Please obey all park rules.

Due to certain malfunctions, some attractions have gone and are undergoing heavy construction in order to make it more enjoyable.

Safety is our biggest priority here, but it is a two-way street. Please do not rile up the animals by tapping on the glass or poking them.

Don't ever turn your back on the cage.

You have been warned.

Welcome...to the Bungalow

Chapter 2

Wind of Change

Owen never gets a weekend, never goes on holiday. It's not as if the money isn't in the bank, it's just with four girls to watch over and train, he can't afford it. Plus, half the time he's pulled into meetings about things he really doesn't care about, and most of the time he feels like he's watching the paint peel during them.

Currently, however, he's on his hammock as the sweet morning air caresses his skin and for a moment he thinks it can stay like this forever. For just a moment, he's not responsible for anything. For this moment, he's on vacation. In his hand is a glass bottle of frosty Coke, which he has an affinity for, but no one ever seems to notice. The sleepy sun is barely peeking over the horizon, but it's perfect because he's allowed to stay in that place between awake and asleep.

Thoughts roll in and out like the waves licking the shoreline. He thinks of the days when his family would go to the beach and no one would argue since they were all too busy burying each other in the sand with laughter to spare. He thinks of his days on the large ships when he had moments to look over the water and breathe in the salty, sea air.

He thinks of Blue and wonders if they've let her out to feel the cool air. She likes mornings about as much as she likes Slim Jims—or whatever treat he sneaks her.

The car he can hear rolling through the luscious grass path to his bungalow annoys him like the mosquitoes that come around at night. Just by the lack of sound it makes, he can tell it's something supposedly important. Grunts don't normally drive the quiet luxury vehicles.

He barely looks up as the car stops and out comes Claire Dearing—who he'd love to spend a few nights with, but he knows she's several screws short of a toolbox for a real relationship. They don't speak very often, and most times, she's the one leading those ridiculously annoying meetings, which cost him time with his girls. He's mid-sip of his Coke when she walks up and looks down at him with those steely green eyes.

"Mr. Grady, we need to talk about the security measures you have in place at the Velociraptor paddock," she says in that tone that's too tight and makes him feel he's stuffed into a suit. "I have a few concerns."

"Name's Owen, but I'm sure you forgot." His certainty is reinforced when, out of the corner of his eye, he catches her brows pull together. Heaving a sigh, he doesn't even give her the respect of a full look, but instead, studies his Coke bottle as if it's the most fascinating thing on planet Earth. Not that she deserves a look either, seeing as she couldn't be bothered to learn his first name. "I'm not on the clock."

"You're always on the clock," she counters.

After finishing his Coke, he shakes his head and rises from the hammock. "I am always available for the raptors. I am not, however, always available to you or anyone else in this park."

By the way she crosses her arms and shifts her weight onto her left high heel, she's clearly annoyed. Not that he cares a whole lot, because he's nobody important in the zoo… Nobody, except the man who works with the most dangerous attraction on the island.

"I am your superior, and you will treat me as such. Now, how safe are the assets under your watch?"

Owen stops by the door of his bungalow and one brow rises. He isn't quite sure how he wants to respond since she's just made two grave errors—well, three if you count the skirt suit she's wearing.

Moving to the railing by his stairs, he sets the Coke bottle down. "First, those assets you're referring to are living animals. Something tells me you don't really understand this. Second, there's a reason you don't realize how safe they're not, and that's because you don't know the first thing about respect. Now get off my porch and leave me alone."

"We're not through with this conversation."

Grabbing the glass, he opens his screen door and enters. "We're plenty through."

"Construction to the paddock will begin in a few weeks," she responds through the screen as if it's a two-way radio and he might not be able to hear her unless she raises her voice. "A viewing area is being added for the public. Focus groups are insistent on seeing these assets. I need to know there won't be any mishaps, since they're apparently fond of… eating people."

Owen's barely tossed his bottle away before he's back at the door. He can feel his anger rising and his shoulders stiffening. His thoughts immediately shift to Barry and how they're going to protect his girls. "Not a good idea. You are not putting those raptors on display. They're not some side attraction. I'm not teaching them to jump through flaming hoops, pile into tiny cars together, and drive around this madhouse. My raptors are living creatures and need to be respected as such. This isn't a damn pet shop."

"These animals are not yours, Mr. Grady—"

"Owen," he snaps. If she calls him Mr. Grady one more time, she can address his father instead.

"Owen," she repeats and takes a breath. "You do not own them. And you are expendable."

He rolls his eyes at the friendly threat. "Need I remind you, I'm not exactly hired by the park. It's only courtesy that I listen to your meetings and these crazy ideas."

"I am well aware you are contracted by the Navy, but if you read the fine print, Jurassic World owns you as well," Claire says, giving him a firm nod.

He shakes his head. She's like a child in the way she goes about things—a very manipulative child. Who hired her and why, Owen's dying to know because clearly, that person isn't to be trusted.

He takes a deep breath and tries to count to ten but only gets to three before responding, "I'm not with the Navy, per se, and I'm definitely not contracted by the park."

Her eyes glint, and she gives a huff. "Then why are you here, Mr. Grady?"

It's far too late for him to retract the statement; he's stuck gaping like a big mouthed frog, and he's instantly grateful the screen is too dark to see through because he looks about as foolish as he sounds.

"Those assets are going to be made ready for the public." Her tone is cold and calculated like an orca going in for the kill on a baby humpback whale. "Whether you are here to oversee it or not."

There's a slight hesitation before he says, "The paddock is secure; it's the workers who are the issue."

His eyes close as his shoulders sag slightly. A pit weighs heavy in his stomach making him feel as if he's just betrayed his girls, but he knows if he gets fired, the next person will only treat them like a circus act, and that's something he can't bear to think about.

He watches Dearing go, apparently satisfied with his answer. The amount of failure he feels in her wake, however, makes him need to use the wall for support. He does everything he can to protect his girls—especially Blue—from the harsh world, and he knows camera flashes are no way to spend a life.

Well, cages are no way to spend a life, but he has no say in that matter either.

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

The cave opening to first sun's light is a welcome sight, and I relish it as the cool air rushes over my skin because sometimes, the lack of space gets to me during the night.

It isn't long before I've found my way to my rock near the middle of the territory. It's tall enough that when I stand, I can see everything from the metal jaws to the night cages, and smooth enough for me to lay on.

There's still dark fluff covering the sun, and I know I can doze for a while until it's too bright to ignore. It won't silence the animal roaring in my stomach, but hopefully, I won't think about meat for a bit.

When a shadow moves above my head, I know I've hoped too soon. My eyes do not need to see Delta in order to know it's her. I do get an odd feeling from her, though.

"What?" I growl.

I hear talons click on my rock as they shift. "That scratch won't stop her."

She voices the obvious. Sighing, I peek up at her. "Here I was thinking I had an easy pass."

"Are you going to make a joke out of this?"

Rolling onto my back, I stretch out before rolling onto my other side. "I am taking this seriously. Your concern has been taken into consideration and will be addressed in a timely manner."

In two breaths Delta's in front of me again, and I'm forced to look at her. "What happens when Alpha looks to her as beta? What then?"

"There's a reason Alpha looks to me for everything," I hiss, and I'm certain she can hear the amusement in my voice. "And it's not just because I have the best-looking skin."

"You're not taking this seriously," she growls.

Rising from my rock, I stretch. I can feel Delta's tension and fear which aren't misplaced. Nonetheless, it's true what I growl about Alpha and she knows this. I am the oldest—Delta was born thirteen suns after me. I'm the strongest. I'm also the most intelligent and cunning. In addition, there's a bond between Alpha and me that none of my sisters have formed with him.

Well…

We used to have a bond.

Echo doesn't understand any of this, though. She doesn't know how to think before she acts—not that I don't have that issue. But she doesn't know how to plan. She doesn't truly understand dominance. That's why she will never understand what it's like to be beta—if that's the position I'm coming into.

Delta snorts. "Will he still look to you if she defeats you?"

"Echo is a hatchling, and Alpha would never see her any different."

The sigh that Delta hisses growls it all. She isn't satisfied with my answers and still worries. As she lapses into silence, I know the subject will be approached again. Whether that's before or after Echo makes another challenge, I can't be sure.

To still the waters, I nudge her softly and receive one in return.

Delta's my hatchery sister, and I barely remember a moment without her. Until Echo came along, it was just the two of us, which had allowed us to form a close kinship. I will freely admit she is more levelheaded than I. She also has a bizarre amount of patience. I do take comfort in this and find myself listening to her advice time and time again.

Like now.

"Alpha named the new girl Charlie," Delta growls softly.

My eyes widen. "How do you know that?"

"I heard him tell you last night before we went to bed."

My time with Alpha is very limited nowadays, and I'm not keen on sharing it. Swallowing a frustrated growl, I tap my talon for a moment before my lips turn slightly upward. "Did she get lost already?"

Her brows furrow together as she puzzles through my sudden change of topic. When she catches on, she casts a glance toward one cave that's been left open. "She's hiding in there."

"For being one of us, she sure doesn't act like it." I trot over to the paddock, Delta at my right flank. "Do you think the new one will come around?"

"Charlie," Delta growls, "seems rather young."

I snort. "What gave you that idea? The fact she's so small or the fact she's still in hiding?"

Without waiting for an answer, I pad into the cave. My eyes quickly adjust, and I see the little one curled in the corner. "What are you doing?"

Wide, yellow eyes gaze up at me. My brow furrows as I look closer.

Delta, Echo and I have long black pupils; hers, on the other claw, are circles in the center of her eye. The odd circular pupil sets the beast in my stomach rolling and twisting. My muscles tighten and it takes everything in me to keep from growling.

My talon taps against the ground. "I growled you a question."

She curls into a tighter ball and tucks her head under her tail, leaving me unsure of what to do. Delta and I have always walked together. When Echo came, she couldn't wait to get out. In fact, she attacked several trees, she'd been so excited. This one—this Charlie—seems to be very unlike us.

Lowering my head, I let out a warning growl. "You will answer when I growl to you."

There's a sense of fear that radiates off her as she shivers. Starting at her head, a paler grey color spreads down her back and tail as her stripes turn solid black. If she's anything like us, it's a sign she's suffering from stress and anxiety. I run my tongue over my teeth and my talon taps louder.

"Perhaps if you growl to her a bit kinder, she'll trust us," Delta hisses softly from the entrance.

I purse my lips as I rock back onto my haunches. "Alpha called you Charlie. Is that correct?"

A small whimper acknowledges my question.

"My name is Blue," I growl softly. "Delta is at the entrance. We…We will not harm you."

Charlie's tail moves slightly, and she opens an eye. "Daddy said you're the beta."

My head tilts to the side. "Daddy?"

Her head perks up. "He brings me flesh. Usually those white, furry meats."

"His name is Alpha."

Her brow rises as her bright green color starts to return. "All I know is Daddy brings meat, and he said you're beta."

Delta chortles from the door. I'm nearly positive it's over the beta comment—although the daddy thing is quite humorous.

"She is," Delta finally growls. "She doesn't like the term. She'd rather refer to herself as lead."

I blink as Delta cracks up again. I wish she was chortling over the daddy thing, instead. However, her attitude causes Charlie to sit up. She looks at Delta and the fear recedes from her eyes. She then looks at me with a shy smile as her coloring returns to normal.

"You protected me from the brown one," she growls softly.

"Echo needed a talking to," I reply.

"You need to shove your talon so far up her a—"

"Growls!" I snarl, and Delta's gaze snaps to the wall. When I turn back to the new one, my heart nearly stops. Charlie is in my face, nostrils flaring. My lip lifts as I cringe and hope she doesn't touch me.

When her snout touches mine, I have nowhere to go except backward. In breaths, her claws are gently touching my head and neck. I can hear Delta guffaw before there's a loud thump at the entrance. Craning my neck far from curious claws, I get a glance of my hatchery mate snickering loudly on the ground.

Pushing the little one away, my feet are under me in a mere blink. With a growl, I walk towards Delta and trip, sending my sister into another round of hysterics. Confusion would have consumed me—since I never trip over my own feet—if I hadn't heard a yelp.

When Charlie appears above me and looks down with raised brows, wide eyes and a frown, I know it's going to be a long road until she can keep up with us.

Delta's guffaws come to an abrupt halt as she leaps to her feet. With a stiff tail, her nostrils flare and a growl forms in her throat.

Darting from the cave, I clear the space of our territory before I have a chance to take a breath. Looking at the eastern wall, I hear loud roars and screeches from beyond. I snarl in response as my muscles shift into a crouch.

Delta's on my right in a beat, taking the same position as I am. Instead of snarling, however, she's sniffing, and her eyes scan the top of the grey rock. When another screech echoes, she winces and bares her teeth.

Even as I take a step forward, I hear Echo's snarl from behind me. I'm surprised she's shown her face so soon after our fight. However, this is a pack matter. Our territory isn't big, but it's all we have.

With a glance at Delta, I move to inspect the rock. Budging it with my head, I find it still unmovable. I trot the length of it before realizing the growls are coming from the eastern and southern parts. The snarls are loud and unnerving, but they do not seem able to attack us, yet.

When I make my way back to Delta and Echo, I'm surprised to see Charlie has joined. She immediately sprints over and nudges herself into my stomach as she crouches slightly. I try to sidestep but Charlie moves with me. The confusion on my face is spread across Delta's and Echo's as well.

"We need to keep watch," I growl, trying to ignore the oddity that is this Charlie. "There is no rest until those beasts are dealt with."

"And what of Alpha?" Delta questions.

It's been a while since he's actually tried to be with us, and I don't foresee that changing anytime soon. "We guard. This territory is all we have."

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