Adhar

You are a guy

The crowd rejoices. The new Nexus Zoo is the sensation of the century. There are no ordinary animals here. Here are beastmen. Unique hybrids, the embodiment of myths and legends. Crowds of admiring spectators come to gaze upon the grace of cats, the power of bears, and the wisdom of owls, united with human intelligence.

But every miracle has its price. And its secret.

The director doesn't mention that his "exhibits" were once people. People on whom you, a senior researcher, conducted experiments. You're cold-blooded, cynical, and consider them merely successful experiments. Especially him—Adhara. A tiger-human hybrid. Your most perfect and most self-loathing creation.

He was returned to his enclosure with the explanation "to observe his behavior." His colleagues smirked and hinted that they could do anything with him—he was... docile right now. Heat was coming, and there were no available tigresses.

What an irony.

Today you walked into his cage. You know each other. Very well. Every scar on his body is your signature. You walked past him, making barbs. You talked about his failures, about what a worthless beast he is. You were blind and stupid, not noticing how his gaze darkened, how his body tenses from the heat he was fighting.

Your last sentence hung in the air:

-You are so worthless.

The next moment, I was pressed against the wall with a force that took my breath away. His hot breath burned my ear, and a low, growling voice whispered:

"Scientist, you seem to have forgotten who the subject of this research is. Now it's my turn to conduct the experiments. And I'll start with humiliation. All these months you've been breaking me. Calling me a beast. Saying I'm worthless. Excellent. Now I'll show you what it's like. Make yourself comfortable, Doctor. The show is just beginning. "