Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

~~ESCAPE~~

Seven years had carved Akira into a shadow of the girl who hunted with the hounds. Each night prince Dominus chipped away at her and her wolf can only growl hoping one day they'd escape from his grip. 

Seven years since she was abducted as a slave for Prince Dominus. No family, no friends, no hounds. Just a new life where she is locked inside a large building with only her fellow slaves to talk to. After that day he set his eyes on her, and she became not just his slave but also warmed his bed every night. Every day and night she had planned her escape making sure she doesn't miss when the opportunity comes her way.

She was just a nineteen-year-old girl when he took her in as his slave. That night, he violated her and took her pride, forcefully claiming her as his. Not gently, not affectionately; it was with brute force. Well, time has passed, and now she is no longer a slave to Prince Dominus. She is now his mistress.

Sad. She hates to hear him call her his own.

A plaything— the only good name to describe what poor Akira has turned into in Night Vale.

In seven years with Prince Dominus and the Iron Wolves, she has travelled to different packs with him. He would wield his sword during the day claiming territories for his father and instill fear in other packs then wield his cock inside her during the night. He doesn’t care if she is sobbing or whimpering. He takes what he came for. 

In foreign lands, she has endured taken forcefully, the loss of her whole family and her hounds, and torture from Prince Dominus whenever she says no to him.

The door creaked open, and she shifted. She was a little startled. Turning, she narrowed her gaze; it was Prince Dominus. Over six feet four inches tall, with ashy curly hair and glowing silver eyes, he approached her. Once she noticed he was getting close, her mind started to race, and panic set in… yes, it had been this way for the past seven years she was dragged as a regular slave. 

Prince Dominus approached her, slower this time. Akira flinched instinctively, her breath catching in her throat as his hands grazed her skin sending cold chills down her spine. Her body had long since learned to react before her mind; of course, every sound in this place was a warning.

He grabbed her waist with force, pulling her closer to him, and Akira gasped. “I thought you wouldn’t come back early today?” She masked her hatred for him with a forced smile.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t waste any more time, my dear. How could I miss our anniversary? Today makes it six years since you let me claim you without force,” he said, and she almost scoffed.

Stupid monster. She wanted to curse him so badly. She only let him claim her without force when she realised that she was at the losing end of their nightly squabbles. No one was coming to help her, and there was no escape from the most dangerous man in the kingdom.

His tongue stuck out as he licked her neck, and Akira stiffened. She hated it when he did this. She didn’t speak; she never did whenever he touched her. She closed her eyes, thinking of when all of this would be over.

“I will mark you after today's ride,” he said, and she swallowed hard, gulping down saliva.Irritation marring her features. 

Sad. She doesn't want that for herself. Who wants to stay with a monster? 

Ship cruise? That would be the first time she was close to the water since she was brought here.

"What do you think?” he said, kissing her neck and licking down to her shoulders. “Do you like the idea of being mine?"

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs. The way he spoke….slow and dangerous—made her see him as a monster. Now he wanted to make her his own?

I’d rather die than allow him to mark me.

He stood before her now. Close, Too close. His cock pressed against her, hard and gritty. She stood there, preparing herself to take it.

A pale hand reached out, lifting her chin roughly so her eyes met his. She didn’t resist—not because she didn’t want to, but because she couldn’t. Resistance had been carved out of her a long time ago.

Dominus studied her face, his thumb brushing over the faint bruise on her cheekbone from the last time she had said no. The air between them thickened with a silence that made her stomach churn.

"Do you want me to take you right now or after we come back?"

“Later my lord,”Akira forced a smile,her voice soft.” Once after the cruise you will have me all to yourself” she assured him and prince Dominus lips curled up into a smile. However her words only bought her time for her planned escape with captain Zain—the captain of the warship.

She had waited for this day all year long—a ship cruise,and it's finally come.

“Good I can't wait but what if I want it now?” Prince Dominus teased and Akira lips pressed together. She didn't utter a word.

That earned her a scoff. Then his hand moved, not gently, his fingers brushing down the line of her neck, across her collarbone. She tensed under his touch, her breath quickening as every nerve screamed for her to flee. But she didn’t move.

His fingers moved lower, brushing over the fabric of her dress, just very close to her breast. Akira inhaled sharply, not in shock, but in the dull, hollow way she had grown accustomed to his touch.

Leaning closer, his lips moved over her shoulders. She hated that her skin still responded to him; her wolf hated it too. But after seven years, even hatred had lost it's sharpness.

His hand slid up, cupping her breast through the fabric. She flinched—just slightly. He noticed. He always noticed.

“You’re harder today,” he whispered, brushing his thumb slowly over her nipple. “Almost like you missed me.”

Akira said nothing. His other hand smoothed over her hip, then gave a sharp, playful smack that made her jerk. A grin tugged at his lips.

“I like when you're quiet,” he said. “You’re best when you’re quiet.”

Akira closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth of his cock pressed against her.

He suddenly stopped. “Go dress up; the ship would be ready in a few minutes," he commanded, and she did as she was told.

Minutes later, Akira changed quickly and made her way outside. The gown she picked was light silk, designed to make her comfortable. Looking at it, she hated how it fit her; it was made to accentuate the shape of a woman, but right now it highlighted the shape of a woman whose body no longer felt like her own.

When she stepped out of the house, Prince Dominus was already waiting for her in the front. Clad in black clothes, his hair swept back and his face clean-shaven, he looked every bit the charming prince everyone referred to him as. Once he saw her, his face lit up with a smile, but Akira’s eyes were on the pups playing nearby.

Once she saw them, her eyes glistened with fresh tears. Everything came rushing back, and she couldn’t believe that she had lost baby.. Seven years ago she had a stillbirth, she lost her first baby and seven years later she's still triggered whenever she sees pups playing around. In reality, that was what they told her when she woke up. Irrespective of the fact that they were her and Dominus's pup—the man she hated the most, she still wanted to keep them. It was taboo to abort your pup in her home pack.

However, once Akira got closer to Dominus, he flipped; his entire demeanor shifted.

“There she is,” he said softly, offering a hand like a lover. Akira placed her hand in his because she had to, not because she wanted to. He kissed her knuckles, gently, sickeningly rehearsed. She could tell, even if others fell for it.

Captain Zain’s eyes darted away,his jaw tight as if ashamed to witness another of Dominus's displays. He isn't really a native of northern packs so his loyalty doesn't lie with him, apparently he hates the northern pack and their domineering nature. 

However Guards followed in pairs…..the Iron Wolves, his elite warriors, all dressed in matching armour marked with his sigil: a silver wolf’s head on their cloaks. Her eyes narrowed to the ship,the whole place was almost suffocating with prince Dominus' army stationed at each corner doing absolutely nothing. 

“We can't escape now, Akira. They are all looking at us” her wolf surged, whispering. 

A few minutes later, Dominus escorted Akira to the large ship….notably a warship. She walked beside Dominus like a proper consort. Her smile was barely there, more of a muscle twitch than an expression. She knew her role. Knew when to bow her head. Knew not to flinch when he rested his hand on her waist.

“Welcome, miss,” Captain Zain greeted, his eyes flicking over Akira, filled with adoration. Dominus helped her onto the ship like a perfect gentleman. He even adjusted her sleeve, making some quiet remark that made the nearby guards chuckle, he was the prince of ease and control out here, not the monster who left bruises behind closed doors.

The ship drifted gently across the water, and Akira narrowed her eyes at the waves, which were moving in both directions. It was a little soothing to the eye. Being long she felt the cool breeze against her skin.

Dominus pulled her closer under the silk canopy, his arm sliding around her waist with the ease of a man claiming what was his. He looked down at her with a soft smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you like this? Should we do it more often?” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

Akira nodded, silent. She didn’t trust her voice, not with the water so close, not with her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might give her away or give him a hint of her plans. This was her only chance. She just needed him to leave her the hell alone!

She stood still for a moment, the gentle sway of the ship beneath her feet. Her heart raced as she glanced towards the captain's side of the ship,the door seemed to be locked when looking at it from outside but it wasn't. Cold chills run down her spine as her eyes darted to captain Zain,

Once their eyes met he gave her a subtle nod to go ahead. He had intentionally left it open. 

With a deep breath Akira took a step away from dominus but she still felt the weight of his gaze on her back. As she walked, her fingers brushed against the cool wood of the ship's rail. She hesitated for a moment, not sure if this is going to work. But then Zain has risked his life leaving that door open and trying to aid her escape. If Dominus knows it he would have his head on a spike immediately. She can't let these chances slip between her fingers. 

What if he notices,what if he reaches out and pulls me back into the ship?

She almost could imagine being pulled back and his possessive hands are back on her waist. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. 

Akira glanced over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of Dominus, his expression very calm as he spoke with his friends. Her breath quickened as she stepped closer to the door, the gap closing slowly while captain Zain pretended not to notice her,his gaze focused on the waters.

Akira bit down her bottom lip, her heart pounding,she closed her eyes for a brief moment summoning the courage, it's only a matter of time before he knows she is Alpha Edward's daughter and knows her real identity. With one last glance at Dominus she took a deep breath reassuring herself she could do it. She had to. The door was waiting. Captain Zain put his life on the line trying to aid her escape. 

This is it. This is the right time, her wolf told her, growling inside her.

One step, two steps, three—her bare feet thudding against the polished deck. She pushed herself against the door and it fell ajar giving her away into the waters like an accident as Dominus' shout—”Akira”— echoed behind her. 

Dominus’s voice tore across the water, harsh, frantic, and angry. His arms outstretched, his face twisted in something primal.

“Get her back now!” he growled, spinning on the guards. “ She can't swim!”