Chapter 3

Rin

“You’re useless!”

My master slaps me across my face, and like always, I take it without defending myself. Not because I like being beaten but because I can’t defy the master of the contract. Alpha Jackal owns me, and even though I would love to cut off his head, there is nothing I can do about my situation.

“I can’t believe you wandered into my throne room without permission earlier!” Alpha Jackal grabs my chin and attempts to pull me down to his eye level. I let him because I don’t have a death wish, and he grits his teeth in my face. “And then you spoke freely to that werewolf woman in front of all of my men. Do you realize how weak that made me look? My demon slave spoke out of turn—that shouldn’t happen!”

Alpha Jackal’s fist comes flying toward my face, and since I’m his slave and pet, I let him beat me. I mask my emotions, something I’m good at, which only seems to piss off Alpha Jackal further. Rage contorts his face: his lips draw back from his teeth, his eyes widen, and his forehead furrow with wrinkles as he growls at me like an angry dog.

As he continues to beat me, I can feel my body weakening. My ribs ache with every punch, and I can feel my vision start to blur. But I refuse to cry out or beg for mercy. It’s not worth it. The only way to survive under Alpha Jackal’s rule is to endure his violence.

Eventually, Alpha Jackal grows tired of hitting me and shoves me away. I stumble back and almost fall to the ground. He looks up at me with disgust, his nostrils flaring.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you right now,” he spits. “I would do it if I didn’t need you, but you’re the most powerful demon around, so I ought to keep you as my pet.”

Anger is churning within me, but I don’t let it show. The truth is that I want Alpha Jackal dead. I’m a demon prince, and if I weren’t contracted, I would smash Alpha Jackal’s head into the wall.

Hopefully, that day will come in the future.

But for now, I have to pretend to be emotionless. I don’t hand Alpha Jackal a response, and when he sighs and signals with his hand that I’m free to leave, I don’t even hesitate.

I walk out of his room and head for the stairs, eager to get back to my apartment complex that stands behind Alpha Jackal’s grand mansion. It’s where his servants live, perhaps even that new woman, Camilla.

Irritation gnaws at me.

Why am I thinking about that werewolf girl again? Nothing good can come out of that, but there is no denying that the werewolf female, little Camilla, was pretty and innocent-looking. Before she knew what I was, she treated me with kindness. Though, when word got out that I’m a demon, her face turned pale, and she smelled of fear like everybody else. Not that I’m surprised—I’m a monster.

My chest tightens as I hurry outside of the mansion. The apartment complex isn’t very far away, and I begin to climb the stairs, stopping when I see Camilla. She is struggling to open the door to her new apartment, and I pause in my steps.

“Allow me,” I say.

Camilla stares at me with wide, frightened eyes, and I frown. Does she seriously think I’m going to hurt her?

Annoyed by her behavior, I snatch the key from her trembling hands and open her door with ease. It opens with a squeak, and I glance down at Camilla.

“You’re welcome.”

I’m about to leave the silver-eyed werewolf alone, but to my surprise, Camilla looks up at me.

“Th-thank you,” she stammers, and I’m surprised at her politeness, baffled when her lips form a tiny smile even though she is terrified of me.

“No problem.”

She continues to smile, and I arch an eyebrow. None of us is making a move to leave the balcony with all the doors leading to people’s apartments. I really should head to my apartment, though. Camilla is probably too much of a chicken to tell me to leave—

“Do you want to come inside?” Camilla asks and immediately blushes. “I mean! Y-you don’t have to, but I was given some cake from the kitchen, and maybe we could share?”

I eye her for many seconds before speaking. “Haven’t you heard it’s bad luck to invite a demon into your home?”

“I’m well aware,” her bottom lip trembled. “And I should probably stay away from you. I find you... scary, but not offering you a piece of the cake might make you hate me since you helped me.”

Understanding makes me nod, and I look down at the Tupperware box in her hand. “I see. You’re afraid I’ve already noticed the cake and that I would be angry if you didn’t offer to share it with me. That I would somehow punish you for that because I'm a demon, am I correct?”

Tears threaten to spill from her eyes, and I can tell that I have correctly guessed her intentions. I can see her fear, yet despite her horror, she still nods in agreement. She is an honest person.

Perhaps I should follow her inside?

As I consider her offer, I realize that I’m curious about Camilla. Despite being a werewolf, she seems innocent and naive, and there is something refreshing about her honesty. Plus, I’m starving, and a piece of cake sounds delightful.

“Alright,” I take a step forward and have to hide a smirk when she backs up in response. Her fear of me is obvious and... amusing to me. Yet I try to keep my voice calm. “Invite me inside your home, little human. I can't walk inside without it.”

Camilla lets out a shaky breath and nods. “Y-yes, please come in. You're welcome to enter.”

I follow her into her apartment, glancing around at the small space. She doesn’t have a bed yet or any furniture. It’s probably her first time here, but at least there is a mattress in the middle of the room to sleep on.

Camilla sets the Tupperware box down on the counter and turns to me. “What kind of cake do you like?” she asks, a small smile gracing her lips.

I shrug. “I don’t have a preference.”

“I hope you like chocolate,” she slowly opens the box, revealing a huge, perfectly sliced piece of chocolate cake. “We will share this.”

She opens a drawer and takes out a fork, cutting the cake in the middle before handing me half of the cake sitting on the lid of the Tupperware box. Her fingers brush mine as I take the form from her. Immediately, I feel a jolt of electricity shoot through my body, and I quickly step back.

What the heck was that?!

“Thank you,” I say, stabbing the cake with the fork while my face feels hot. Too hot. Is it warm in here?

Camilla nods, her attention entirely focused on the cake. “You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do for you after everything you’ve been through.”

I furrow my brow, surprised by the statement. “What do you mean by that?”

Camilla looks up at me, her silver eyes meeting mine. “You’re Alpha Jackal’s pet, aren’t you? I can only imagine what he must have put you through.”

I freeze, my eyes widening in shock. How does she know about that? How does she know about Alpha Jackal and me?

Camilla seems to sense my discomfort and quickly backtracks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. I just... I heard some things. And I saw the way he treated you earlier.”

I remain silent, unsure of what to say. Part of me wants to tell her everything, to spill my secrets and let her see the real me. But another part of me knows that I shouldn’t let anyone close. Even a pretty girl like Camilla.

I take a bite of the cake, savoring the rich flavor as I try to decide my next move. Camilla is kind, but she’s also a werewolf. She could be dangerous if she found out too much about me.

“I appreciate your concern,” I finally say, keeping my voice neutral. “But Alpha Jackal is my master, and I have to follow his orders.”

Camilla nods, seeming to understand. “I’m sorry I said anything. Truth is, I’m not sure how to act around you at all.”

“Because I’m a demon?” People are all the same.

“Yes,” she gives me a pained smile. “I’m terrified of demons because it was a demon that...” her eyebrows knit together, and I can feel her hesitation to tell me. But in the end, and much to my surprise, she blurts out the words. “It was a demon that murdered my parents eighteen years ago, and while I would like to believe that everyone deserves kindness, no matter what species they are, I’m having trouble with that. Demons scare me more than anything else in this world.”

I can feel her eyes on me, and I know she is waiting for me to respond. I take a deep breath, trying to come up with the right words to say.

“I understand why you might be afraid of demons,” I say finally, my voice soft. “But not all demons are the same, just like not all werewolves are the same. We all have our own stories and reasons for being the way we are.”

Camilla nods slowly, her expression thoughtful. “I suppose that’s true. I shouldn’t judge all demons because of one bad experience, but hey… perhaps we could be friends?”

I snort at her suggestions, and her face falls.

“No?” She asks.

I can detect her disappointment, which fascinates me. She is obviously afraid of me, so why does she want us to become friends?

Not that it matters; I will shatter her dream of friendship right away.

“Demons don’t need friends,” I say and place down the Tupperware lid on the counter without looking at Camilla.

“Everyone needs friends!”

“Not me.”

“That’s not true!” She argues. “Trust me. Everyone needs a shoulder to lean on.”

I almost laugh as I turn around. This girl is hilarious. “And you’re saying you would be that person for me?”

“Yes!” She exclaims, and I stare at her. 

Who is this girl?

My eyes focus on Camilla, and she shrinks back from their intensity, showing me she doesn’t fully trust me. The whole apartment smells like fear, which tells me everything I need to know: we won’t become friends.

This woman thinks I’m a monster, just like everybody else, and while that shouldn’t hurt, I’m agitated. Why? Why do I care about what Camilla thinks of me? It makes no damn sense. Sure, she is pretty, but there is nothing else that is special about her!

Camilla is short, and like every other human on this planet, she is frail and delicate. Humans are weak and disgusting, and they only care about themselves.

Yet, when I look into her silver eyes, I feel heat spread over my skin. It unsettles me. Why am I reacting this way? Am I sick or something?!

“Thank you for the cake,” I say and calmly head for the door without looking back, hoping to hide my inner turmoil.

As I step out into the hallway, I can hear Camilla’s disappointed sigh. But I can also hear her whisper something under her breath.

“Maybe one day you will see that you don’t have to be alone.”

I pause for a moment, considering her words. They strike a chord within me that I didn’t know existed. I’ve always been alone, ever since I can remember. But maybe, just maybe, there could be something more out there for me.

No.

I’m a demon, and we don’t need friends. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I can’t afford to get attached to someone like Camilla. Not when my life is at stake. Alpha Jackal owns me, both my body and soul. And as much as I hate to admit it, I need him. The contract binds our lives together, literally.

But still, as I walk away from Camilla’s apartment, I can’t shake the feeling that something has changed within me. Something that I can’t quite put my finger on.

Somehow, I shove that thought aside and wander into my living room. Seconds later, something breaks on the floor inside Camilla’s apartment. There is a loud crash, and worry slashes through me, but then I hear Camilla’s small voice saying, “I’m okay! I didn’t die!” And I immediately relax.

... until I realize that I, Rin, the demon prince, care about another person.

What the heck is happening to me?