The slave's truth

Raven’s POV

I lunged at him, my claws bared, my mind consumed by rage. He dodged, barely, but I still caught his shoulder with my nails.

He winced but didn’t attack. Instead, he defended each move, very fast, faster than most of my people I called the best of sentinels. 

I swung again. He ducked and rolled away, but I chased him, fists slamming into his gut. He gasped, stumbling back, just as I wanted to punch his face, he caught my fist mid air. 

Our eyes locked for a brief moment before he released his grip with a bow. 

"You’re not just a slave," I growled.

He didn’t respond,  I got angry and swung my fist at him, he just moved, fast as lightning, pushing me back.

At that moment,I knew he had the upper hand but then he paused.

I saw the hesitation in his eyes, and that was all I needed

I kicked his leg out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he could move, I was on top of him, claws at his throat, my breath ragged.

“Any last words?” I spat.

“I surrender,” he whispered, chest heaving. “I don’t want to fight you.”

I froze, hand trembling. “Who are you? Really?”

His eyes met mine, steady. “I’m no one. I was just a slave… to a Lycan faction.”

“You are no slave,” I growled, my claws already piercing through his flesh.

“You can ask around, I'm indeed just a slave born in the Lycan world, they killed my mother when I was a boy, when your pack invaded their territory, I escaped.”

“Why didn’t you return home? Why come here as a slave?” I asked.

“There’s no home left,” he said simply. “It was burned and you know the rules, a wolf without a pack is considered a rogue, I was caught along the line, and sold here.”

I stood, wiping the blood off my knuckles. My mother stepped forward, turning to the executioner, who was still struggling to get up. “You are useless,” she spat, turning back to me. “Kill him,” she said coldly.

“No,” I replied firmly.

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by No?”

I ignored her, my eyes still on the slave. “What's your name, slave.”

“Killian,” he replied, taking in a deep breath. “But you can just call me Kai.”

“You can fight, did the Lycan teach you that?” I questioned. 

He shook his head. “I'm just a slave, they wouldn't teach slaves how to even morph into their werewolves form, I learnt fighting from years of watching them,” he paused, flickering his eyes away as if trying to hide his tears. “I didn't get the chance to know my mother before she was brutally murdered by a Lycan, I vowed to make them pay for what they did, so I studied them for years.”

“Rowan,” my mother called, her voice laced with venom. “If you won't kill him, I will.”

I inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to tell my mother to shut up for once. “You saved me last night—” he interrupts.

“The healer wouldn't have been able to do what I did,” he cuts in. “There are different kinds of Lycan Alphas, the one that bit you, was a high rank, it's a miracle you were still alive when they brought you in, and you wouldn't have made it till sunrise.”

My eyes darted to the healer, who nodded her head in agreement. 

“How did you do it?” Damien asked, stepping forward. “What potion did you use?”

“Potion?” Kai scoffed. “I didn't use a potion, I drew up the poison and not everyone can do that, you have to—” I stopped him with a scoff. 

“Seems like it took you years before you could do it perfectly,” I said. 

He nods. 

I stepped closer, standing toe to toe with him. “Aren't you bothered that the Alpha is a female?”

He shook his head. “Of course not, I don't care if it is man or a woman, all I care about is the end of the Lycans, the lives of my people, my generation is far more important than my ego.”

I smiled, nodding in satisfaction. He was the first man that answered correctly. I can remember when Damien first found out the truth, he was totally against a woman leading him in battle. 

“Damien,” I said, turning. “How many soldiers do we have left?”

“Few hundred,” he replied, hesitation in his voice. 

I turned to the slave. “Do you want to join our army?”

His eyes widened, confused. “You want me… to join the army?”

“You’re strong and skilled, you saved my life, didn’t you?” I said. “And you know more about the Lycans than any of us.”

He hesitated before nodding. “Yes.”

“So would you like to join the army?” I asked. 

“Gladly.”

I gestured to the guards. “Take him to the barracks and clean him up.”

He was escorted away, casting one last glance over his shoulder. I watched him go.

My mother was livid. “You’ve made a mistake, Raven. A big one.”

“No,” I said. “His skills are really good and we need everything that is inside his head.”

Damien stepped beside me, his arms crossed on his chest. “You’re letting emotions cloud your judgment.”

I looked at him. “No. I’m using strategy, Damien, keep him under your watch, and after I get everything  I need from him…”

“You’ll kill him,” Damien finished grimly.

I nodded once. “Exactly.”

Damien exhaled. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

He walked away with the guards, my mother rushed to me, slapping me hard across the face. 

“What do you think you are doing?” She growled. 

“Mother,” I muttered, tears glistening in my eyes. 

“The first time I allow you to make a decision all by yourself and you screwed up, that man has to die, if you are not going to do it, I will.”

“No, mother, that man is my—” I paused, the words refusing to come out. 

She gave me a disdainful look before walking away. 

I pursed my lips, tears flowing down freely. While we were fighting, I felt it, the connection, one that I haven't felt before—this slave was my mate.