Chapter 2

Tara

Feeding the slaves is always draining. They are malnourished for sure and look like hell. They always eye me with contempt and spit at me when they think I’m not looking. I may feel pity for them, but to pick on someone who is actually nice to you is stupid. I let it go though.

There is one slave though that always brightens my day. Miss Lina. After I dump the scraps in feeding troughs, I walk down the living corridor to the second to last room on the right. Opening the door, I see miss Lina looking out her tiny barred window.

“Hello miss Lina, I brought you a surprise,” I say pulling out a napkin with some omelet and a few bacon covered mushrooms from the inside dress pocket I sewed in long ago.

Lifting her eyes from the window, she gives me a big smile, signing with her hands a thank you and taking the offered food. I watch ad she eats, remembering how I met her.

Her village was pillaged a few years after mine. She came to us ragged and worn with the others of her village. The Blackclaw warriors love to jeer and place bets on which slaves will last. The bets they placed on her were large. I remember feeling disgusted with them, and giving her a sad look. I also remember her looking up and giving me a brave smile. That smile undid me, as I hadn’t seen a new slave ever hold any hope or smile. She did though. She smiled like she saw a way out. She never would give up. She still won’t.

Since then, she has been my best friend here. I found out quickly that she was a mute, which made conversing with her quite hard. Nevertheless, sitting in her presence always lifted my spirit. Over the years, I found pieces of paper and writing utensils. She wrote and signed while I learned how to communicate with her. Personally, I think I’m not half bad. We talk a lot now.

“How are you doing this morning?” I sign over to Lina when she finishes eating.

“I’m very good. Thank you for the food. I feel something from you. Are you worried?” She signs back.

“There is a guest coming tonight for dinner. I have to assign someone to cook so I can attend the dinner. Could you do that?”

Lina nods and looks at me with a knowing and sad smile. She remembers the last time a guest came. I cried on her shoulder for hours and hours. She held me close like a mother and pet my head to sooth me.

“You will be okay child. I am always here for you. You are strong and brave.” She signs, taking my hand in hers. I truly love this woman. I don’t think I would have continued on if it wasn’t for her.

Knowing I needed to head back, I give her a hug and leave the room.

****

Several hours later, after I’ve cleaned the pack house, I head over to Delaina’s. Delaina is the seamstress of the clan and the best friend of the Luna, aka my worst enemy after Lorez. She is rude and always pokes me with the needle. I know she does it on purpose too.

“Well, well, well. Look who it is. The pet with no sense of fashion. Wait, that’s because you’re a slave. Sorry, forgot for a second that you are nothing but dirt,” Delaina says with a cruel smirk on her face.

I walk over to her and bow my head in submission, even though I could claw her throat out quicker than she could yell for help. I train in my small room every day, even though I do not use my skills. One day, I hope I will. Until then, I’ll stay ready.

She tells me to strip and then begins to measure me, poking me with her needle as she goes. She hums as she works and snickers when she sees the scars given to me over the years. After an eternity of misery, she finally backs off and goes to the back room. I wish to sit, but I know I’ll be punished if I do so.

A few minutes later, she comes out with a plain white dress, tassels hanging down toward the bottom. She instructs me to put it on, and it’s a hour more before I’m able to leave.

However, before I walk out the door, Dalaina calls out, “Luna Marie wished to speak to you after you saw me. I do hope you won’t make me call her and tell her you left earlier and didn’t go to her.” As the door closes, I see a happy cruel smile on her face.

That devil. That’s exactly what she will do, and I will pay for it. I hate them all. Can there not be a decent person in this clan?

I go back to the pack house and up onto the second floor. Knocking on the alpha’s door, a voice calls out to come in. I open the door and am met with a slap. I fall to the floor, cradling my cheek against the sting

“How dare you make me wait. You left Dalaina’s hours ago you pathetic excuse of a wolf,” she sneers grabbing my hair and yanking me up.

“We have a guest today. I expect you not to make a fool out of the Alpha or me. If the guest asks you to spread your legs, you will do so without question. You are nothing but a pathetic whore, and you will do what you are told when you are told.” The Luna slaps me again and dismisses me, all but throwing me out the door. At least, I know what to expect tonight. I will be used, abused, and cast aside. With that, I go to my room to prepare mentally. Just a few hours til my humiliation. A few hours til I feel like an empty shell again.