The First Mate

The cement was cold and unforgiving — but when your skin blazed from countless wounds and fire surged through you like venom seeking to destroy the deepest, darkest parts of you; it was a gracious reprieve to someone like me.

The hollow whine echoed in the back of my mind, my Shifter companion, Annie, feeling the tormented ache pouring through us like acid.

I'm...so...rry.

I tried to curl into a ball, wishing I could hold my small, sweet Spirit. Rest, Annie - please. I begged, hoping she would listen just this once, that she would shield herself from the pain we shared.

We're...in this...together. She replied weakly, forcing her copper lips to curl into a smile.

Jordan moved, pulling the needle free from the meaty part of my naked rear and rose to his full height.

He circled me, like a predator observing its prey, his tall, slender frame casting a long shadow that threatened to swallow me whole as he loomed.

He was handsome, but cruelty twisted my perception of his golden-brown curls, hooded eyes and sharp nose.

His voice was cold. A low, deadly threat laced into each word. "You speak a word of this to anyone today — you know what happens, toy." He growled in promise as he crouched beside me, his hand squeezing my exposed rear. Slow and rough, before he pulled away, only to deliver a swift, harsh blow with his open palm when I didn't answer.

I whimpered, my hips aching from slamming into the floor and I found my voice. "I know." I breathed, fear choking me.

He chuckled, stroking my copper hair from my bloodied face - appreciating his work before it healed in a few hours.

The swollen eyes, broken nose and cheekbone, split lips, bumps and bruises that marred my face - the lashes that tore open my back, would all but vanish by sunrise.

Before my first day at a school for people like us, and no one would know he'd spent the last two hours beating and whipping me.

All because he could.

He ran his thumb against my split bottom lip, a wince twisting my features in pain as he purposefully pressed against the wound.

"I'll be watching you, toy." He noted, ignoring my hiss of pain and cupping my swollen jaw then to make me look at him. "I'm still suspended for the next two days - but, doesn't mean I won't be there." He grinned, vicious and cruel. "Making sure no one touches my property."

Property. The word ached, boring deeper into my soul and mind until it solidified, becoming apart of who I was.

I didn't answer. It didn't matter what I said - I couldn't stop him.

I never could.

After my Shifting two weeks ago, I thought maybe it would get better, that my lifelong tormentor would somehow see me differently.

But, it only made him crueler.

Made them all crueler.

He pulled a small, red metal dagger from his jeans pocket, my body instinctively recoiling at the sight.

"Jordan, please-" he gripped my chin painfully, his fingers digging into my skin and I felt the claws of his Wolf extend, his stormy blue eyes darkening to black as the scent of fresh blood filled the air.

He held me still, leaning closer and reached down to where my hands were bound to the floor with ropes that only allowed me to stand hunched over at most, but effectively kept me pinned in place.

He didn't take his eyes off me as he expertly sliced through the rope, my teeth biting into my ruined lip to stop from crying out as he cut my skin with it.

A small, well placed knick of scarred flesh, reopening an old wound he'd once made, and I was writhing. My body spasming from the explosion of pain that tore through me.

Jordan pulled away, a mocking pout on his lips. "Maybe if your Wolf was stronger, I wouldn't have to do this - keep you from becoming too weak and a runt like her." He mused with a shrug, putting the blade away into his pocket again and strode to the table in the corner of the laundry room.

Every muscle I had tensed and shook, forcing me to me grit my teeth to stop from making too much noise while Jordan filled a black bag with small boxes, counting them out in a mutter.

The door above the stairs opened, a woman's shriek filling the room. "Where the hell is Rose?" Wearing a floral bathrobe and her hair a darker shade of blonde than Jordan's. His mother, Justine, glared at her son.

"There, Ma." Jordan lazily gestured over his shoulder, the woman's matching blue eyes falling on my naked, bloody and seizing form and, instead of sympathy or concern - fire filled her eyes.

Pure disgust and hate filled her words, spitting them at me. "You useless bitch! Hurry up! We have to get ready for work in an hour, the house is a fucking mess and there's no food ready!" She screamed, her hands wrapping the banister until they were white knuckled.

Jordan chuckled. "She'll be another few minutes."

Jutine scowled, looking at her son as if she was going to argue. But, he turned, tossing one of the boxes at her, the sound of glass clinking filling the air as she caught it.

"Go zone out." He dismissed her, making her mouth snap shut and her eyes fill with a hunger I didn't understand. Jordan continued. "She'll have breakfast and clothes steamed before she does the cleaning," Jordan grinned confidently, looking at me then. "An hour good enough for you, toy?"

I somehow managed to nod, though I knew it wasn't a question.

A small whimper left me as Annie began to cry from agony.

Soon - we'll be saved soon. She whispered, a pray she'd said nearly every time we were beaten.

I curled into a ball, silencing my sobs into my hand, sorry she ever had to be paired with someone like me.

A Pack slave. Property

***

Most of the day went by quickly, everyone but the teachers practically ignoring me, like I didn't exist.

And other than a tangle of smells that made Annie stir every now and again, I could almost say it was uneventful.

Until after lunch.

I shuffled uncomfortably, holding the stack of borrowed clothes — a singlet and shorts. Even though all my cuts were healed, I still had bruises they'd revealed if I moved wrong.

"Please, I-"

"I'm sorry, Rose, P.E is a requirement." Ms. Greene said, guiding me into the change rooms. "Get changed and meet us on the field."

I sighed, watching her walk out and I waited before reluctantly changing.

Annie nudged me to hurry up, the tangle of scents filtering through the air-conditioning unit above.

What is that? I shook my head, keeping it down and walked out into the sun warmed field with the other Shifter girls.

I lifted my head just slightly, catching one of the scents getting stronger and for a moment, I forgot everything.

My panic melted, registering the eyes I saw weren't Jordan's....but someone else's.

He watched me from the tree line, something about the blue in his eyes reminding me of the ocean - they were warm and I felt a need to get closer.

My head snapped left, catching a second scent not far from the blue-eyes, my brows narrowing in confusion as I found a pair of emerald eyes boring into me — they were two of the tangled smells.

I turned slightly, not enough to put my back to them, and sniffed cautiously, finding the third was on the other side of the trees.

Annie...why do they smell so nice? I asked, only for her to whine.

Mate.

I paled, thinking I'd misheard her.

The buzzer rang, my body tensing with uncertainty as two sets of eyes locked onto me.

W-What do I do? I squeaked as they began moving, like predators.

Annie smiled, watching them through my eyes.

Run! She hissed mischievously, my body turning and, instinctively, I ran towards the trees, intending to hide in the forest, but I knew I was following that third scent, unable to stop myself.

Two distinct heats pierced into my back, telling me the others had followed me.