My Wild Pet (Whispers from the Imperial Cage #2)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Aefre

I guide Ash down the corridor with her leash firmly in hand. Until she’s properly trained, she’ll be sleeping in my quarters—not in the communal pet area. It’s safer this way, especially with Ember’s unpredictability lately. Managing two wild cards is hardly ideal , I think as I tighten my grip on Ash’s leash.

Ash follows quietly, her little boots tapping against the floor and my thoughts drift to what she did to that other human male. It’s unsettling when humans refuse sex—they’re typically mindless creatures obsessed with it. They build entire technologies to chase that physical pleasure. Matriarchies across the galaxy call humanity an evolutionary dead-end, blaming the absence of female leadership for stunted development.

Personally, I think it’s simpler: humans are non-sentient by nature, driven by base instincts. Something went wrong in their evolution, and it has nothing to do with women being absent at the helm. Their brains just stopped progressing. Rumors crop up occasionally about meeting a fully sentient human from Earth, but it’s rare. Usually, if humans attain any real intelligence, it’s because they were raised in the galaxy and have Imperial DNA spliced in. That’s why I avoid mixed-heritage pets, no matter how human they may be in appearance.

Ember is the only exception I’ve ever encountered—he’s almost sentient. Or so I sometimes tell myself. More likely, he’s just perfected Imperial speech and body language enough to mimic my own thoughts. It’s easy to mistake a talented copycat for genuine intellect, but deep down, I know it’s just a polished reflection of me.

I guide Ash into my quarters and directly to the bathroom. So far, she’s proven more compliant than most new pets—she hasn’t urinated on herself, which is a common mishap in the beginning. I show her the toilet and demonstrate how to use it. Her green eyes track my every movement, and I can’t help but note they match my own Imperial shade. Perhaps that explains why she seems more attentive than the average human.

Once she’s finished, she presses the flush button.

I pat her head. “Good. Clever pet.” Then I lead her by the leash into my bedroom, removing the tether so I can inspect her more thoroughly. I tell her to stand with hands behind her head and legs apart. She doesn’t understand me so I have to guide her hands, and I tap the inside of her thighs to get her to stand with them open, but she doesn’t resist.

The cleansing attendants did a remarkably convincing job dyeing her body fur to match her hair—it appears almost natural, as though it grows that way on its own.

I run my fingers through the fur between her legs, purposely trying to see how many strokes it takes for her to become aroused. I make a mental note of about twenty full and strong strokes, which is average for a human woman in her prime. I bring my fingers up to my nose. Kaelin was right, she smells good. Better than I thought she would, given the state I bought her in.

Leaning in, I take in the scent of her underarms. There’s an earthy warmth there, laced with the faintest notes of salt and citrus. It lingers despite the soap used to scrub away any trace of Earth.

I move my hands to her breasts. I roll them and weigh them out. They’re larger than most females who compete in pet shows, but still quite firm. I bounce them up and down. I don’t think they will hinder her too much. Aesthetically, her nipples sit high and her areolas are large meaning the nipple piercings will even look more exquisite once fitted.

I absently rub one of her rosy nipples while I think about the jewelry I’ll put here to show her off. Long silver pieces that will connect through her legs, perhaps? I bet she’d like that, a little chain that rubbed her labia and pulled on her nipples simultaneously.

I make eye contact with Ash as I think about all these things. Her eyes show the unmistakable signs of desire. I check Ash’s collar readout and note the subtle spikes across her vital stats—elevated heart rate and a slight uptick in dopamine. Also, the flush in her cheeks is equally telling. She’s aroused, plain as the readouts and her own body language confirm.

I watch her as I pull on her nipple. She slightly opens her mouth as I do. “Good girl,” I say. Then, I run a finger across her bottom lip. “Open for me,” I say automatically even though I know she can’t understand me.

But she seems to know what I want and she opens her mouth. I look at her teeth which look clean and straight. I get her to show me the length of her tongue by tapping on it. I tentatively put my finger in her mouth to see if she’ll bite me.

She doesn’t. Not even a nibble.

My door chimes and I verbally allow the doctor in.

“Is that wise?” he asks upon viewing the scene.

“I don’t think she’s as feral as they made her out to be. I don’t think we know the whole story of what happened in that cage.”

The doctor shakes his head. “Aefre, I think you’re so anxious about replacing Fifi that you’ll believe anything that’ll give you hope right now.”

The doctor may be right. I am worried and I do need Ash to be the perfect human pet. If Ash doesn’t do what I need her to do, Ira might find another trainer to invest in. Then not only do I lose my ideal sponsor, I lose face in the pet circuit.

“We’ll see,” I reply positively as I watch the doctor remove his tools to pierce Ash’s pink nipples.

“Just the nipples,” he asks. “Not the labia?”

“Not the labia. Her fur speaks for itself. Look at it.” I run my fingers through the long fur between her legs causing the little bow to fall out.

“You don’t think it’s too much? With the color, I mean?” he asks absently as he readies his tools.

“No. All the other trainers will have heard I bought her. I might as well use her fierce reputation to my advantage. We’ve got no other options but to train her, unless you have a secret show pet you’ve been hiding at the medical center?”

The doctor smiles as he positions Ash to pierce her left nipple. But as soon as the needle begins to prick her sensitive skin, she pulls back with an adorable yelp.

“Ash, be a good girl.”

She doesn’t look at me as I say her name because she’s too busy glaring at the doctor.

“Perhaps you should punish her, Aefre.”

“No, no. She must know this is not punishment. This is for a purpose. To enhance her beauty. To mark her as owned.” I want to give Ash the opportunity to understand. “Try again, Doctor.”

The doctor hesitates, but says nothing.

Ash speaks in her human language.

“Do you understand what she’s saying?” the doctor asks.

“No, I rarely indulge humans in their languages.”

“Good, because as you know, it causes brain rot. I’ve seen many good trainers lose their minds over listening to their pets in their human languages. They become obsessed and deranged. They begin to believe humans are sentient. When in fact humans just repeat what they have heard because they’re incapable of independent thought.”

I don’t answer the doctor, but speak to Ash in a calm tone. I know she can’t understand my words, but perhaps she’ll understand my tone. “This is a symbol of status and of belonging. It’s not meant to degrade, but to elevate.”

“She doesn’t understand. If you want this done. Hold her. I have to see Ember after this. You know he got into quite a fight in the showers.”

“I heard,” I say not taking my eyes off Ash. “But he’s calm now.”

“After he slept it off chemically. He’s still physically hurt.”

I put my hand in the middle of Ash’s back and push her forward. And surprising me and the doctor she doesn’t resist.

I nod to the doctor and he moves toward her, his tools gleaming faintly in the light.

Ash stiffens as the doctor reaches out to take her left breast in his hand.

She takes a step back again. Although this isn’t perfect, I’m pleased to see she doesn’t try to bite him.

I catch her eyes and hold up my ring connected to her collar.

Immediately, she takes a step forward into the doctor’s waiting hands.

“Good, you will endure this. And when it’s done, you will see that strength lies not in resisting, but in mastering what I give to you.”

“Goddesses Aefre, she’s a wild animal or are those instructions for me?”

“Do your job,” I say quietly. “And I’ll do mine.”

I can tell the doctor is nervous that she’ll attack him. I calm him too, “She won’t bite. She doesn’t want to be punished by her collar.”

“The bruises on her body suggest that pain doesn’t necessarily stop her.”

“Don’t show fear then. Don’t let her think she can best you.”

“I prefer humans after you’ve trained them,” the doctor says as he pierces her left nipple.

Ash lets out a sweet whimper and I step forward to stroke the abundant fur between her legs. “Good girl. One more my new pet.”

The doctor pierces Ash’s other pink nipple and I watch Ash as she holds her breath again. “See she’s cleverer than the others,” I say to the doctor. “She didn’t attack.”

“Maybe she’s a human who likes pain. We’ve seen our fair share of those.”

“No, this is different,” I say studying her as she investigates her new piercings. “If she liked only the pain, she would have wanted me to issue it through her collar.”

I run my hand gently along the curve of her thigh, up over her small hips and then cup her breasts looking at the piercings. “Good girl.”

Her lips part, and she attempts to repeat me, but what comes out is garbled nonsense. “Gooo gill,” she says, her brow furrowing in concentration.

“Good girl,” I say again, enunciating the word clearly.

“Good gurl,” she manages this time.

“That’s good enough,” I say, a smile tugging at my lips. I produce a small human treat, one of their favorites, from my pocket and hold it up for her to see. “Good girl,” I repeat, letting the scent of the treat catch her attention.

“Good gurl,” Ash mimics, her eyes fixed on the treat with a mixture of curiosity and hunger.

I press a single finger to her lips, and she opens her mouth, waiting. Then, I place the treat on her tongue.

Her expression shifts as the taste registers, her green eyes lighting up with recognition and, dare I say, approval.

“You like that, don’t you?” I ask rhetorically. “If you’re a good girl, you’ll get more. But if you’re a bad girl...” My voice drops slightly. “You’ll be disciplined. And my punishments can be as vicious as my rewards are sweet.”

Ash doesn’t understand the words, not yet, but I say them anyway. It’s a ritual, a way to formally begin her training.

She watches me closely, her gaze unwavering. “Good gurl,” she says again, opening her mouth expectantly.

I decide she’s earned one more treat. “Good girl,” I say, placing it gingerly on her tongue. She chews quickly, clearly savoring the taste, but when she looks at me again, I’ve already tucked the treats away. She’ll learn that rewards are earned, not begged for.

“Hands on the back of your head,” I instruct, guiding her into position for the next procedure.

She complies, hesitant but obedient, and I take out the custom tail—a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Its long, silky strands perfectly match her blonde, violet, and pink hair. I run my fingers through it, the texture smooth and luxurious, before handing it to the doctor.

He steps forward, holding the tail against Ash’s lower back, evaluating its placement. “It’ll take a moment to get the alignment just right,” he says as we deliberate on its positioning.

Finally satisfied, the doctor begins the procedure. The surgical attachment is quick, precise, and seamless. He steps back to admire his work, running his fingers lightly through the tail. “It’ll be as if she’s always had it,” he remarks. “Though I thought this sort of modification was against the new regulations.”

I shake my head. “This falls under piercings and hairstyles. Technically, it’s cosmetic. Most trainers avoid tails because they can slow pets down during obstacle courses.”

“You’re not worried about that?” he asks.

“No,” I reply confidently. “The aesthetic points she’ll gain and her reputation as a wild, untamed pet will far outweigh any minor disadvantages.”

I gesture for the ship’s computer to produce a mirror, allowing Ash to see her transformation. Her reflection materializes, and she steps closer, her green eyes wide with amazement. The tail sways slightly as she moves, blending perfectly with her hair and fur between her legs and under her arms. She looks extraordinary now, like a creature from a myth brought to life.

I run my fingers through the tail, admiring its softness and shine. “You’re truly something special now,” I say quietly, more to myself than to her.

The doctor begins packing up his equipment. “I’ll leave you to it, then. If there’s nothing else?”

“Not right now,” I say, glancing at Ash, who is still captivated by her reflection.

“May the goddesses help you,” he says, his tone half-sincere, half-joking.

“They are with me,” I reply, giving the standard response with just enough respect to keep him loyal. He’s skilled, and I don’t want to risk losing him to another ship.

As the door hisses behind him, I watch Ash in the mirror, her fingers hesitantly brushing against her new tail. She’s still assessing her surroundings, and that curiosity speaks volumes about her intelligence.

“Good girl,” I say again, watching her closely.