Chapter 5: "In or out?"

I always leave my brides to settle in for a day or two before I kill them. 

It makes them run mad with desperation. In those two days, they will do absolutely anything to escape the fate that awaits them and I find it amusing to watch as they place their chips on the bargaining table. 

Some offer family wealth. Others offer secrets. Most offer their bodies and sometimes I let the guards have their way with them.

Werewolf packs will give you the illusion that they are nothing but a group of wolves, coming together for joint safety, protection and a common interest. The Alpha heads the pack, and he is always graceful, benevolent, and even if he's sometimes trashy at first, he'll naturally bloom into a strong man of honorable actions.

It would have been nice if that was the truth, but it's all a lie. Some of those Alphas are born trash and they die as the trash they are. 

Werewolves have secrets they hide too, but I don't need this one to hand over any of her secrets. I want to kill her and get done with it.

The double doors behind me come open and I feel her presence all at once. She's with Cain and from the way her cheek is swelling, he's obviously slapped her.

A smile lines my lips but Cain cuts me short before I can get it to fully bloom.

"Before you call me a jealous piece of shit who can't put his emotions aside to get a job done, know I had to save your little package from your men. She isn't wearing panties."

I walk over to meet them halfway and slap Cain square on the face.

"Kill all of them. Don't lay your hands on her again."

The resentment and hate burning in Cain's eyes appear for only a brief moment before it disappears. He nods his head and stares past me, into the distance.

He'll hate me and resent me, but he'll get over it.  

No one touches what's mine, not even Cain.

My new bride is standing in front of me, oddly calm and exhibiting a cold demeanor. I would dare say it suits her, but she's trying to be something she's not.

Mutts should bow in front of their superiors. She's not paying her respects as an act of defiance.

"Do you want your legs broken first or your hands?"

She blinks.

"What?"

"Your legs or your hands, pick one."

"No."

It's my turn to blink and the smile that spreads on my face is  maniacal.

"What?"

"I said no. Break my arms and my legs if it'll make you feel better, I don't care. I'm tired of being the scared rat cornered by the wolves. I won't give you the satisfaction of making me choose how to die. Kill me if you want to."

Behind every one of her words is a budding resolution. Like she cannot care less for her life and she really is done being the scared little girl.

I'm impressed and I would have commended her,  but unfortunately, she's gotten me into a mood.

"Your hand, if you please."

She stretches it out to me and I smile at the way they are shaking. Tears are slipping out of her eyes already and I can feel the way she's panicking. Her pulse is rising, her hand is shaking faster, her eyes are darting around. I smile because this is a familiar feeling.

I see it every time we go on a hunt. The feeling a prey gets when it knows its death is imminent. Her eyes land on Cain, and I do not know what she does, but when she speaks, Cain obeys.

"Can I have something to bite on, Mr Cain?"

Like calling him mister will make him resent her less.

Cain lets his eyes flicker past me and the next minute he turns back and stretches his arm over to her, his palm stops right in front of her mouth and his voice comes out cold and emotionless.

"Feel free to bite as hard as you want to."

She nods and tries to close her teeth across the entirety of the side of his arm. She manages to get some of it into her mouth, and when she looks at me again, it's with defiance.

I smirk and look down at her delicate palm. She has a set of slender fingers,  not too long, but not too short either.

She would have been a skilled violinist with her kind of resolve. 

My hand moves and there's a crack.

She almost doubles over from the pain and she bites as hard as she can into Cain's hand. My hand moves again and another crack is heard.

She almost screams.

Again, and the tears coming out of her eyes seem to double in the way they pour out.

 I move my hand again and another finger is shattered. The crack is like the sound of thunder in  my ears. She really doesn't have strong bones.

I sniff and I smell blood, both from the spaces where her skin has torn and from the mouth she has over Cain's hand.

Lycan blood has little to no effect on werewolves so I have no need to worry. If it did I would have killed her.

"You can leave now Cain."

Cain yanks his hand out of her mouth and the sob she's been trying to hold back breaks forth. It's  hard and fast, and sorrowful, so, so sorrowful.

I let her cry.  

A few hours pass and when my hall is finally silent, I walk over to her again.

She's cradling her shattered fingers in her other palm and as she looks up at me, it's with fury in her eyes.

I bend down to take a hold of those fingers. I only broke four out of the five. I need only one to wear the ring that signifies our marriage.

I slip it on and I smile at how docile she is when she receives it. I wave mine in front of her and smile.

"We're married now okay, and congratulations on being the first one I haven't killed, yet."

I ignore her sorrowful sob. It comes out in an unprecedented burst and she tries to conceal it. She should be happy she can't, that's what's making me spare her. 

Because she's always trying.

I clear my throat and look at her.

"Listen. I'm sparing you, not because I find you charming, no, no. You disgust me. I'd rather sleep with a dog than take you to my bed. Nothing can ever happen between us. I can never love someone like you."

She makes no sound and I nod in approval.

"If you do want to live though, there is a way to arrange that."

"What is it?"

I arch an amused eyebrow up and she raises her tear filled eyes to meet mine.

"The way I can live, what is it? What do I need to do?"

I chuckle and smile. There is a spark of determination in her eyes.

"Become my tool Adelaide. A weapon I can use to destroy my enemies. I'm a powerful man, my enemies are aware of this."

"So you need me to fight for you. Is that it?"

I shake my head.

"I don't need you. I'm giving you a chance is all. Perform well and you'll have all you've ever wanted." I pause.

"However" I let my eyes glow a chilling blue and I make sure to give her my widest smile "fail, and i can promise you that you'll beg for death. So what do you say baby girl; In or out?"