When Adrian stretched out on the cot, he was grateful for the suppressants that still flowed through his body. It had been a bit of a search before Fiona finally found the right amount that kept his shift controlled.

Even though Adrian could still feel a slight jittery sensation, like sparks underneath his skin that made his muscles twitch... he was in control.

For now.

There was always the fear that his body would get used to the suppressants, needing heavier doses to manage his rut. From what little Fiona has explained Adrian, he was fortunate enough to have the suppressants work.

Because there were multiple shifters within the compound who had to remain in complete isolation, sedated until their rut was done.

Adrian took another whiff of the air but found nothing of interest. Charles had explained to Adrian once he woke up, that the rooms were airtight.

After all, it wouldn't make sense to contain Ferals in their rut in the same area, when they were at their most sensitive to pheromones.

Gathering all these hormonal, instinctual Ferals only to expose them to one another's pheromones was suicidal at best.

Of course, small fragments of their pheromones would escape whenever food was delivered or the door was opened for whatever reason.

Still, those small whiffs of pheromones was nothing compared to when Adrian was in his own, personal room and could smell every single person that walked past his door.

Moments like these, where his instincts were on high alert and his shift was right underneath the surface made Adrian curse his sharp senses.

Because with every whiff of pheromones that wafted through the air, his shift was kicking into overdrive. With practiced ease, Adrian could smell whether the person was male or female, what shift they were, if they had any underlining health issues and if they were sexually mature or not.

And it wasn't like the action was done consciously. Just by simply breathing in order to survive, Adrian was detecting all these tiny tidbits of information, was continuously bombarded with information.

It was a simple fact of daily life that Adrian had come to accept. The realization that there was a whole, invisible world full of information beyond what he could see.

And normally that wouldn't be a problem. On an average day, Adrian could analyze the scents and let them go in a split second, just like someone could realize it was a sunny day and move on.

But with his Rut lingering in his system, even if it was suppressed, it left behind an uneasy feeling, almost like a sensation of dread.

Because his shift was still searching, still looking to pick up on the perfect scent.

However with each breath he took, Adrian felt annoyed. Because every scent was either too young or too old. Unattractive prey, too closely resembling a potential meal instead of a potential mate-

A sound at the door made Adrian pause mid-stretch before he rolled on the bed when the locks were opened.

Charles appearing behind the slight gap was not a surprise or coincidence. When Adrian had a small moment of clarity, he had inquired about the fact that it was Charles always lingering around the Ferals in Rut, wondering why it didn't seem to affect the male.

Charles had smiled softly, tilting his head as he explained, "Most snakes don't successfully breed unless they have undergone brumation." Charles motioned towards himself with a smile. "It's a... phase similar to hibernation but it has its differences."

"But mostly, I'm not a real threat around any of the Ferals in Rut, because I'm asexual." Charles had smiled, seeing Adrian's confusion before he amended "Not interested in breeding with anyone, for any reason."

The concept had both intrigued and baffled Adrian. After all, they were more than just humans. They had their more baser, animalistic instincts to content with as well.

For Charles to not feel a lick of interest, not even from his animal, was surprising. But Adrian had noticed the absolute lack of reaction to his pheromones.

Even the most hardened, stoic shifter would release some pheromones in reaction to an available partner within the vicinity, whether by intent or not.

But just like that first day after Charles explanation or this very moment where he stepped into the room with a kind smile, there was not a hint of a scent.

The complete lack of pheromones on Charles' end created a soothing calm within Adrian's mind. Charles was neither prospect nor rival. He was just a bystander, an observer of the pheromone induced madness the others suffered under.

"Hey Adrian, how are you feeling? Fiona asked me to check in and make sure the suppressants are working properly."

Adrian blinked lazily, yawning as he completed his stretch before pushing himself upright. "Good. I feel...tired isn't the right word. Lazy? Sedated perhaps but, still aware enough."

A soft, understanding hum escaped the serpents' throat as he approached Adrian, gently checking his temperature and reflexes. "Yes, your response time is a bit delayed but not worryingly so. It's one of the more common side effects of the suppressants but nothing can be done about that."

Surprisingly, Adrian agreed. Normally he would've balked at the very idea that his senses were dulled in any shape or form. But now, being served three meals a day and snacks whenever he felt peckish, he wasn't worried that a slower reflex would lead to an unsuccessful hunt.

The young raptor knew that he would be fed, even if he were to misbehave. While there were sometimes severe punishments for Ferals who lashed out, none of those involved physical retaliation nor the deprivation of food.

"Any nausea or itchiness?" Charles inquired, scribbling down on a piece of paper when Adrian shook his head. "Some of the Ferals experience some side effects of the suppressants so if you feel off, don't we nervous to inform any of the staff."

"Just... thirsty." Adrian confessed, swallowing convulsively at his tongue felt a tad swollen, almost too big for his mouth. Charles jotted it down with a soft sigh.

The anaconda was already prepared, taking a step out of the door before flipping a water bottle towards Adrian. "It is one of the common side effects but nothing harmful, thankfully. Just drink whenever you feel thirsty, though as a sidenote, you'll also be inclined to use the bathroom more."

Adrian hummed affirmatively as he took a few gulps of the cool water, shaking his head with a snort as he capped the bottle. "When can I go back home...to my den?"

At that, Charles grinned, taking a step aside. "Now, actually. This checkup was the last one to make sure your Rut is fully contained by the suppressants without too serious side effects.

The young Raptor leapt from the bed with an excited thrill, causing Charles to chuckle and shake his head. "Glad to see such enthusiasm. While the suppressants do work against your Rut, I have to ask you to seek out any of the staff as soon as you detect someone around you in their Rut or Heat cycle."

"Both to make sure no accidents happen if you lose control over your shift, and to make sure we can help whoever is getting into heat." Charles motioned to the door and didn't need to ask twice before Adrian walked out, stretching his arms over his head with a satisfied groan.

While he knew his containment was for his own good, it was very satisfying, liberating to be able to wander the grounds once more.

Signing off on a few pieces of paper, Charles handed one over to Adrian, who accepted it with a hint of curiosity. "This is your appointment schedule with Fiona. A checkup twice a week so you get enough suppressants to last through your Rut while she can check you up for any side effects that may occur."

At that, a low and annoyed grumble vibrated through Adrian's throat, not at all interested to spend even more time in that cool, clinical room. But if it gave him his freedom back, it was a small payment to make.

"No matter how often Fiona cleans the clinic, the fear pheromones seem to be soaked up in the walls." Charles sighed with a bemused smile at Adrian's clear reluctance.

And the young Feral couldn't disagree. Even walking down the hallway where the clinic was located, he could almost taste the fear in the back of his throat.

It never failed to make his hair stand on end, as well as having the sensation as if his throat clammed shut.

"Is instinct." Adrian grumbled, making Charles snicker and agree with a tired hiss.

"I know, which is exactly what makes it so much harder to get rid of the scent. Each patient responds to the scent of the previous, creating chain reactions that can't be stopped. Especially new Ferals who come in for their first injections will drench the room with fear pheromones, some more pungent than the other."

Adrian understood, somewhat but at the same time he was too tired to properly focus on the subject. Especially so when Charles suddenly stiffened, letting out a deep, hissed sigh that sounded more like a warning.

Further down the hallway, the white haired male didn't even falter in his approach. Instead a deep, inaudible rumble vibrated through the hallway, rattling its way up their spines.

"Levi..." Charles hissed warningly, which the elephant ignored completely. Adrian only had a moment before the white haired male was up in his face, ignoring modesty or courtesy as he leaned in.

Sniffing a few inches away from the glands in Adrian's throat that still produced minor amounts of pheromones, even with the suppressants in his blood.

A warning growl rumbled through Adrian's throat, quickly replied with another low rumble from Levi. Fingers pressing against his skin, holding his head back as both Levi and Adrian struggled with their instincts.

Finally, Levi slowly released his hold on Adrian, taking a step back with a strained huff. Even his voice was a deeper grumble, still heavily influenced by his shift as he sighed. "Sorry about that."

Adrian swallowed thickly but said nothing in return. He was, honestly, shocked. While his shift wasn't considered an Apex predator in comparison to others of his time, here in the compound, Adrian was certainly living on the top of the pecking order.

So why was this unknown male, a herbivore, not at all affected by the levels of testosterone that came along with such ranking? In fact, Adrian was quite certain his pheromones did quite the opposite!

"I know your musth is influencing your behavior, but do try to control yourself, Levi." Charles rubbed at his temples, alleviating built up pressure as he had taken a step back, out of line of the charging bull.

After all, what could a single anaconda do against a fully grown male elephant in its prime?

Levi put his hands in his pockets, taking a single step backwards to offer Adrian some room, turning his attention towards Charles.

"But I am behaving. If I hadn't held back, the bull would've shifted to properly analyze his scent." Levi explained with a motion of his chin to indicate Adrian. "I was a good boy today." Levi added with a teasing grin.

Adrian couldn't help but snort at that because nobody here at the compound, not even Darius, had just come into his personal space to inspect his scent.

None of the Ferals here had been that bold, either too afraid or too intimidated by his mere presence to even contemplate the thought.

"Right, right, introductions." Levi removed one of his hands out of his pockets, stretching it out towards Adrian. "Hi, I'm Levi, resident African Elephant. Still unmated though I hope to change that in the future."

"Adrian."

The young raptor grasped his hand and was surprised when Levi actually pulled him closer with a slight smirk on his lips. "The near future."

Normally Adrian would've lashed out for having someone invade his personal space twice in a row now. Yet he was stunned, letting out another low rumble in his throat because this was...new.

So far everyone had been tiptoeing around him, acting as if he was a bomb just waiting to explode. There were a few teachers who treated him almost normally but nobody had ever acted so... calmly.

Levi didn't seem to care that Adrian was considered to be one of the top predators, nor did he shimmy around the young Raptor with a wariness in his gaze.

Instead he was treated with a genuine kindness and intrigue, as if Adrian was just another herbivore. Not at all a potential threat to Levi's life.

"We were just headi-"

"To the lunch room. I know, I heard you and Darius before you went and retrieved Adrian here." Levi stated, flicking his pierced ear lazily.

Levi didn't care about the silence that followed, simply turning around Adrian so they were side by side, an intrigued grin on his face as he gave a slight bow, arm motioning forwards.

"Shall we?"

He didn't wait for a reply, instead answering to the still thrumming growl that pulsed from Adrian with a low pulse of his own.

Yet it didn't sound aggressive at all but rather... interested.

Adrian shivered, not entirely unpleasantly and shivered again when a warm palm rested against his lower back, gently guiding him towards the dining halls.