Chapter 6- Ari

We head out of the ritual room, or whatever they call it. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to learn how this coven operates. Every coven is different. I ended up needing to link arms with Zane so he could help me walk as I started to feel weak, which is not a feeling I’m used to. Once more, we walk through crazy hallways. I find even more strange things about the mansion. Everything is incredibly detailed. The door nobs, light fixtures, and even the walls have some type of design on them. This place is weird, but it’s strangely fascinating. The shadows swirl along the walls as if they are living entities. 

Zane leads me down a long hallway with a handful of doors. The hallway is quieter than the rest of the house as I follow him to a dark gray door. Zane puts his hand on the knobless door.  When his hands touch the door, it briefly lights up white and opens. We walked into the huge room, which is a cool gray color with black and other shades of gray as well as white. There is no color. There is a sizeable black king canopy bed with gray curtains. A black comforter with matching pillows graces the bed. To the right, there is a little sitting area with a black Victorian looking couch that sits in front of a beautiful black fireplace. The fireplace mantel has intricate and detailed carvings, but it’s nothing I can recognize. A black end table is on one end of the couch with a few books on it. Ahead there is a door that I can see leads to a bathroom, and to the left is a closed door which I assume leads to a closet, or possibly nowhere since that seems to be a theme here. I notice a black dresser near what I believe is a closet. Everything is nicely spaced out with plenty of room. The carpet is black with gray specks. Overall the room is nice, and I like the gothic victorian theme of the room. 

“I didn’t expect you to come with me today when I left, so I’m not prepared for you. I’ve already requested a bed for you. It will be here tomorrow. I’ll also have clothes and anything else you might need.” Zane informs me. 

I walk towards the bed and then spin on my heels to face him. I’m still a little off balance, but I’m gaining better control. My wolf is very unhappy about being disoriented. We don't like weakness as weakness gets you killed. That's what my parents taught me, and perhaps it's the one solid piece of advice they have given me. 

“Let me get this straight. You want me to sleep in your bed with you, naked?” He’s a bold warlock. I’ll give him that. Does he think I’ll believe his story that he didn’t know I’d come with him? He planned this shit. If he didn’t, he’s a lucky bastard, and I’m screwed. 

Zane comes towards me so that he ends up right in front of me. “I never said you had to be naked, but I wouldn't say no if you're offering.” He grins. 

“Aren’t you my master now? Don’t you make all my choices for me, or do I have some free will?”

Zane grabs the belt of my robe and pulls me to him. My hands instinctively go to his chest, which I now realize is muscular, and I want to see exactly what he looks like. I look into his stormy gray eyes that swarm with danger and desire. This warlock wants me. I’ve never really had a male want me before. I was always in Sage’s shadow. She is pretty, fit, and a beta. Males went for her over me. There were a few guys I fooled around with, but I never felt desired by them. Zane is different. I can sense his burning desire for me, which turns me on even more. 

“I am your master, Ari. If I were you, I would be a good pet and do what my master tells me, or else your life will be very difficult.” His voice is low, and I can tell he isn't playing games. 

“Is that a threat?” I challenge him. 

Why should I make this easy for him? He didn’t even have to fight to get me here. Liam handed me to him on a fucking silver platter like my life was his to trade away. Even if I did decide to become a rogue, I have a feeling Zane would have hunted me down and convinced me to come with him. He knows as well as I that a few months as a rogue and I’d willingly go with him just for the safety factor. At least then, he would have had to fight for me. Instead, I was handed to him wrapped in a pretty bow. Thanks, Liam. 

Fresh resentment washes over me at Liam and Sage. I never thought I’d resent my best friend or my alpha. I guess Liam isn’t my alpha anymore. No, he’s not, but Zane is. He’s not just my alpha, though; he’s also my master. He owns my soul. No, I won't make this easy for him. He might have easily gotten me to become his familiar, but that doesn’t mean I have to submit to him right away. It doesn't mean I have to be a compliant slave. He’s coming for more than just my soul, and he’s going to want my everything. He may have gotten my soul easily, but I’ll be damned if he gets everything else so easily. I just have to resist this pull to him. 

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. You have some free will. However, when I make a decision and give you an order, you obey. It’s even better if you obey without questions, hesitation, and attitude. I know that will come with time. I don’t expect you to obey me so willingly. I expect you to fight me, but you will give in eventually.” 

“Very confident in yourself that I’ll just bend to your will so easily. You might have my soul, you might command me, and I might be enslaved to you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll bend to your will so easily.” 

The one hand that isn’t on my belt comes to grab my chin. He’s a little rough, and it makes my clit tingle. “You can fight me all you want, but you’ll give in eventually. You should know I’ll enjoy bending you to my will. You’ll be mine, my Pet. I’ll have all of you. Fate made you for me, and I will enjoy claiming every part of you.” His words intensify the tingling sensation between my legs. 

“We shall see about that, Master. So, what’s it going to be, naked?” I tempt him.

Why am I tempting him to get me naked? I don’t know if that's making it harder or easier for him. I know that whatever is easy for him is hard for me and vice versa. I lost the battle for my soul, but can I win the war for what's left? If I’m truly fated to him, do I even have a chance to resist? I’m doomed; it would seem. 

“I don’t think you want me to choose for you because you won’t just be naked if you do. You’ll also be under me with your legs spread open as I claim your body and pleasure as mine. So don’t tempt me, Pet.” He warns. This man is going to be my undoing. 

“Is that what you want?” 

“Yes, but it’s not what you want, not yet. I won’t take your body till you're begging me to claim you, and trust me, Pet, you will beg me. You’ll sleep naked tonight.” He decides as he pulls the knot of my belt undone. 

He slips the robe off me, and a slight shiver of anticipation runs down my spine. His gray eyes darken as he admires my body, his desire becoming more evident. I can’t pretend I’m not attracted to him because I am. Everything about him sets my desire on fire. He’s not even touching me at the moment, and I find my body craving his touch. I’m going to try to resist him for as long as possible, but sleeping in the same bed with him completely naked will be interesting. I’m going to have to try and keep my desires in check. I will not bend to him so easily. It’s not even been twenty-four hours with him. He’s not getting all of me that easily. Nope. 

“Get into bed.” He commands, walking away from me and to the other side of the bed. 

As I pull the covers back to climb into the bed, I stop in my task as Zane starts to take off his clothes. His back is to me, so he can’t see me staring at his nice ass. The muscles of his back are toned and defined. A rather large tattoo of a crow sitting on top of a skull with swirling smoke around it adorns the middle of his back. It’s sexy as hell. When he turns around, I can’t seem to stop my mouth from dropping. His six-pack alone is worthy of my drool, but the whole of him is sexy as hell. He’s not overly muscular like a bodybuilder, but he definitely has them, and he is toned. I didn’t expect him to be so fit. I know werewolves tend to have bodies like this because they are highly active and all about strength. I guess warlocks like to be fit, too, and right now, I’m not complaining until Zane catches me soaking in his body. Oh, did I mention his somewhat slightly larger than the average dick? Yeah, that’s something to admire by itself. 

“Like what you see, Pet?” He asks with a grin. 

I quickly gather myself. Yeah, I’m doing a great job at keeping myself in check. Come on, Ari, get it together. Time to bring forth all the attitude, sass, and fire that burns deep down within. I always had to hide that part of myself. I had to be a good omega. Omega’s don't act out; we behave and do our best to serve the pack. I would have gotten smacked if I had told pack members to fuck off or do shit themselves. Even around Sage, I had to keep that part under the surface. I was afraid she would stop being my friend if I showed that side of myself. 

Thinking about it, I had to hide a lot of myself in my pack. I couldn’t show my personality. I had to hide my wolf because she was different. I had to hide that my senses, speed, and overall strength were better than most of the pack put together. I had to pretend to be this pathetic omega who did what she was told, a weak pack member who wasn’t worth the ground I walked on. Liam handing me over to Zane like I was fucking dog that he could just give away at will angers me. Liam had no right to give me to Zane. He had no right to make me a rogue either. Instead of giving in to the pettiness of his pack, Liam should have stood up for me. He should be making changes to make the pack better, not keep it the same. 

Resentment in waves comes over me at my pack, Liam and Sage. I hate questioning everything I know. I hate feeling like my whole life has been a lie. I thought I was happy in my pack life. I had Sage as my best friend. I’d spend so much time around her and her family. Part of me hoped one of her brothers would find me attractive and make me their mate. As an omega, it’s easy to find yourself wishing that someone higher ranking will make you their mate. It doesn’t happen often, but I thought I had shot. I spent a lot of time with Sage and her brothers. Her one brother James was attracted to me. I made out with him a few months ago. I thought maybe he’d make me his mate, but then he stopped flirting and wanting to kiss me. Now I wonder if was just hoping to fuck me. The blinders are coming off, and I realize how unhappy I was in my pack. It hurts. Everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I wanted, was nothing more than an illusion that has now been shattered. 

“I didn’t think warlocks slept naked, that's all.” I counter, climbing into the unbelievable soft bed. Seriously, I've never felt softer sheets or blankets before. 

I prop myself up in bed and make sure that I’m covered. I don’t want to give Zane any more of a peep show than I already have. I know he’s going to see me naked. When I transform, I have to be naked, and who knows how else he will see me naked. I live with him now; he’s bound to see me naked at some point. 

Zane chuckles. “You think werewolves and other shifters are the only ones who like being naked?” He asks, sliding into the bed. 

“Well, I’ve never met any other supernaturals besides my pack. You could have been doing it for my benefit for all I know.” I replied, sinking into the bed. Damn, it’s comfortable, or maybe the events of the day are finally sinking in, and sleep gives me an escape from dealing with my problems. 

“Cute of you to think I’d get naked just for you. I’ve been with many women, but can you say you’ve been with a man? I know you’re still a virgin. I know your body craves my touch, and your desire burns for me just like mine burns for you. One day you’ll accept that we are fated together as soulmates. For now, I’ll enjoy watching you squirm as you try to fight your desires. Rest assured, you will give in eventually, and I can be a very patient man when I need to be. Go to sleep; you’ll need it for tomorrow.” He commands. 

Something rushes over me, forcing me to obey. I get comfortable. How did Zane make me do that? I know Alphas have an aura that they can project onto their pack to make them obey. Alpha’s love using it as they get off on the power trip. I am bound and enslaved to Zane. He may have something similar to the alpha aura that he can use on his familiar. Every being has an aura, but only some of us can sense it. Zane is my master, just like an alpha is the master of the pack. I stopped saying that alpha’s ruled the pack. Alpha’s don’t lead packs. They are dictators most of the time. Werewolves are vicious creatures, and I take it that lycans are just the same. We are part animal, after all. The weak are picked on, and the strong rule with iron fists. Alpha’s tend to get drunk off power. 

Roger, Liam’s dad, was an Alpha drunk on power. Roger was a bad alpha by most accounts. He punished omega’s over little things like spilling a glass of wine was worthy of getting beat up by the warriors. He used females for pleasure, forcing them to his bed with his alpha aura. He was known to take virgins for sport. 

Alpha Roger was a crazy man who thought the world was his. He had made plenty of passes at me. He even tried touching me. My mind wanders to that night. The night I never let myself think about. I can’t help that my mind goes right to that night. It’s like it was yesterday. I was sixteen at the time. I’m nineteen now, and I still cringe at this moment. I never even told Sage about this. No one knows. It’s been my dirty little secret. 

It was a pack party. The pack throws parties for everything and anything. Every night before a full moon, there would be a giant party at the packhouse. There would be enough food to feed the entire pack and then some. There would be a giant bonfire during the chilly and colder months. This particular pre full moon party was a warm spring night. The type of warm spring night that teases the summer nights to come. 

I was in a simple black sundress with black flip-flops. The warm breeze wrapped around me like silk, and I was happy summer was coming. Sage had left me alone because her dad dragged her into talking with Liam. Even back then, Beta Harrison was attempting to pair his one and only daughter with the pack's future Alpha. It wasn’t a surprise when Liam picked Sage. They had been thrown together at every turn and chance their parents got hoping they’d fall for one another. I know they did, and I know they were fooling around before Liam officially announced his claim to Sage. 

That night I was on my own. When I wasn’t with Sage and was forced to be at pack functions alone, I tended to stick to the shadows. If Sage wasn’t around, I risked being bullied. Omegas are badly bullied in their teenage years. If I weren’t friends with Sage, I would have been fucked. I couldn’t show my true strength. I hated getting my ass beat, knowing I could take all of those fuckers down. It sucked being picked on for being weak when I was better than all of them. 

Either way, that night, I chose the shadows. I was getting bored of the party, and it was getting late. My parents never came to these functions, so I knew they’d be at home waiting for me. I was heading out to the back entrance, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I knew leaving the front gate, I risked running into some bullies, and without Sage around, I wasn’t in the mood for their shit. 

I snuck down the dimly lit path that would lead to the parking lot. There I could get to the main road and walk home. Usually, I would have spent the night at Sage’s house, but with her gone the whole night flirting with Liam, I doubted she would leave on my account. So, I decided I’d go home and face my parents. I was walking off to the side to avoid being seen. I didn’t realize that Alpha Roger was drunk and in the woods pissing. 

Alpha Roger stumbled onto the path, and unfortunately, I was nowhere near the exit. The packhouse was too far now. Damn, I didn’t want to be near the alpha alone. I knew how he was, and judging the drunken lust written on his face, I had become his current target. He strutted to me and only stumbled once. I could smell the alcohol on him. From what I could tell, it was a lot, at least a bottle or two worth. 

“What are you doing out here all alone, omega.” Alpha Roger asked. 

“I’m heading home,” I answered honestly. 

“No, you’re not going home tonight. Tonight you entertain me.” He states clearly, which confused me. Was he just pretending to be drunk? 

“No, thank you, Alpha. I’m saving myself for my mate.” I state firmly, attempting to get past him and away from him as fast as possible; unfortunately, he blocks me. 

He gives a hearty laugh. “That’s adorable, but you’re just an omega, and I have a right to your body as your alpha.” He grabbed my arm. 

“Alpha, no. I don't want to go with you.” I shouted, hoping someone would hear me and come to see what was going on. I didn’t think anyone would stop the alpha from raping me. Not even another omega would help me, but it might startle him if I could draw attention, and I could try to get away. 

Alpha Roger was pulling me towards the tree line. I wasn’t about to let him rape me. No way in hell I would let him do that to me when I could probably take him. I didn’t know if I could have won a fight with him, but I could at least getaway. Once I was on the main road, I’d be okay because there would be traffic and people around. 

He got me to the tree line, and I attempted to pull away. I almost got away, but he was quick for someone who was supposedly drunk. I hoped Alpha Roger was drunk because that would have made getting away easier. Alpha Roger pushed me against a tree. He pinned me to the tree with his body as his hands went right to my breasts, grabbing them. 

“I can’t wait to put my dick in your tight little cunt. I will enjoy taking your virginity, but I won’t just take you in your cunt. I’ll fuck you in the ass as well. I fuck every hole you have. If I like what I sample, I might be back for more, so do your best to please your alpha. If you do, you'll get my dick again.” 

His words turned my stomach. Hell no. I wasn’t going down like that. I wouldn’t let him fuck me like I was his little toy. It was the moment I drew a very fine line for myself. There would be moments when I would use my abilities fully. I wouldn't hold back, not when I was being threatened like this. It’s one thing for the bullies to push and shove me. They’ve given me a good beat down a few times, but this is where I draw the line. I wasn’t about to have my first sexual experience be ruined by a drunk alpha who thought I was his because I was an omega. 

I shoved him off me. He stumbled backward, stunned that I had such force within me. “ I said no. I don’t want to be used by you.” I firmly stated. I started walking away, but he grabbed me again. 

“You should be honored to be used by me. I know what you really are, and I wouldn’t want to risk knocking you up. I wouldn’t be able to let that child live, and I don't want to have to clean up that mess. Best to let you get going home, omega.” Alpha Roger spat at me as he released my arm. 

My mind snaps to the present and the thought that comes to my mind as I replay Alpha Roger's words in my head. At the time, I thought he was drunk, but now thinking about it, his words almost indicate he knew that I was a lycan. Is it possible he knew? If Roger knew, does that mean Liam knows, and if Liam knows, does Sage know? 

Curling into a ball, I try to push the maddening thoughts from my mind. I don’t want to think about that right now. I want to think about sleep because I am tired. The events of the day are taking their toll on me. My body is craving sleep which overrides my maddened mind, and I fall asleep.