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A few of them scattered at his approach; a few of them stayed close, neighing and whinnying in return.
He galloped alongside, easily keeping pace, his hooves stamping into the soft, wet sand, kicking it up as the balmy sea breeze weaved through his mane and tail, making them wave like silky black flags.
Two stallions snorted as they approached, running in parallel on either side of him. They were big and muscular, but he was even bigger. Taller.
They huffed a greeting. The brown one tried to bite his rump. He kicked out his hind legs mid-stride and knocked sideways into the male, shoving him off. The stallion kept his distance after that, and the other, light-colored one fell behind also.
Apparently, he’d shown them that he was alpha. They knew immediately not to challenge him any further.
Up ahead, toward the front of the herd, a creamy, high-spirited mare pulled apart from the others, craning her neck back at him to lead him on a merry chase, flicking her tail in invitation.
His instincts kicked in before he gave it further thought. He galloped faster to pursue her, veering away from the beach.
The closer he came to her, the wilder he became.
Her scent was different from the others. It made his body react in ways it had never done before. His muscles tightened, and his nostrils flared to take in more of her scent. When he drew close enough, he nipped at her rump, making her whinny and swat at his nose with her tail.
But she didn’t want him to go away. She even slowed to be closer to him.
The animal part of him wanted to mount her. His heart raced faster, adrenaline high.
But the human part of him made him shake his head in confusion, his hooves staggering off beat.
Was he a mindless beast or a man?
Was he going to rut with any female in heat, cover her and leave her, or choose one who would make him feel less alone? Make him feelwhole?
What if his seed took root in this filly? Would he abandon his offspring the way his sire and mother had abandoned him?
He shook his head and neighed in anguish and confusion, his human heart rebelling against the instinctual wildness.
He was so lost in his own head that he realized the danger too late—
A chorus of terrified screams rent the air as the herd of horses scattered in all directions. The shouts of men on horseback added to the cacophony.
Take the stallions! Bring them down! The rest will follow,he could hear the humans yell.
He looked behind him, and saw that the two stallions who had run alongside him before were in the process of being dragged to the ground by ropes.
They struggled and whinnied, kicking and biting. But it was no use. Each one was tied down by several men on horseback, pulling from all directions.
Fury ignited Andros’ veins and burned in his eyes, blazing his reason to ashes and smoke.
He doubled back sharply and charged toward the men, taking them by surprise.
He ran directly through a web of ropes that restrained the brown stallion, making the fibers snap loose of the men’s hold. The stallion bounded quickly to his feet, kicked and reared, freeing himself from his restraints.
While the men cursed at losing him, Andros focused on the other stallion, who was still on his feet, pulling against his ropes.
Andros kicked out at the taut lines and snapped at the closest rope. It worked. The second stallion got free, shaking off the restraints and galloping away, driving the mares to run faster toward the cover of trees and rocky hills off the beach.
The human men cursed and yelled at being thwarted.
Forget the others!Their ringleader shouted.
That one! I want that big black fucker! Zeus’s balls! He’s gonna be taught a lesson if it’s the last thing I do!
Andros ran for his life then, away from the other horses, knowing that the humans were only focused on him now, closing on his heels.
