Lucas Another day, another endless mountain of administrative tasks awaited my attention. Being one of the triplet Princes of the Nightwalker Pack meant my time was consumed with matters of security, law enforcement, and combat readiness. It was rewarding work, even if the bureaucratic details occasionally grew tedious. I took pride in keeping our territory and members safe through a combination of vigilance, fear, and brutality as needed. As future Alpha, it was my duty. I was reviewing surveillance drone logs when a knock interrupted me. "Enter," I called. My assistant Marcus stepped inside briskly, inclining his head. "Good morning Alpha. Apologies for the interruption." I waved a hand. "It's fine. I was about to lose my mind staring at another minute of grainy aerial footage. What news?" "It's regarding the slave Natalia, sire. I have received some...concerning reports that I felt should be brought to your urgent attention." I sat up straighter, frowning. Natalia was my p
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
Lucas The days crept by with no word of Natalia, though I had ordered only standard deprivation, nothing permanently damaging. Part of me was tempted to go observe her directly, but such irrational impulses needed to be mastered."No, I don't care. Attachment bred weakness." I yelled.But the night the slave girl was finally dragged back into the kitchens, I arranged to be present. I told myself it was mere curiosity to see the effects of her punishment. In truth, I needed to witness that essential fire still burning within her.She's like motivation to me. The fire in the girls eyes never extinguishers. I bet her father must be a proud Alpha.When Natalia was shoved stumbling into the room, I noticed immediately the vacancy in her hollow gaze, the way she moved automatically, numbly. This timid, broken creature barely resembled the girl who once gazed at me with such defiant pride.The realization chilled me unexpectedly. But before I could examine it, the cook was berating Natalia
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
Natalie"Ahh, I'm so tired," one of the girls whined continuously.Frigid water soaked through my threadbare shoes as I scrubbed the massive courtyard stones on hands and knees. We all are, but we have to be Strong, whining gets you nowhere.Around me other slaves carried out their own tedious chore under the watchful eyes of the guards.My knuckles were cracked and bleeding, but I barely felt it anymore. After months here, pain and discomfort had become basic background noise, easily ignored.Finishing my section, I sat back on my heels with a soft sigh, swiping grimy hair off my forehead. The feeble morning sun held no trace of warmth, but beads of sweat still trickled down my neck from exertion. I would likely never be fully warm or dry here. One of the wolf guards glanced my way, lips curling at my bedraggled state. "Back to work, slave," he growled, cracking his whip menacingly. "No rest until every inch shines."Jaw clenched, I bent my head and resumed scouring, scrubbing unti
Natalie Cautiously I nudged the door open just enough to slip through, keeping my eyes downcast. "Your honey cakes, Alpha. The cook sends her compliments and hopes they please you."Leo lounged on a plush chaise before the fire, one leg draped casually over the side. He was bare chested, giving me an unfortunate view of his finely sculpted muscles beneath smooth tanned skin. A few shapely female servants attended him, stoking the blaze and pouring wine. Clearly I had interrupted intimate plans.Leo waved the servants off with a command to wait in his bedchamber, leaving us alone. What's going on? Why did he send them off?My heart beat restlessly, as my unease deepened as he rose with fluid grace and approached. I dug my nails into my palms, willing myself statue-still."Well now, this is a pleasant surprise." Leo's voice held warm amusement as he plucked a sticky cake and popped it into his mouth. "Delicious. But not half as sweet as the lovely server - Natalia, isn't it?" Of cou
NatalieI winced as the cook's shrill voice cut through the noisy kitchen."Useless fool, you call this slop fit to serve the pack warriors? Taste it yourself and tell me!" Before the trembling young slave boy could obey, she seized a ladle of the thin vegetable stew and flung it violently at him. He cried out as the scalding liquid splattered his face and chest. My gut clenched in sympathy.The boy, Lucas, was an orphan newcomer barely twelve years old. Already the cook had seized upon him for the worst abuses, calling him stupid and worthless daily. My hands balled into fists, old anger rising.As the boy hunched sobbing against the wall, arms raised futilely to protect himself, something in me snapped. Before I could reconsider, I was across the room pushing past the startled cook to stand between her and Lucas. Planting my feet, I turned to face her slowly. The entire kitchen had fallen silent, all eyes riveted on us."Enough." My voice was hoarse but steady. "No more. This ends
Natalie I winced as the heavy bucket handle dug into my cracked palm. The walk to fetch water from the well felt longer than usual today, my steps leaden. Strange dreams had chased any true rest from my hours last night.Ever since that tense encounter in the kitchens, Leo preyed on my thoughts in waking and sleeping. His geniality hid something darker and harder to read than Lucas' outright cruelty. Leo's games of cat and mouse left me tense as a hunted doe, braced perpetually for the killing stroke. But it never came. His feigned kindnesses served only to confound me further.I shook myself from troubled thoughts as the well came into view. This endless fretting solved nothing. An Alpha's motives were forever opaque to lowly slaves. Best accept any small reprieves and not question the causation, lest they be withdrawn as capriciously as granted. The trick was enduring day to day.I had nearly finished filling the second bucket when approaching footsteps sent prickles of unease do