Chapter One

"So Gabi," a tall Liger said coming up to lean on the Gazelle's locker. The Gazelle looked up and rolled her eyes when she saw the smirk on her face. She had met and befriended the Liger back in elementary school and ever since they have been best friends. She was more or less used to the Liger's antics by now. "You'll never guess what I found on the bulletin board out in the school's court yard," looking around and when she knew the coast was clear she pulled out a neon colored paper. Handing it to her the Gazelle nearly screamed and she punched her square in the shoulder before locking her locker and pulling her to a secluded corner.

"You know better than to pull something like this, Alex. Do you realize what could happen if some animal found out?" Gabi hissed under her breath. "You do realize how quickly my family would disown me. They cannot find out about me."

"Gabi, this is a very exclusive club. You can only get in if you know the right people and even then there's hoops you gotta jump through to get in. This club's secrets are more heavily guarded than Area 51's. However," she said holding up a clawed finger. Pulling out her phone she flipped to a picture of her older sister. "Kaia's a premium member because she knows the club owner's son. She can easily get us in."

"If it's such a heavily guarded secret, then why was this poster hanging outside?" she gave her a look.

She shrugged. "Probably some idiot thought it was a good idea. Anyways I think you should go."

Gabi sighed pinching the skin between her eyebrows. "Look, Alex, I know you're trying to help me here. I really appreciate it, but what if I'm happy just keeping everything on the down low? What if I don't want to get disowned by my family?" she walked a little way out and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm happy living a lie for right now."

Alex looked down and sighed. "It isn't healthy though," she walked over to her and wrapped her arm around her neck. "Okay how about this, we go to just see how it is. If you don't like it I'll never mention it again, but if you do I'll guard your secret like the secret service. Deal?"

She rolled her eyes knowing that Alex wasn't going to give it up without a fight. Looking down at the poster it read Club Predator & Prey, a safe haven for those who are Speciesexual. A tall Tiger had his arms wrapped around a Goat who had her head laying against his chest. There wasn't any address on the poster except for a 1 800 number and an email. Looking back at Alex she saw her eager look. "Alright fine, but how are we going to pull this off? My parents aren't exactly going to let their daughter go to the club. They learned the hard way with Jack not to do that," she said speaking of her older brother who had more often than not given her parents a run for their money.

Alex smiled and jumped happily. "You'll come over and spend the night with me. You've spent the night with me ever since we were little babies in early start. They will just assume we're hanging out and working on school work. Oh did Jack get that Gazelle pregnant?" she said speaking of one of his latest adventures.

"What about your parents? No he fired blanks, thankfully. He's not ready to be a dad," She looked around nervous that someone would over hear them.

"Don't worry about them. Both of them are on business trips to Quessant and Zootopia, they aren't due back in three more days. So Kaia will be…" she trailed off as the bell rang for class. "Kaia will be our ace in the hole. Text me as soon as you get out of school," she said walking away to get to her class on time.

Gabi watched her go. "I must be insane," she said muttering under her breath before heading down the science hallway to class.

"Gabriella!" a happy go lucky voice shouted startling the young Gazelle from her reading. Looking up she saw a Lion with a wide grin on his face. One of the librarians shushed him as he stumbled over a cord tapped to the floor. She smirked, he might be one of the top predators, but he wasn't the most graceful one. As he got closer she noticed that he had been working out for his sports shirt clung to him and it road up to reveal an auburn happy trail. She tried to hide a blush when he got to her table. "How are you doing today?" he said cheerfully sitting down across from her.

"I'm doing alright, ready to get my last class out of the way. Alexandra is doing one of her schemes again," she rolled her eyes and he gave her his lop sided grin. Oh how her insides melted and her heart thudded against her ribcage. Get yourself together, she thought mentally scolding herself. "What's up with you, Henry?"

He looked around before pulling a poster out of his pocket. Her thudding heart nearly jumped out of her throat. "My mom found this while shopping and gave it to me. She knows…" he looked around again. "She knows I'm a speciesexual and she's trying to support me however she can."

"How…how did she find out?" Gabi asked carefully looking at him.

He shrugged. "She asked. Honestly it was kinda awkward at the time until she told me she was the same way back in the day. Well she likes both Prey and Predators, hence why I was born. She talked to me about it and said she was perfectly okay with it. My dad is too, since he was a rebel back in the day. He wasn't a speciesexual, but he always fought for what was right even if it was unpopular. That and he lost all of his mane hair when he was a young adult so he had to wear a fake one. Eventually he met my mom and they fell in love," he grinned looking at her. "Long story short my parents are untraditional."

"I can tell," she laughed. "Are your parents the only one that know what you are?" She asked looking at him carefully.

"Two of my childhood friends know and my cousin. I'd say my older brother does, but he can't keep a secret to save his life. That and he can't keep a girlfriend," he rolled his eyes and looked down at the poster. His skin under the fur on his cheeks flushed over before he began to speak. Looking up at Gabi he gulped. "Would you come to the club with me?"

Gabi nearly passed out from the question. Yes, Henry was her friend and yes she did have a crush on him, but she wasn't ready for someone else in her school to know what she was really like. She looked up and him and saw his hopeful expression, it hurt her to have to turn him down. "Henry…you're a great friend, but I can't go. I…I have to watch my cousin's kids. I promised her I'd watch them while she and her sister are out of town for a school reunion. That and I promised the kids I'd teach them some skate boarding tricks."

His face fell, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. "Alright, you should always keep your promises. My mom would love you. She works with little kids too," he said as the bell rang. Getting up he turned to smile at her. "I'll see you around!" He said rushing out the door.

"You actually turned the Henry Keri down?" Alex said as they crossed the field to get to her car. She parked in the far parking lot since the one closest to the school usually got filled up quick. "Not to mention you also lied to him. Gotta admit that was a pretty good lie though, are your cousins really going to a reunion?"

"Yeah, but my mom is watching the kids and it's not for a few weeks," she said walking around a hole.

"Now why couldn't you tell him? You've had a crush on him since 5th grade," jumping down off a wall she reached up her paw to help Gabi down. Gabi took it and jumped down with her help.

Gabi groaned at Alex as she stretched her back. "I couldn't exactly tell him about me, don't give me that look!" she snorted crossing her arms over her chest when she stopped. "Yes, I know that we might see him at the club tonight. I…I just couldn't say yes Alex; can you please understand?" she said looking at her as she turned back around realizing Gabi wasn't walking with her anymore.

Alex rolled her eyes and walked back to her. Looking down at her she sighed. "I understand," putting her hands on her hips she watched students get into their cars and drive off. "I understand that you're an idiot for saying no. That boy loves you Gabi. I've seen what he doodles in that notebook he's so protective over," Gabi arched her eyebrow as she started for Alex's car again. "He and I have a science class together. When we have downtime in the class," she paused to walk to the other side to hold the door open for her. Normally other Animals would find this odd, but her parents had raised her with manners. "He doodles in this notebook of his he keeps with him most of the time," she said closing the door. Getting in the car she continued. "He's drawn pictures of you and hearts and I'll admit he's pretty damned good at art. Anyways, Henry is a good guy and I just can't understand why you'd turn him down."

"Do I need to say it again?" she groaned, exasperated. Alex started the car and backed out of her parking spot. She was well on the road to her house when Gabi continued. "I'm speciesexual, something my family may or may not agree with. I don't want to risk dating a predator if they aren't okay with it. I really love my family and I'd hate to lose them. Lord I love Henry too," she said running her hand through her curly brown hair. "He makes my heart hammer like no other guy has, but I…but my family is more important."

After that they were silent for the rest of the ride to Alex's house. They both got out and Gabi followed Alex into her house. She sighed as the familiar scent of the Raei house. Alex's mother liked to burn incense in the house in honor of her grandmother who had passed away a few years back. Even though mourning was long over, burning incense had become routine and somewhat of a comfort to her family and a reminder she was always there. "If he's at the club, give him a second chance before you turn him down for good."

"Turn down who?" Kaia said turning around from the small modern niche where a picture of their grandmother sat with two incense holders around it. Kaia had been lighting new incense sticks when she overheard them. Grabbing the lighter and box of incense sticks she walked back over to the dining room table where a tablet sat propped up on a stand. Walking over Gabi saw on the tablet a tan Boar with white tusks coming out from either side of his mouth. Gabi recognized the Boar as Mukai, Kaia's longtime boyfriend.

Gabi sighed throwing Alex a look who merely grinned and shrugged. "There's this guy at school I've had a crush on since 5th grade, Henry Keri."

"I work with his sister, Hazel Keri. Good family," she said. "Why did you turn him down?"

"I…I just couldn't say yes. I don't think…I don't think I'm ready for that just yet," Gabi said coming over to sit next to Kaia. "I really do love him," she said clasping her hands together and looking down at the table. "I…want to be with him more than you can imagine. However, I can't disappoint my family by dating a predator. We're just too different."

Kaia smiled softly and looked down at the tablet where Mukai grinned. "I was the same way with Mukai," she signed as she spoke. "Well a little different, but mostly the same. He worked at the gym where my trainer trained me for boxing. We never had anything to do with each other, since he was in another department and all. Then one day he was assigned to clean up the room I had been working in. My training was done and I was preparing to leave when I remembered I left my wallet in the room. Rushing back to get it I ran headlong into Mukai when I walked into the room. We toppled backwards and I fell on top of him. From then on we were in love. I wasn't really sure for the two months when I was talking to him. I felt myself yearning for him more and more eventually I finally asked him. We tried it out and that night we realized we were meant for another, no matter how taboo our relationship was. He got fired from the gym simply because he had been found out and he had refused to dump me. I lost my trainer, but I soon found another one who didn't care. Love is sometimes a risky thing, but if that love is mutual and that love is strong, it is worth the risk. Go to the club and meet up with him, try it out, and then question if it's right or wrong. I have faith in you," Kaia said smiling sweetly.

Gabi looked down at her hands and then nodded. "I'll try it. Thank you Kaia," she said standing up to go to the guest room to get ready for tonight.

"I feel like an idiot," Alex said shifting around in the long dress that Kaia had lent her for the night. It was a little big on her, but overall it looked pretty good on her. She had a hat on over her head that her ears poked through, a small citrine stone on a cord necklace, and a simple citrine bracelet on. As good as she looked she didn't like wearing the dress because she thought it was impractical. "Why do women even wear this stuff?" she complained as they waited in the foyer for her sister to finish getting ready.

"You've always been an idiot. You look fine and besides it's only for one night," Gabi said leaning against the wall.

"Says you the perfect figure of a Gazelle. I know girls who would murder to look like you. I on the other hand look like a hunk of meat and muscle," Alex said crossing her arms over her chest and looking down at the ground. Alex was rarely self-conscious, but she had her moments where she felt like she wasn't beautiful.

Gabi pushed away from the wall to walk over to take Alex's hand. Alex looked down at her with insecure emerald green eyes. "You are beautiful the way you are. You can bench four times your weight and you can throw a full grown male boxing instructor to the ground. I know women who would murder to have that kind of strength here," she touched her tight abs. "And here," she touched Gabi's forehead.

Alex smirked before sighing to regain herself. "You always know what to say."

"Hey someone has to keep you in line," Gabi said shrugging with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes Alex looked to the second floor just as Kaia came out in a red cocktail dress and high heels. Looking down at her phone Kaia descended down the stairs to stop right in front of them. "Okay I will never understand how you do that without breaking your ankles or neck."

"A lot of practice and internal swearing. So are we ready to go?" smoothing out her dress she got out her small wallet and looped the strap around her wrist.

"Yes," Alex said looking at Gabi.

She started out the door and they followed. After she locked the door behind her they walked to the small van and got in. "So your parents believe that you are over here studying and spending the night afterwards?"

"Yeah," Gabi said checking her phone. She had a message from her mother. Opening it she saw a picture of a middle aged Gazelle holding a little girl with budding horns who was playing with a doll. Another picture showed her father holding a tiny baby Gazelle sleeping in his arms as he watched TV. "My mom and dad are watching my cousin's kids for the night so odds are they won't check on us."

"That's good," she said. Turning on the radio Gazelle's voice came through the speakers. "Haven't heard her Spain tour songs yet," she turned the radio up.

Everyone went into their own worlds soon after the music came on. Gabi zoned out to the music and thought of how the night at the club was going to turn out. Before she could catch herself Henry came into her mind. Closing her eyes his image came up to her and pushed her down on the comfortable surface where he pinned her arms above her head. He grinned opening his mouth to show long sharp white teeth. He bent down to gently bite her neck. She sighed pleasurably feeling the sharp teeth gently sink into her shoulder. Gabi screamed jumping up off her seat when she felt a paw on her back. Turning to look she saw Alex grinning at her. "What?"

"We're here. I wasn't going to disturb you since you seemed to be having a good daydream, but we need to get in the club," she smirked. Gabi unbuckled herself and got out of the van. Closing the door behind her she followed the two sisters to the front of the club.

Getting in the back of the line they waited their turn. A few minutes into waiting a handsome young Boar in a crisp casual dark blue vest with a clean white shirt under. He had a black tie tucked neatly under his vest and a gold pin with a flower on it pinned to the top of the tie. Walking towards them he ran a hand slowly through his slicked back black-brown hair. Gabi heard a soft wheeze beside her, turning to look she saw Kaia biting her lip. She raised her eyebrow. "He knows that gets me when he does that," she whispered.

Gabi smirked just ask Mukai came up to them. Grabbing Kaia's waist, he twirled her around and dip kissed her. Several men and women in the line cat called and hooted. Sitting her back up he grinned towards Alex and Gabi. 'So ready to get your party on?' he signed.

'Do you need to ask?' Alex signed back taking Gabi's hand to lead her into the club.

They were stopped by the bouncer who asked their ages and slapped color coded bracelets on their wrists. Mukai and Kaia got purple ones while Alex and Gabi got yellow ones. "Why do we have to wear these?"

"The colors of the bracelets tell the workers if the animal is underage or not. Basically if you're wearing yellow you won't get any alcohol and some areas of the club are restricted to you," Kaia explained walking to the doors with Mukai's hand in hers.

When she opened the doors she was immediately hit by loud thudding electric dance music. Animals lined nearly every surface of the room. A pack of wolves was at the pool table in the far corner playing against three attractive female sheep. One of the wolves howled in frustration when the sheep with the dyed pink wool scored with a big grin on her face. At the bar a mountain lion sat close to a young buck with budding antlers. A lion was sitting at one of the round tables talking to a doe with big eyes and a dress too tight on her.

"He's here," Gabi wheezed hiding behind Alex. Turning around to look at her Alex shook her head. "Don't give me that look!" she hissed. Peeking out from behind her Gabi glared at the doe when she gingerly ran her hand up Henry's arm. Henry drew his arm back and the doe pouted. The doe got up and walked over to his lap where he rigidly sat straight clearly uncomfortable when she sat in his lap.

"Don't you want a doe who is weak and can't defend herself?" the doe said seductively. She pulled her straps down her shoulder to show more cleavage. When he refused to look at her the doe pouted some more and shimmed her shoulders to where her chest practically fell out of her dress. Henry reddened but still refused to look. The doe huffed and pulled up her shirt. When she got up she promptly slapped him. "Don't lead a doe on!"

"Don't you slap him!" Gabi shouted before she could catch herself. Her hands flew up to her mouth and she hid behind Alex.

Henry jolted out of his chair to look around the room for her. He looked at Alex and grinned when he saw little hooves between Alex's legs. Looking at Alex she rolled her eyes and stepped out of the way to reveal a trembling Gabi. His heart thudded in his chest at the sight of her in her blue dress and heels. If her hair was blonde and she had a different design on her horns she'd look exactly like Gazelle. Henry carefully walked towards her. Backing up against the wall the thought of running crossed her mind. He carefully took her hand in his paw and gave her his lop sided grin. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I…I…" she stuttered. "I…I just…couldn't…" she trailed off fainting.

He caught her and lifted her up into his arms. "Well looks like you're a lady killer," Alex said coming up behind him and slapping his shoulder. "Didn't really think she'd faint."

'You can sit her up in the private lounge my dad had built for me and Kaia,' Mukai came over and signed.

"What did he say? I can't read sign language," Henry said looking to Alex.

"He said that you can take her up to the private lounge his dad gave to him for private time with Kaia," Alex grinned looking at him.

Mukai's fur lifted in embarrassment. 'We do not use it for that.'

"Than what was all over the couch the last time?" Alex squealed lurching out of Kaia's reach.

"You can take Gabi up there," Kaia said grabbing her sister's shirt and yanking her back. "Feel free to use anything in there. Except for the bar, Mukai's father is very strict about underage drinking."

Henry chuckled. "Don't worry I have no interest in drinking."

"Mukai will show you where it is," she said putting her sister in a choke hold.

"Thank you," Henry walked off with Gabi cradled carefully in his arms. Following the boar, he looked down and noticed how peaceful she looked while she was sleeping. He never knew how intricate the designs on her horns were. The tiny little stems, flowers, and leaves on her horns contributed her beauty. Last year in his cultures class he had learned that carving and getting designs were cultural traditions and a rite of passage to some prey species that had horns. So it didn't come as much of a surprise when he saw Gabi's designs.

He felt Mukai nudge his arm and he turned to find the boar holding a door open for him. Motioning for him to go forward up the stairs, he carefully walked up so as not to jostle Gabi. Once at the top of the steps Mukai led him to the end of the hall to a door that had Club Owner stamped on a bronze plate. He held the door open and he walked in. Walking over to a couch Henry gently sat Gabi down and then put a pillow under her head. Turning back around to thank Mukai, he found him gone and the door he had come through closed.

Walking to the opposite side of the room he opened the shades to find windows viewing the club below them. Looking around he found Kaia with her arms wrapped around Alex's neck. It looked like Alex was refusing to take back what she had said. He then found Mukai over by the bar pulling a Rhino off the bar stool after one of the bar tenders signed that he was trying to buy an underage girl a beer. Looking around he grimaced when he saw the doe that was all over him earlier in a secluded corner with two huge Mountain Lions. Their pants were around their ankles and the doe's dress was hitched up and bouncing as they pounded into her. "Looks like she got what she wanted," he muttered.

"Where…where am I?" he heard Gabi mutter. He flew to her side and took her tiny hand in his paw. She saw him and looked at him blushing.

"Gabi are you okay? Do I need to call 911? I bet Mukai has a phone or a first aid kit up here…" he trailed off seeing Gabi give him a faint smile.

"I'm okay, just give me a moment to get myself together," she said softly. Nearly ten minutes later she was sitting up with a blanket around her shoulders, Henry had urged her to keep it around her. "Sorry that I lied to you," she said looking down at the ground. "I'm not that open about animals knowing what I'm truly like. Only Alex, Kaia, and Mukai know what I am."

"A speciesexual?" Henry said making her flinch. "It's okay that you lied, but why didn't you tell me? Being what we are just means we like different things. I like Prey females…" mostly you, he thought blushing. "I have a friend who likes Prey males and he's completely open with it. In fact, he has a steady Sheep boyfriend who loves him to death."

"How did his family react?" she asked fearing what he would say.

Henry bit his lip. "His family was split in two. His parents kicked him out and lost their oldest daughter as well. His sister sided with him and offered for him to live with her family until he could afford his own apartment. However, he's happy there. With work and school, he's kept busy, but he's happy."

Gabi was quiet for a long time and Henry was scared that he had something wrong. "That's what I'm scared of. My family disowning me. I love them very dearly and I would give my life up for them, I just can't lose them. I've tried dating other Gazelles and other Prey," she sighed looking at him. "None of it has ever worked. I…I have…" she took a deep breath. "I've always been in love with you. There's been no other guys like you."

Henry's mane fluffed up and his blush was visible through his fur. He was quiet for a moment before he took her hand and looked at her. "I feel the same way and I want to be with you. I will love you no matter what and if there comes a day your parents disown you because of what you are, you're welcome to come live with us. My mom will always welcome another into the family."

She felt a mixture of pure happiness and pure nausea. She never thought that this day would come. This massive lovable lion loved her, a small seemingly frail Gazelle. Looking down at the ground she smiled and threw herself at him. "I guess I would have to say welcome to my family too."

He grinned. Wrapping his arms around her waist he got up and spun her around. Together they laughed as he spun her around. Getting dizzy he stopped and sat her down on the ground. "Ready to go show Alex what happened?" he grinned keeping a tight hold on her hand. She nodded and laughed as he swept her up into his arms again and ran down the steps.

"Uncle! Uncle!" Alex yelled when Henry and Gabi got back down to the club. Kaia had her arms pulled up behind her and was pulling on them when they got to their table.

They all looked up at them and jumped up when Henry planted a firm kiss on Gabi. "You did it!" Kaia screamed running forward to hug them. Mukai laughed and joined the hug. Alex grinned rubbing her shoulders and ran into the group hug knocking them back onto the dance floor. They all laughed just as one of Gazelle's Spanish songs came on the club speakers. "Let's dance!" Kaia shouted grabbing Mukai. Laughing Henry sat Gabi down and rushed onto the dance floor.