Told A Slave

Indrik

"You would never be more than a bottom feeder." The words would not stop ringing in my ears, burning into my brain with searing heat. I clasped my hands over my ears and screamed, tears gushing down my face. A group of people walked past me staring at me like I was crazy but I couldn't care any less. What was I thinking? I would never be more than a disappointment, an Alpha's son who was born without a wolf. To think that I had thought that getting a master and having her unlock my wolf would change my fate. I laughed drily. Just how much more stupid could I be? I would never be more than a failure however hard I tried.

Another group of people walked past me and though my senses were too clouded for me to see their expressions, I knew instinctively that they were sniggering at the miserable me. I had left the palace behind and was now wandering through the meandering streets of the pack, hardly aware of where I was going. Every so often, I ran into someone who hissed at me to get out of the way but apart from that, I didn't have any interactions with anyone. The hot air was thick with the scents of food and spices, porridge, soup, herbs, everything was eagerly gulped up by my nose reminding me that I had had nothing to eat. My tummy grumbled in disapproval but I could care less. I didn't know how long I had walked without any aim until I ran into a familiar person.

"What are you doing out here?" A voice that would have sent a sweet wave of joy rushing over me at any other time but now asked. I looked up to see Luna dressed in her usual white gown and flat sandals. She was clutching a basket under her left arm, the contents of which I couldn't see. I had to stop myself from wrinkling my nose at its smell though. It reeked of the awful, sweet and rooty scent that herbs always had.

I scrunched up my face as I tried not to inhale. "Who is that for?" I grumped, hoping she would say it was for the Beta or for everyone else in the pack apart from me.

"It's for you, my dear master." She responded with a small bow which she somehow managed to make look good even with a basket under her right arm.

"That's a joke, right?" I took another look at the basket before swiftly turning away.

She pouted, looking very offended. "You don't know how much thought and effort I put into this, do you? I woke up very early so I could get this. You should be more appreciative." She looked around us at the group of people that weaved around us without paying us any attention. Unlike the palace with its white paints, these houses were splashed with different kinds of colours ranging from green, to blue, to yellow among others, none as beautiful as the palace but definitely more warm. I watched and heard people laugh as they walked past with a heavy heart. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I would have been happier if I had been born in one of these homes.

"Trust you to put your effort into gathering herbs. Whatever happened to milk and cheese?"

"You, my master, are really...were you crying?" She stepped back, taking a better look at my face. My face clouded over as the memory came rushing back. Seeing Luna had somehow taken my mind off it before. The herbs played no small part in that too. But now, everything came crashing down on me like a whole cartload of terribly smelling herbs had been dumped on me from atop the hill.

"No!" I snapped, then turned around and started to head back for the palace.

Luna tried to catch up to me which was no easy task considering that she had to bring a heavy basket along. "Hey, master, wait up." She called but I didn't even slow. Somehow, she managed to catch up to me. "What's the problem with you?" She asked in a tone that I couldn't quite figure out. It seemed to be accusing me of being weak and at the same time threatening fire and brimstone on my assailants. Knowing her, it was probably the first. "Did Leon mess with you again?" I wished. If it had been Leon, I would have known that he had spoken out of malice and his words would not have affected me this much but Beta Green? He was like a father to me.

"Just leave me be, will you?" I whimpered as I picked up my face. Thankfully, she did not push me.

Back in the palace, I crawled into bed, hoping that sleep would provide a merciful relief. Obviously, it was not to be as Luna would not stop haunting me, first getting me out of bed to take my bath. Yeah! (I personally think that should have been one of the Herculean tasks with how tiring a task it could be. Something like this, find a bath and scrub yourself clean. Only then will you be able to atone for your sins.) After that, I had to force morsels of food down my throat just to get her off my back. Then, she had suggested that we go do some training. After all the times that I had pleaded for her to train me without success, I thought that I was supposed to feel at least a sliver of excitement that she was now taking the initiative but instead, all that filled me was bitterness. What was the point of training if I was never going to be more than an insignificant member of the pack? Someone who was considered to be useful for little more than serving as a political weapon and yes, a child donor. Ugh!

First, it was a horrible nightmare and then, being told that I was a slave. I think it went without saying that this was the singular worst day of my life.