A slave, that’s what he called me, what they all called me, his property to do with whatever he wished, and by definition he was right. He owned me.
It began with my ancestors something along the lines of my great great great grandfather owing the stupid warlock a favour and not having the means of paying the conventional way. So, he did what anyone would I suppose, he sold his daughter to him, signed a contract that would give my master full control over her and all her children, then her children’s children and so on. Until me.
But I had no intention of continuing that, no way would I have bare children just so he could use them until they either died of old age or he got them killed in his everlasting fight for power. Fuck that. Warlocks were immortal, the cycle would continue forever if I had children, they would be damned to repeat my pain, to suffer.
The full moon was in a few days, I just had to hold on, just a three more days and I would be free for the night, I could go where I want, leave his land for 12 hours. I could be alone. I guess that was a perk of being a wolf, he couldn’t control me when I shifted, couldn’t make me bow with his magic, I was stronger with Nyx, my alter form, she was brave, fearless, and took no ones shit. Me? I was shy and I only spoke when I had no choice, I guess my bravery was beaten out of me a long time ago.
Balthazar was brutal if you pissed him off, he never thought twice about making someone pay, and betrayal? You would beg for death when he was done with you, no one betrayed him, not even other warlocks. They knew he was powerful, knew he could beat them with a flick of his wrist.
I stood in front of the small mirror in the only bathroom I was permitted the use in the basement, a tiny room that held a corner bath, toilet, mirror and sink. That was it. But then again, that’s all I needed. I was pale, my skin barely getting enough sun, I suppose it was hard to tan when you were only permitted to step outside after the moon had risen. My hair was a bright and beautiful red that cascaded in waves down my spine until it reached my bum, my hazel eyes having specks of the same crimson. My cheeks lined in freckles.
I was slim, slimmer than the other slaves, but I never had an appetite, how could I? All I saw day after day was pain and suffering. That’s all I knew. I shook away the thoughts that plagues me, mainly ones of escape, but that was stupid, I had tried escaping more times than I could count, they all ended the same way, me brought back to him, kicking and screaming, until eventually, I was gifted with the studded collar that was round my neck even now.
I couldn’t never take it off, if I tried it would surge an electric current through my body, one so painful I would pass out and he would know instantly. It was the same if I tried to leave the land when it wasn’t a full moon, then, he would track me down, bring me back and I would pay for thinking I could be free of him.
Nyx stirs within me, uncomfortable at the thought of trying to escape, even as fearless and brave as she was, he still scared her. We knew better than anyone why he was capable of.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be trying that again, I don’t like it either when he hurts us.” I whisper low enough that the others down here down hear me, they already think I’m weird, that I don’t belong.
They are right. I don’t.
But it isn’t like I have a choice.
I sigh, I don’t want to go out there, I don’t want to face the day, but even as I ponder it there is a knock on the bathroom door, the soft voice of Margret pouring through. “Annalise? Are you in there dear?”
Forcing my best smile, I walk towards the door and open it, Margret is the oldest wolf here, her hair greying with age, and her eyes soft. “Sorry Margret, did you need something?” I ask sweetly.
She shakes her head, “Not me. Master Balthazar is looking for you.”
My smile drops, fuck what have I done now? I wonder as I nod my response, sidestepping around her, I like Margret, she was the only one who had ever been nice to me after my parents were killed, the only one who helped me through the grief of losing them both. I appreciated that, every time she cleaned the lashes across my back, every time she stitched a fresh wound.
She didn’t deserve to be here.
Though, I suppose no one does. Not really.
I look down at the grey knee length cotton dress, making sure that it’s neat, that I look presentable, the long sleeves reaching just past my knuckles and the simple material masking the slight curves I had. The basement was massive, though I suppose it had to be, especially with fifty of us living down here, their was a small kitchen area with two cookers and four fridges and three chest freezers. We weren’t allowed to cook upstairs. Nor eat with our master.
The rest of the space except for the six bathrooms were coated in small cot-like beds, small and thin mattresses the only comfort we were allowed. I turn my attention towards the stairs, ignoring the others as they prepared for another day, chattering away trying to forget what would happen once their left the small safety of the slaves basement.
I took a long breath, trying to calm my erratic heart as it pounded against my rib cage, quickly tying my hair back into a simple bun. But panic still consumed me, and Nyx shifted nervously, this was one of the times I wish she could speak, that she could give me some advice. But she was a wolf after all, she couldn’t speak, but I could.
Yet, I knew her every emotion, and she did mine, that at least, was some comfort.
Folding my hands neatly in front of me, I walk up the twenty-seven steps to the first floor, gently knocking on the door to let the guards on the other side know I am there. I hear the lock click, and without looking at those who unlocked it, I bow my head; the punishment for wandering eyes in more severe than you might think.
Master Balthazar’s mansion was huge, it had five floors, the top one dedicated to his paid staff and the slave enforcers. On the ground floor he had three lounges, a kitchen, a dining room, a games room that I had never been in, only catching glimpses of it when the guards entered and exited. Oh, and a hall with tiled floors that he used when he threw parties. It was early morning, the sun hadn’t been up long so I’m guessing he would be in the dining room with his coffee.The mansion was coated with guards, you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing one, and none of them were permitted to speak to me, nor I them. If I looked at them, it was five lashes, if I spoke it was 10. My master didn’t like me talking to anyone but him, in fact, even the slaves avoided me. Called me his favourite behind my back.I chuckled internally at that, I wouldn’t say I was his favourite, I had tried to escape more times than I could count; hearing stories
“Running from your master?” He tuts. “I thought you were finally beginning to learn.”Tears slipped from my eyes as he stalked towards me, I knew that I had made a terrible mistake, that I would regret even breathing in his presence. Balthazar didn’t take kindly to defiance of any kind, he had killed my kind for less, and I would be no exception. I could see it in his ice blue eyes, the eager promise of pain. Why couldn’t I be like the others? Why did he treat me so differently? He never forced the others to mate until they were ready. It was something the other slaves always loved, that they had to right to choose when or if to have children.So why was My case so unusual? Why couldn’t I play with the other children when I was younger, why couldn’t I run with the other slaves on a full moon?He stopped inches away from me, his mouth set in a scowl, then; he snapped his fingers. I blinked rapidly when I saw nothing
The days passed by at an agonisingly slow pace, one of pure torture, I wanted nothing more than to be free of the silver chains that bound me to the wall of the windowless cell. I wanted to scream and cry, beg my master to let me loose, I wanted to escape his grasp and be free. I wanted to be like the humans who worked in this place, they were paid for their work, they had a home they could go to, they could leave. Whilst I could not.I was forever trapped here because of a bargain I had no part in, my fate chosen for me long before I took my first breath. I jumped when the distant crackle of magic, blasted around me. He was on his way, my master was coming to see if I would obey.Balthazar appeared to my left before I could take another breath, his towering frame closing in on me, blocking out anything else in the room.“Annalise, you look terrible.” He scorned, he had always hated when he disciplined us for a long time.He hated the stench o
"You'll eat here with me."I watched in shock, unsure what I was meant to do, I had never eaten in his presence before, I don’t think that any slave had. I looked around one last time, waiting for a guard to come and whip me. But when none came I took a seat, timidly filling my plate and picking at the food.“Thank you master, this is very generous of you.” I murmured, though he gave no indication that he had heard me.“I’ve been thinking about what I asked you to do Annalise.” He said after several minutes of silence, causing me to jump. “I think I realise now why you are reluctant to obey.”Wait what? He understands me? How can that even be possible? He had never taken a moment to be considerate before, never listened to the worries of slaves before. Does he really know why I don’t want a mate? Why I refused to bare children with anyone. Was he offended? Why was he so calm?
I walked towards the kitchen, the mansion oddly quiet as all the wolves prepared for the one night of the month they get off, the only one where they can shift freely and run from the acres of wood that surrounded the masters house. I open the back door, feeling the breeze wrap around me as I close my eyes, this way the only day I was allowed outside and I would always cherish it, the best day of the month was when I could sink my toes into mud and smell the scent of the forest. I pull off my tattered shoes and smiled as the cold earth greeted me. It was wrong to keep a wolf locked up indoors, but that is what Balthazar chose for me, said I would appreciate his kindness of the full moon run more if I didn’t go out any other time.I suppose I do understand what he means because I do appreciate it more, but I also wish that I was locked away most of the month too. I hate being indoors, I have since I was a little girl, the earth always seemed to call to me, it helped me t
Their was no going back now, I had come too far, the boundaries of my master’s territory was miles behind me and still their was no sign he knew of my absence.I knew I wasn’t out of danger yet as I pushed myself harder, the landscape rushing by, I had crossed three rivers and four roads without being spotted by anyone. I had no clue where I was as I slowed down in a small clearing, turning in a circle and sniffing the air. It was strange, I thought I had smelt something sweet a few seconds ago, but now it was gone.I turned my nose to the ground and sniffed the earth, wondering if it was some kind of plant I could smell, perhaps fruit. It was something I had never smelt before, something alluring and strange. I plopped down onto my stomach to rest, I had come hundreds of miles and it was almost dawn, Nyx and I were exhausted, we had never travelled so far before. We had never left Balthazar’s estate in north America before, but now it was different,
“I’m just passing through. I didn’t mean to get in anyone’s way.”Alpha scowled menacingly, his eyes skimming over my body in anger, stopping at my neck and wrists. “Who did that to you?!” He growled deeply, causing me to jump and step back.Why was he so angry?I looked down at my body, at the old scars and new bruises that lined my petite form, the welts still present on my wrists from the silver chains. This is what happens when Balthazar takes a liking to you, he hurts you, torments you. That was the life I was running from, trying to get as much distance as possible between me and my master.“I’m a slave.” I whisper, hoping that they would help me, if he’s angry about the scars then maybe he can protect me. Save me from the warlock.“A slave?” Blue eyes gasped in horror, some of the wolves around us whining. “Only warlocks and vampires have slaves.”
I didn't know if everything that alpha Dean had said was correct or not, I wasn't even sure that I believed their legend that I was to become some sort of great alpha that brought some other packs together or something like that. I wasn't even entirely sure what a pack was apart from what he had told me and what I knew from the stories my mother had read to me when I was a young pup. I was uncertain what my future would hold, or why I might have to do to belong, but I was determined to try, I had to do something with my life.I just hoped that it wasn't what he thought, I didn't know the first thing about leading anyone! I had spent my whole life as a slave, used and beaten whenever Balthazar saw fit. The only things I had ever known was loneliness and fear, and I didn't think those would help me in this. How did a pack work, were the wolves there really free to do as they wished, to come and go whenever they wanted to?Did that mean I would be able to sh