Chapter 6

April rushed to Jessica as soon as she entered the room, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Jessica collapsed into April's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. April held her tightly, whispering words of comfort. "It's going to be okay, Jessica. You're safe now," she murmured, though deep down, she knew they were far from safe.

Just then, the door opened again, and another girl was dragged in. Blood flowed down her thighs, and she looked utterly broken. April's stomach churned as memories of her own rape at the hands of Lord Marino flooded back. She felt a pang of guilt for not being able to protect any of them.

The room was filled with seven girls, all slaves, but some had been there for years and seemed numb to the horrors they endured. Their jealousy and resentment towards April for her beauty had led to her recent punishment. The whipping had left her back a mess of raw, bleeding flesh. Despite the pain, she forced herself to keep her head low, focusing on comforting Jessica.

Jessica eventually fell asleep in April's arms, tears still wet on her cheeks. April's stomach growled loudly, reminding her of her own needs. She tried to ignore it, but the hunger gnawed at her insides.

The girl who had been dragged in earlier, the one with blood on her thighs, approached April with a small plate of food. "Here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't eat. Not after what they did to me."

April took the plate gratefully, her eyes filled with empathy. "Thank you," she whispered back. They shared a silent moment of understanding before April started to eat.

As she chewed mechanically, the room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the occasional sniffle or muffled sob. Suddenly, screams echoed from the male slave quarters. The girls rushed to the small, barred window and peered outside.

They watched in horror as a massive wolf, Annihilator, stalked away from the male quarters, its mouth dripping with blood. The sight was enough to make several of the girls faint. They all knew what had happened, and the terror was palpable.

April turned away from the window, her heart heavy with fear and sorrow. She tried to refocus on Jessica, but the weight of their situation was crushing. "We have to stay strong," she whispered to herself. "For each other."

The girls were separated from the boys, a precaution after Annihilator's attack. The separation was meant to protect the girls, but it only served to isolate them further and deepen their despair.

April and Jessica clung to each other for comfort. They had become each other's lifeline in a world filled with darkness. Despite the constant fear and pain, they found solace in their friendship.

"Jessica," April whispered as they lay side by side on the cold floor. "We have to find a way out of here."

Jessica she had woken up minutes after the sleep because she was hunted by the hurtful memories. She turned to face her, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and resignation. "How, April? How can we escape from this hell?"

April squeezed her hand tightly. "I don't know yet, but we can't give up. We have to keep fighting. For ourselves, for each other."

Jessica nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I want to believe that we can get out, but it's so hard."

"I know," April said softly. "But as long as we have each other, we have a chance. We just have to stay strong and keep looking for a way out."

"April," she whispered, "I can't take this anymore. I feel like I'm losing myself."

April hugged her tightly. "We have to hold on, Jessica. We can't let them break us. Remember our plan. We will get out of here, and we will have a life beyond this nightmare."

Jessica nodded weakly, drawing strength from April's determination. "I trust you, April. I believe in us."

They clung to each other, finding strength in their bond. As the screams from the male quarters echoed through the night, they whispered words of comfort and encouragement, vowing to survive and escape together.

*******************

Vlad shifted back into his human form, his body covered in blood. The transformation had taken a toll, but the adrenaline rush was still coursing through his veins. He stalked to the bathroom and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the blood and grime. As the water cascaded over him, he couldn't shake off the anger that had fueled his recent rampage. The memory of the meeting, the disrespect shown to him, ignited his fury once again.

After he had cleaned himself up, he walked back into his room and searched for his phone. It was nowhere to be found. He scowled, remembering how he had smashed it to pieces during the Mafia meeting when his anger had gotten the better of him. Cursing under his breath, he knew he needed to get in touch with Mikhail. The mind link was his only option.

*Mikhail, I need you in my chambers now* Vlad commanded through the mind link, his tone brooking no argument.

Within minutes, Mikhail entered the room, his expression cautious. "Vlad," he greeted, his eyes scanning his Alpha for any signs of residual anger. "You called for me."

Vlad nodded, his eyes cold and calculating. "The meeting was a disaster. Those fools think they can cross me and get away with it. I need you to take care of someone for me."

Mikhail nodded, his loyalty unwavering. "Who is the target?"

"Sergei. He insulted me and questioned my authority. He's crossed the line, and he needs to be dealt with."

Mikhail's expression hardened. "Consider it done. He won't live to see another day."

Vlad's eyes glinted with satisfaction. "Good. Make it brutal. I want them to know that defiance has severe consequences."

Mikhail nodded again.

" I there was something unusual at the scene when you walked in. A strange scent." Vlad asked

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "What kind of scent?"

Vlad gazed at him coldly. " A female Scent, I have smelled before but can't place it"

" Ohh. It's Jessica but I want to ask you something " Vlad's expression darkened.

Mikhail shifted uncomfortably. " Well, My wolf, Throne, reacts differently to her. Every time I hurt her, he becomes agitated, sad even. It's never happened before with any other slave."

Vlad's eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "Interesting. It could be that she's your mate. Wolves react differently to their mates, even if they haven't fully recognized them due to prolonged exposure to human environments."

Mikhail looked thoughtful. "That would explain a lot. But it's complicated. She's been through so much already, and if she is my mate, it puts her in even more danger."

Vlad nodded. "Indeed. If she's your mate, it changes everything. You'll have to protect her, but without showing any weakness. Our enemies will exploit any vulnerability they find."

Mikhail sighed. "I know. It's just...difficult. I never thought I'd find my mate under these circumstances."

Vlad placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're strong, Mikhail. You can handle this. And if she is your mate, she'll need you to be strong for her."

Mikhail nodded, determination hardening his features. "I'll protect her. But what about you? You seem different lately."

Vlad's gaze turned inward. "I've been thinking about everything. The pack, the business and mother is disturbing me to get a Luna soon"

Mikhail's eyes softened. "There's always a way, Vlad. All you have to do is change and stop your dark life although am a part of it"

Vlad laughed bitterly. "Change, Mikhail? Am monsters. I've done unspeakable things."

Mikhail met his gaze steadily. "Even monsters can find redemption. It's never too late to try."

Vlad sighed, he knows the reason why he's asking him to change. They have always had plans of building a family together with Alexander but everything changed the moment they died.

Vlad watched as Mikhail left the room, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions. He knew the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn't felt in years: Sadness, extremely Sadness.

As he stood alone in his chambers, the silence enveloping him, Vlad allowed himself a moment of introspection. The world he had built was one of fear and violence, but maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for redemption. And perhaps, through the light of those he had wronged, he could find a way to emerge from the shadows but no........

VILLAINS ARE MADE NOT BORN. PEOPLE TURN PEOPLE INTO A MONSTER JUST LIKE HIM. Soon he shut of all his emotions and walked to his bed, he wasn't in the mood for sex. So slept off as soon as he laid down.