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2024-10-29 19:42:56Slowly and reluctantly, Inayah uncovered her face. She blinked, closed her eyes, and blinked again. Streaks of shallow light penetrated the window and vaguely blinded her. She sat up, dragging her feet off the bed, and rubbed her knuckles onto her eyes.
She stretched her arms above her head and yawned then blinked again, simply watching her legs dangle above the dark brown polyester carpet.
A sharp knock on her door is what drew her attention away. For a moment, she thought she had slept in late but soft darkness outside says otherwise.
“Girl!” Mathilde hissed beyond the barrier.
Inayah scratched at her belly then scalp, quietly opening the door. Cold air instantly seizes her throat then nose.
Mathilde stands before her clearly impatient. “He waits for you.”
Inayah blinked, “Who?”
Something dark flashed across her face but disappeared just as fast, “Master, he said get ready to leave.” A
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The Alpha's Slave 26
“Get in, Inayah,” Salem spoke with levelled casualness, pointing at the opposite end of the claw tub. It was Victorian and large enough to fit them both comfortable. His elbow rested on the bath’s edge, cupping his jaw whilst sonorously watching her evident hesitance.It was either the heat of steam that caused her cheeks to redden or something else, as her gaze dropped to the clear water surface, seeing everything beneath.“I will dirty the water,” Inayah says and his mouth quirks at the corner.“That’s the whole point, slave-”“Inayah.” She suddenly said.Salem grew still, arching a dutifully curious eyebrow.Inayah raised her chin defiantly, mimicking the same eyebrow movement. “Inayah,” she repeated, “my name is Inayah.”It was bold of her, something that completely caught Salem off guard as he gaze with a lost expression at the girl. There was som
The Alpha's Slave 27
Inayah sat on the seat before Salem’s study table, staring at the thick bound book before her.Lycan mythology.Salem had given it to her as basic reading material, the start to their first few days of literacy and lectures had gone rather roughly. Not because Salem was a tough teacher, in fact he was rather patient and willing to repeat material for her.But Inayah just loathed reading. She hated writing even more.Evenings had once been her favorite time but after Salem introduced education hour, she constantly glanced at the clock overhead, wishing that time would slow to a lumber. She would rather spend the day polishing silver, scrubbing the floors or stripping off curtains - hell she would rather do all Mathilde’s chores without so much of a whine, than sit down and read.The activity was rather tedious.Salem did not make it easier with his sterness, though for the most part he was either playing his violin or reading a bo
The Alpha's Slave 28
“Stay safe, Master.”Inayah glanced up in time to see Mathilde carefully treading behind Salem who strode whilst buttoning up his midnight black coat. She stood in the kitchen with either of her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, churning butter. The process had been tedious and ran from dawn up until noon, Inayah had pounded away in silence, struggling to ignore the burn in her biceps and triceps.“Where is Inayah?” She heard Salem ask followed by a long hesitance on Mathilde’s part.“I will request her…” short hurried steps, the anger in each clicking subtle.Inayah glanced up just as Mathilde appeared by the doorway, hovering with certain uncertainty. “He calls you.”Inayah released the pounder and drew her wrist across her forehead, wiping away perspiration. Face flushed from exertion, she made her way to the parlor where Salem stood holding a leather bound book.At the sight of
The Alpha's Slave 29
Cold.Inayah felt a gust of cold night air brush across her body, and she in turn shivered uncontrollably. She felt ill, terribly so, eyelids laden with sickness and her body radiating heat like a brick.It was the sound of a door slamming shut that forced mild consciousness into her trembling body with a low, struggling moan, she forced her eyelids open. Inayah was staring at something blank, a wall, she realized, and lay there unmoving.Her head felt as though it had been stuffed with cotton, and a sudden wave of pain washed over her. It was exquisite, and debilitating even for her. It was the worst burning sensation she had ever experienced, even worse than the burn of the poker.Inayah whimpered as her body shuddered violently, beaded sweat surfacing along her forehead and upper lip. Adrenaline had masked the injury for at least a little while, but now it was biting. In that moment, she wished she could pass out again but her body was fightin
The Alpha's Slave 30
Inayah woke to bitter cold thrashing across her bare cheeks, drying them. She cracked open her fatigued eyes and peered at the slightly lit room.A low mournful sound sang across the empty room followed by slight hammering sounds. Another gust of cold crossed the woollen blankets piled over her shivering form, offering little to no heat. She blinked hard and forced her attention towards the source;The cabin’s front door was gaping open, beating against the wall each time wind surged through from the outside. From where she lay, Inayah was able to make out the whiteness that piled beyond the barrier. Soft flakes having drifted inside and settled on the rags, along with frost spreading like a fog on the wooden door.Snow.It was snowing.How long had she been asleep?Inayah struggled to bring a thought to completion but could not, she still felt terribly ill and her mind addled like soup, swilling about the confines of her skull. She co
The Alpha's Slave 31
Inayah woke to bitter cold thrashing across her bare cheeks, drying them. She cracked open her fatigued eyes and peered at the slightly lit room.A low mournful sound sang across the empty room followed by slight hammering sounds. Another gust of cold crossed the woollen blankets piled over her shivering form, offering little to no heat. She blinked hard and forced her attention towards the source;The cabin’s front door was gaping open, beating against the wall each time wind surged through from the outside. From where she lay, Inayah was able to make out the whiteness that piled beyond the barrier. Soft flakes having drifted inside and settled on the rags, along with frost spreading like a fog on the wooden door.Snow.It was snowing.How long had she been asleep?Inayah struggled to bring a thought to completion but could not, she still felt terribly ill and her mind addled like soup, swilling about the confines of her s
The Alpha's Slave 32
Lycus circled the mauled bear thoughtfully, his muzzle and paws were wet with blood and melted snow.The kill had been effortless and easy. Perhaps what had been the most difficult part was tracking the hibernating animal so far off into the forest and the further he walked, the more hesitant he grew over the human girl who currently was passed out on the cot.He did not know whether she would dare escape again, though it was obvious that was more hesitant knowing he could easily track her. The forest was large and she did not know where they currently stood.She was foolish enough to escape once.His brothers on the other hand… Lycus’ wolf growled lowly before his bones began to snap and realign themselves, fur sinking in on itself. He straightened with a sigh, rolling his stiff shoulders back and cracking his neck sideways.His body was sleek with blood, bits of flesh and fur stuck between his teeth from
The Alpha's Slave 33
You and I are mates.Mates.Inayah lay awake on the bed, wide eyed and staring at the ceiling above in mute contemplation. Lycus’ words had left a sudden dryness to her mouth, and her heart had not ceased its nervous beating throughout the night.The past two days had gone by rather calmly, and he seemed -unlike her- quite at ease despite confessing his never ending feelings and utmost loyalty to her.I belong to you.No one had ever spoken such words to her, an oath that seemed to bind one person to another. He barely knew her, and yet there he stood with honesty dripping from his tone, claiming to be her everything if she would let him.She flipped onto her side, tucking a hand beneath the pillow.No, that would be wrong. What would Salem do if he found out?Doesn’t Lycus fear him?His own audacious confidence scared her to no end. Inayah turned over onto her side and sta
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The Alpha's Slave epilogue 2
“Well,” Lycus leaned against the wooden door, raising a challenge eyebrow, “what do we have here?” “Lycus,” Inayah groaned, dropping back on the bed slightly ashamed of the talk. Her advancements were obvious, why did he have to question? She heard chuckle and a heartbeat later, the bed dipped. Hands were reaching for her wrists, gently prying them away, still she did not open her eyes. Then he cupped her face and ran his fingers through her hair and all thought was lost. Lycus seemed fascinated with her hair, with her face, her body, her soul - and he thrums as she quivered before him. He took his time, fingers moving on to her mouth and he stayed there for a bit, thumb pressed against her lower lip in mild awe. Inayah's eyes opened then, and with her gaze locked on his, she pressed a kiss on his thumb. A pleasant purr reverberated from his chest and she exhaled as he moved on, her cheeks warm and tingling. Heart pounding ha
The Alpha's Slave epilogue
Inayah woke to rhythmic swaying, like that of a mother gently rocking her child to sleep in loving arms. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry with the remnants of sleep still desperately clinging to her, but she forced them wider. As her senses gradually grew clearer, the sound of crashing traced her ears. But... it wasn’t a violent sound. It was the musical notes of water, she realised, the percussion section roaring from the surface below.Sunlight bled and warmed her face, casting streaks of ethereal gold and comforting black across the bridge of her nose. As she slowly propped herself onto one elbow, she threaded her hand through her soft tangles and peered around the room. The swaying continued along with the water splish-splashing, and her location soon dawned upon her.The room was sparsely decorated, made of nothing but a chipped, wooden table to the right of her and a closet protruding from the wall in front. Dark browns painted the floors with the only sourc
The Alpha's Slave 42
Dinner drifted by in silence. Inayah ate but could not taste the food on her tongue. Each movement was monotonous, automatic -- the rise of her fork, the clink of her knife, she did not sip her wine for it resembled Mathilde’s blood which had soaked her front and part of the table cloth.The clatter of Salem’s utensils drew her attention back to him. She stared, pale as candle wax, and unmoving. Salem sipped his wine tentatively, seeking her eyes in the process. “I wish to apologize over my past behaviour and all that I had done to harm you.”Inayah remained silent.“I know I haven’t been the best caregiver, nor master,” he paused, “nor lover. But I have tried Inayah.” On cue, his gaze slid to Mathilde’s motionless body still strung on the seat, “It was my fault for not acting earlier and assuming the relationship between both of you had been anything but malicious and for that, I apol
The Alpha's Slave 41
Inayah stood by the kitchen counter, staring at the vast array of knives spread before her. One knife in specific was double-edged and sharp enough to slice through the skin with ease. So much ease.“Stop lazing about.” Mathilde’s voice echoed from somewhere behind her and Inayah gripped the potato in hand. Inhaling a measured breath, she began to precariously peel the vegetable, gripping the knife handle tightly as the blade swept beneath skin. She was careful enough to cut out chunks of flesh lest Mathilde injures her again.Then again… Inayah’s eyes flickered to the fire hearth with a cauldron set atop, two pokers pressed into the bright orange coals that glimmered with embers of heat. She licked the back of her teeth thoughtfully.Completing the remnants of dinner, Inayah arranged the variety of foods on a platter and as she did, her mind wandered to Lycus who was caged in the basement. With an acerbic taste in her
The Alpha's Slave 40
Inayah treaded close behind Salem's figure. She fought the urge to reach out and grasp the lapel of his coat for guidance as he led her down a winding hall, down a descent of stairs and further past the cells he had her locked in.Inayah had stopped counting after four turns and followed obediently. He halted before a metallic chamber and pulled out a set of keys, wedging it into the silver door."This," Salem stepped aside and waved a hand like a magician who had just performed a trick, "is where I keep my enemies."Inayah's eyes widened as they took in the room all around.Silver. Everything was silver, from the walls to the floor and ceiling. Stone and silver hardened to prevent escapes. Four cells had been placed, each with large silver shackled embedded to the walls and what looked like a dog plate in each.
The Alpha's Slave 39
The week of torture drifted past in flashes of black and white.Salem kept Inayah locked in the cages intermittently, allowing her freedom to use the potty and eat before locking her up again. His torture knew no bounds, from whipping to shouting and sometimes daring to suffocate her in her food.All for one question."Do you like him?" Salem asked, lifting her head with his grip on her ponytail.Inayah blinked back nauseating tears and spoke. Her own voice sounded like it was tearing and unfamiliar. "No," she admitted for the tenth time that day."What were you planning on doing?""Running away," blood dripped from her nose from the stress her body tried to put up with, "he said we'd head East-""To the ocean
The Alpha's Slave 38
There was darkness. Voices. Dreams, dark and murky. Fear, pain. So much pain.Inayah opened her eyes, but the light hurt. She winced and tried to move. She could not. She was in a room, bright and open. She saw Mathilde come into view.Her first reflex was resistance, struggling to relieve herself of the chains and shackles that bore her to the bed. But her body seemed to have a mind of its own, completely slack and hot and in pain. Only her mind seemed hyper-aware of their enemy.Mathilde's cheek was wrapped in gauze, and she walked with a limp towards the bed. Her eyes held darkness equal to Salem's and hate, so much hate."There you are, child. Why'd you go and do such a horrible thing? Master has just been beside himself, he almost lost himself completely. It's such a shame what you did to him. I'd half a mind to let you pass on in your fever dreams, but he demanded I help you heal. I did
The Alpha's Slave 37
When Inayah came to, she was lying on a cold hardened ground. A soft groan of agony escapes her lips as she struggles to blink then roll over, now conscious of the world all around her. She blinked again then stilled at the sound of scurrying.A rat.Inayah shot upwards and glanced around at the darkness that consumed the reeking room. She raised a hand towards her pounding head, then faltered as chains around her wrists clattered noisily.Someone had shackled both wrists and ankles.But who-Lycus.The grimace that pinched her face suddenly tightens at the thought of him. Salem. Inayah shoots to her feet and stumbles forward, hands outstretched and blindly groping for something, anything. It was not until her fingers curled around metallic bars that Inayah heard the slamming shut of doors overhead.Footsteps echoed along the open hallway, drawing closer and closer still. Inayah blinked as faint yellow ligh
The Alpha's Slave 36
“Three hundred silver coins?” Lycus heard Inayah’s incredulous voice as she counted the coins set on stone by the steaming bath’s edge.He hummed in acknowledgement.“Three hundred silver coins,” she repeated, then shifted, the sound of water splashing her movements, “Kade paid you that much to find me?”“He did.”“Oh,” another shift. The tone of her voice had Lycus lifting one end of cloth placed over his eyes. He peered at her with one eye. She sat a few meters from him, steaming water rising up to her neck, sodden hair held up in a loose ponytail.The bag of coins he had given her was now open, coins spilled over the bathhouse edge. Her chin was set on the edge, flushed fingers pushing them aside one at a time.Lycus picked a stray coin and flipped it towards her. It landed with a soft plop beside her; “Penny for your thoughts.”
