Still… why had he felt it necessary to torture that beautiful female dog before he killed her? She had never seen him like that in all of the many hours they had spent together hunting and riding. It hardly seemed that such brutality was necessary, even in this callused world. Yet, she still couldn't deny the strange feeling of almost obscure excitement it had given her! God, she wasn't some sort of sadist like they talked about in sex-education at school, was she? Maybe it was inherent… in the family blood! Hadn't she actually become all goose-pimply and keyed-up, seeing him wielding that club across the beautiful animal's back…!

M-My God…! Wh-What was that…? F-for a moment… she'd thought she saw eyes… burning eyes like glowing coals in that brush…! What on earth could it be! M-Maybe, she b-better start running…!

Caesar anticipated the long, chestnut-haired teenager's frightened move seconds before she made it, and with furtive swiftness bolted from his hidden place to confront her there on the narrow sidewalk!

In overwhelming horror, Annie froze! She stared in awesome disbelief at the massive creature's viciously bared fangs gleaming in the faint moon-light! Her breathing choked in her young throat at the blazing eyes that were fixed on her and the ferocious, deep-throated growl that the huge beast threateningly gave forth! Had she tried, she knew that she could not move… her legs were growing numb, as if they were petrified! It was him… the wild pack's leader! The thing around his neck glistening in the moonlight… she had thought she'd seen such a medal when they'd chased and gotten close to them the night before…! Oh… Oh God… he was moving toward her, crouching, preparing to leap…! Scream! Scream…! She tried, but couldn't… and then, mercifully she fainted…

… Strange sensations of tingling warmth rippled through Annie's young belly as she lay limply on her back, a maze of disconnected thought-waves suddenly swirling through her head.