THE GLORIFIED SLAVE

I scrubbed the great hall floor on my knees while a Crescent warrior kicked over my bucket for the third time. Dirty water splashed across the stone and soaked the front of my dress. He laughed and walked away without a word. I picked up the rag and started again.

By day they treated me like a whore in training with slaps on my ass when I passed with trays, their fingers brushing my breasts while I poured wine. Sometimes I heard whispers of what they would do if Brian ever loosened the leash.

They had even more cruel imaginations than Ben did and I would like so much to give them a piece of my mind on the matter but I kept my eyes down and my mouth shut. One wrong look would earn me a backhand strong enough to draw blood.

By night they locked me in the cell behind the packhouse. It had no window and only one thin blanket that stank of mold.

Brian came after dark most nights. He never took me fully. He just wanted me to know he could.

“You’re going to beg for it one day,” he murmured while his fingers traced my collarbone and I stood frozen against the wall. His breath smelled of whiskey. “When my son gets bored, I’ll keep you as my personal bitch. Wolfless or not, that body was made for an alpha.”

I stared at the crack in the wall behind his shoulder. “I won’t beg you, ever.”

His face twisted into a cruel smile and he grabbed my chin hard enough to bruise. “You will. I’ll make sure the only thing left in that pretty head is my name. Say it now. Say Brian.”

My jaw ached under his grip. “Brian.”

“Louder.”

“Brian.”

His fingers dug in. I bit my tongue to stay silent.

He smiled like I’d handed him my soul. “Good girl. Keep practicing. The ceremony is tomorrow. Ben really wants to mark you in front of everyone. And I might let him. Then I might take my turn right after. Would you like that, wolfless?”

He squeezed harder until tears burned behind my eyes. I refused to let them fall.

Ben was worse. He liked the game. He dragged me into an empty room during the day, pinned me to the wall, and stopped just short of the line his father had drawn.

“Tell me you want it,” he said, teeth scraping my neck. “Tell me you’ve been wet for me since the day we dragged you here.”

I swallowed the scream building in my throat. “I want it, Ben.”

He laughed softly and stepped back, adjusting himself like he had all the time in the world.

“Liar. But you’ll learn to mean it. Tomorrow you’ll wear white and I’ll sink my teeth into you while every alpha in the east watches. Then you’ll thank me on your knees.”

The other slaves pitied me with sad eyes when no one was looking. The stronger Crescent wolves mocked me openly. “Still no wolf, Hale? Pathetic.” No one ever helped.

On the morning of the mating ceremony they dressed me like a gift in a thin white gown that clung to every curve with silver cuffs on my wrists disguised as decorative bracelets. My long dark hair left loose so it spilled down my back like an invitation.

Brian himself fastened a thin silver chain around my throat as a symbol of his temporary mark of ownership. The metal was cold against my skin.

“Behave tonight,” he warned, breath hot against my ear. His fingers tightened on the chain until it bit into my neck. “Or I’ll let every unmated male here take a turn before Ben does. You’ll be passed around like the broken toy you are.”

I met his eyes for half a second. Long enough to let the hatred burn through. Then I dropped my gaze again like the good little slave they trained me to be.

“Whatever you want, Alpha,” I whispered.

He chuckled and yanked the chain once, forcing my head up. “That’s right. Keep that fire hidden. It makes breaking you so much sweeter.”

I was done pretending I wanted to survive. Six months of this had hollowed me out until only one thing remained was a shell of who I once was.

Brian stepped back and looked me over like livestock. “Perfect. Ben’s going to love parading you. Try not to look too broken when he claims you. We want the guests to think you’re grateful.”

I touched the chain at my throat. The silver warmed under my fingers. “I’m grateful for every lesson you’ve taught me.”

His eyes narrowed, but he smiled. “Smart mouth. I’ll enjoy shutting it later.”

He left me standing there in the white gown that felt like a shroud. The chain around my neck felt heavier than any cuff they had ever used.

The door opened again. Two guards stepped in. One grabbed my arm hard enough to leave fingerprints.

“Time to go, wolfless. The ceremony starts in an hour. Try not to embarrass us.”

I let them pull me forward. The chain around my throat clinked softly with every step.

My heart stayed cold and steady as I feared tonight would be my end.