NatalieThe day dawned bleak and dreary, matching my hollow mood perfectly. I dressed numbly and made my way to the kitchens for another endless day of toil and torment. Ever since Lucas had stripped me bare and forced me to eat from his hand like a dog, the fight had gone out of me.I moved through my chores on autopilot - scrubbing, chopping, carrying. The daily indignities passed in a weary fog. I kept my eyes down and my shoulders hunched, willing myself invisible. It was safer to be mute and unremarkable.The one bright spot was Mary slipping me extra scraps when the guards weren't looking. I would have starved on my rationed meals alone. Her small kindnesses meant the world in this harsh place.I was hauling a bucket of stale dish water outside when the summons came - all slaves were to report immediately to the central courtyard. Dread curled in my gut. Sudden assemblies never meant anything good.With Mary's arm supporting me, I limped across the compound to join the gathering

Lucas I reclined in my study, boots propped up on the desk as I reviewed recent security logs. After the perimeter breaches last month, I had tripled patrols and added sensor drones. So far there had been no further issues. Good - as head of pack security, any lapses reflected poorly on me.A knock interrupted my reading. "Enter," I called. My assistant Marcus slipped inside, inclining his head. "Apologies for the interruption, Alpha. But there is a... situation brewing in the central square I thought you should be aware of."I sat up, frowning. "What sort of situation?" Any disruptions to pack stability needed to be addressed swiftly."It's the slave Natalia, sire. She is being punished for insolence. Publicly." Marcus cleared his throat. "The Head Beta ordered the lash, but he is...enthusiastic in carrying out his orders. I thought perhaps you may want to intervene before lasting harm is done."I was on my feet and striding to the door before he finished speaking. "Show me. Now."

NatalieThe harvest moon cast its pale light over the slave quarters as I lay wide awake, mind racing. After weeks spent secretly planning and gathering intelligence with Maria, we were finally making our escape attempt tonight. Heart pounding, I sat up slowly so as not to wake the others. Maria and I had crafted a simple disguise for me - binding my chest and cutting my hair short to pass as male. It was risky stealing knives from the kitchen, but a necessary risk.Once dressed, I crept silently from my bunk and slipped outside. The grounds were still except for the occasional patrol of guards. I skirted them easily, making my way toward the rendezvous point Maria and I had agreed upon - a shadowed alcove near the kitchens.She was waiting there just as planned, a tense smile breaking across her face when she saw me approach. "You're here! Are you ready?" she whispered.I nodded, excitement and fear mingling in my gut. "I have been ready for this chance for a long time. Let's go qui

NatalieI was only brought back by the creak of the cell door opening again some time later.Immediately I was on high alert, cringing away from the intruder despite the pain. But it was only Mary returning, her kind features drawn with worry."I warned you nit to try that Nat," she warned urgently. "Now, that you're caught, you must be able to stand and work, or it will go worse for you." The thought of putting my ruined back to any labor was unimaginable. But refusal was not an option. Jaw clenched, I nodded and somehow found my feet with Mary's assistance. My legs trembled violently, only barely supporting my weight."Yes you warned me, I guess I was blinded by the thirst of freedom." All too soon, heavy footsteps signaled the arrival of my captors. The lead guard studied me critically in the torchlight seeping from the hall. "Yes it's her," he grunted. "Get a move on, slave."They hauled me back through the maze of underground corridors toward the slave quarters. My senses swam

LeoAnother boring day of paperwork and policy meetings dragged by at a glacial pace.As second eldest of the Nightwalker Pack's royal triplets, certain tedious administrative duties fell to me. I much preferred life in the field leading raids and training drills. All this bureaucratic nonsense was slowly sucking out my soul. The evening meal bell rang, releasing me from my office temporarily. "I skipped lunch, I can't skip dinner." I groaned, rubbing my temple.I eagerly made my way down to the Great Hall, stomach growling. At least dinnertime meant a brief reprieve filled with decent food, gossip, and pretty slaves to admire.My usual crowd had already claimed our preferred table on the dais when I arrived. I exchanged boisterous greetings and lewd jokes with my Betas as I took my place and filled a goblet with rich red wine. This was the life - wine, women and authority untainted by administrative headaches.Halfway through the meal I realized my youngest brother Lucas was abse