that.”

“Well, I do not!” If she had a hammer she would not be able to pound understanding into his stony male brain. He would never empathize with her position. No male could. Anika clenched her hands into fists. If she were a male, she would have punched him by now. Old and new resentments ballooned. If she could not calm herself, she would explode. She would punch him.

Anika stomped toward the forest.

“Come back here!”

She ignored him. He did not get a choice in the matter. Let him see what it was like to have one’s wishes overruled.

“Anika, I warn you….” Urazi’s voice hardened.

She faltered, responding to the command, habit and lifelong training overruling self-determination. But only if she let it. I am more than what I have been taught. Anika whirled around, folded all her fingers except for the middle one, and showed him her hand. Tara had called it flipping the coro and explained it was a very rude, dismissive gesture on Terra. It would be more satisfying if Urazi knew what it meant, but, for now, it was enough that she did. She spun around and marched toward the woods.