3 = Elizabeth

Elizabeth

We move slowly through the basement and into the small side room that is my sleeping quarters. It really wasn’t a very big room, there was just enough room for a small military-style cot up against one wall, a small trunk that sat at the end of the cot which is where I could keep what little clothes I owned and in the corner on the other side was a very sorry excuse for a bathroom.

There was a toilet and a small open shower which only ever had cold water even though the hot water service thingy was just outside the door on the other side of the basement, I just wasn’t allowed the luxury of hot water. I’m sure that this room was originally used as a clean-up after the warriors would interrogate those who entered the territory without permission.

Kyria helped me over to the shower, I stood with my hands and forehead leaning on the tiles as I nodded my head slightly telling Kyria to turn on the water. I hold in the scream but let out a whimper as the cold water hits the new wounds that Graves added to my back.

Once after my 17th birthday, he had been given the task of punishing me again, however before he picked up the whip he had pressed his body up against mine and whispered into my ear as he slid his hands up and down my front,

“I would get so many more wonderful screams if I whipped you here but when Mane Beatrice finally grants me permission to breed and gives you to me I want to look at and feel this flawless skin not skin that is riddled with scars.”

A shiver of fear made its way through my body at his words, however, for now, I was protected as there is one law that Mane Beatrice has that no one breaks and that law is that no male can touch any of the females intimately without her strict permission and outside of their heat.

That is one thing that I have been thankful for since I turned 18.

Thinking of this law reminds me of when Dad had told me some of when Kyria was born. I close my eyes against the continued pain when I’m suddenly pulled into the past seeing it as it happened…

>History Flashback in Third Person

Kyria was also Duke’s daughter but not to Mane Beatrice, Kyria was what most thought of as an illegitimate child, being a result of Duke losing control, cornering and then raping one of the newly purchased lower female warriors on the night of the Blood Full Moon just as she was entering into her heat.

Beatrice thought it was a once-off however after that night she watched Duke and the lower female, watched as he would steal glances at her, the odd touch and smile before she eventually caught him entering into the female's personal lair, later coming out covered in her scent and the smell of sex.

Suffering from jealousy, Beatrice saw it as that she was the only one allowed the pleasures of the males when not in heat unless otherwise permitted. When it was discovered that the young female warrior was carrying Duke's cub, against her better judgement Beatrice allowed the low female warrior to give birth to Kyria. 

However, when the night came for the young warrior to give birth Beatrice wouldn’t allow Duke to be in the room at the time of delivery as she then couldn’t do what she had planned if he was. Everyone in the Pride loved the anticipation of a new cub and waited alongside Duke for news of the female and cub.

Now Mane Beatrice was tempted to tell them that the cub was stillborn and the female had died giving birth, selling the cub secretly, however, once the little Omega female was born Mane Beatrice couldn’t do it.

There was something about her, so she kept the cub but then killed Kyria’s mother seeing her as a continued threat to her reign as the Mane. Beatrice allowed the female warrior one hold of her cub as she explained that she was just going to check her uterus.

Once her hand was inside the female Beatrice extended her claws, slicing, scratching and cutting up the inside of her womb, making the female hemorrhage to the point that even her WereCheetah healing wouldn’t have saved her life. She screams out in extreme agony, calling for Duke to help her.

As Mane Beatrice heard Duke running down the cavern hallway she retracted her claws and removed her hand from inside the female. grabbing the cub from the female warrior as Duke ran to her side. Mane Beatrice smirked before putting on a distressed expression and saying.

”I don’t know what happened she was fine, the delivery went smoothly, then she just started screaming and there was blood everywhere. I tried to find the cause but couldn't.” 

Beatrice smirks even more as she watches the tears slip from his eyes as he climbs onto the bed pulling the young female warrior into his arms. She tries to tell him but all she manages is a whimper, taking her last breath.

Beatrice didn’t believe in the Moon Goddess or that each member of the Pride had a possible fated mate because to her everyone, especially the lower females and the Omega’s in the Pride were only good for one thing…

Beatrice believed that the only thing a lower female was good for was…

Breeding.

Beatrice’s temper rises as she watches Duke practically fall apart over the death of a low warrior female. This is why she is the one to choose which male breeds with which females whether that male comes from within the Pride or from another.

Once the females' heat has run its cycle Beatrice as the Mane then chooses if the resulting cub or cubs stay within the Pride or are sold to another. With this power and knowledge, Beatrice moves around to the other side of the fur cot, places her hand on his shoulder and says,

”It is for the best. Now you take this cub and you raise her, then when she can she will join the servants and then as with all the others when she comes of age and nears her first heat she will be sold or used as a breeder.” 

Duke riddled with grief turns his eyes to Mane Beatrice, see what she didn't know was that the young female warrior was Duke’s fated mate, he didn't lose control that night as everyone had accused him of, he hadn't raped her either, they had made love to each other.

Even though he knew that he shouldn’t as an Alpha Warrior had to be unattached, Duke asked her and made sure she agreed knowing the consequences before he marked her as his mate allowing him to feel if she was ever in danger, knowing how jealous Mane Beatrice could be.

That night Duke had known something was wrong as soon as he had felt the fear come from his mate through that Moon Goddess blessed connection. When he found out she was carrying his cub he had been hoping to escape with her and start a new life in one of the reject Prides, however, Beatrice had kept him close to her and very busy.

With the death of his mate and with his daughter under threat Duke was about to go against everything in his training and attack Beatrice, however, the small little whimper that came from the cub in her arms made him pause. He looked at Beatrice with her extended claw sitting just under the cub's chin and his anger vanished his cheetah backing off.

Keeping his eyes on the cub, Duke dropped to his knees in front of Beatrice, she smirked keeping her claw dangerously close to the cub's delicate chin, she leaned close to Duke so she could whisper next to his ear.

”You are mine. If you even think of straying from me again, be sure to remember that the thing in my arms here will be the one to suffer your consequences and punishment. Do you understand me, my Alpha warrior?” 

”Yes, Mane Beatrice.” 

”Good. Now settle this thing and come see me later.” 

Beatrice passes the cub to Duke and then walks out of the cavern room, leaving Duke to clean up the mess. As Duke watches Mane Beatrice retreat out of the room he looks down at the cub in his arms whispering

”Kyria.” 

Giving her, her name and vowing that he would protect her as much as he could since he couldn't protect her mother.

>End History Flashback…

When I open my eyes, I take a deep breath as that had never happened before and it was a much deeper look at what had happened back then. Not that it surprised me as Mane Beatrice has always laid strict claim on Dad not allowing him to be with any other but her through their heat. It’s what had made Dad’s betrayal with Kyria’s mother hurt and dishonour Mane Beatrice unforgivable to her. 

I sigh, turn off the water and again with Kyria’s help I walk over to my cot.

I lie down on my front allowing Kyria to apply a little of the Pride's supernatural healing cream before she then wraps a bandage around my back and chest preventing any of the dirt from infecting the wounds and giving them a chance to heal. 

The pain intensifies as she wraps the bandage around my chest, just as Kyria finishes I slur,

“Thank you…”

As I pass out.