Six

JASON

I stepped out of the room to think. God was I stupid to think it would be this easy. Sure I had found my mate but she would never be enough. She was a vanilla and I was a depraved monster who got high from causing others pain. Of course, It had to be the will of the moon goddess, Giving me imperfection. This was her way of getting revenge for that son of a bitch, Sofiane. I kind of wondered what game she wanted me to play. My first instinct was to kill her and get on with waiting for a second mate. But the girl wanted me and my equally depraved wolf wanted to see how this play of power would work out. The way I saw it, I could introduce her to my world, introduce her to my cravings and wait for Sofiane to strike a dastardly hit to my side. However, there was a chance the girl could mean something to me as time flew by, I could not risk that happening. Not when I was this close to the convergence. I couldn't kill her though. I had made a promise and I intended to keep it.

"Jason!" A familiar voice called upon me and I looked up to meet the disapproving glare of Satake Kunisada,  Beta of the crow. Judging by the disgust duly printed on his scrawny white face, I assumed that word had gotten around.

"You don't look too enthusiastic to be back. Was your visit to the monarch that...plain?" I teased.

"Contrary to what I was led to believe, they are actually good people, and guess what, you don't need to go all berserk to make us one big family but before I delve into that, I heard a rumor, and it better not be true."

There was no use denying it.

"Does it perhaps have to do with the Crow pack getting its first Luna?"

Satake's eyes popped open. The mischievous glow in his eyes suddenly died. "Wait," He began, running his finger through his silky black hair like it itched. "Do you think word might have gotten to Sofiane about this?"

"Probably," I confirmed, glancing through Olamide's list. They were small things. I wondered why she was so angsty about her upheaval from such a life. Even between her moments of fear and anger, she had to have considered that a life with me would be nothing short of heaven if she obeyed. I dimly remembered the glances she sent past my way earlier. She was attracted to me. It was a natural affinity of the effect I had on women coupled up with the combination of danger, money, and looks. Though in this case, I suspected the mating bond was at play. My captive absolutely despised me. She also despised herself knowing that the sight of me made her lips dripping wet and I intended to use the bond to push her to a limit and beyond. Each tiny step toward complete submission would be rewarded. Each misstep, punished. By the time I was done with her, she would crave me so deeply, she wouldn’t remember this had all began when I forcefully claimed her.

"Doesn't that make you concerned?" Satake probed further.

I wasn't sure what he was expecting me to say. That I would protect her with my life? Never let any harm come to her?

"Not really. The goddess should have known better than to give me a mate just before the convergence? I really don't care what happens to her but I will do my part but her survival or demise depends entirely on her and who she trusts."

"That is very grim even for you," Satake commented. "I would expect this from your brother Jason, but you? I don't think the goddess is trying to punish you, I think she is trying to teach you how to trust. Times have changed Jason, If you can just give..."

"Don't lecture me."

My words were sharp. Almost like a growl but they had the intended effect. Satake finally stopped spitting that pacifist nonsense of his. Ideologies like that were what got people killed and I genuinely worried about what he would do if he was faced with ending his enemy once an opportunity arose to do so.

"The world is a cruel place Satake and just because the monsters who killed your parents spared you doesn't mean the bad guys have a heart of gold. If hunters saw you now, they would blow your head off without a second thought. Being a pup might have made you look more human to them then but it doesn't change that they would do practically anything to end our race." I boldly asserted before stretching Olamide's list to his face. "So be a good little beta and help me get this Luna's stuff from downtown. Her address is on there."

Satake begrudgingly accepted the list and took a brief run through it. "It is wet. Smells like tears." He then looked up to throw his accusation. "Did you make her cry?"

"Er- It's not my fault she is a freaking mundane."I tried hard to maintain composure as Alpha even if it was so hard. Satake almost made me want to scream like the bratty teenager I felt at heart.

His jaw dropped, comforting me that at least that piece of information wasn't out yet. Not that it would matter for long but that bit of information was something I still had control over and I would give it out my own time.

"She is human?" Satake retorted, folding the list in his pocket. "I wonder what trauma you have forced her to go through?"

"We will be discussing this tomorrow at pack meetings Satake. Just get her stuff and get some sleep. We still have a lot to discuss."

Satake nodded in confirmation and did a curtseying bow before he strode for the door.

When I returned a the bedroom a couple of hours later, I found the girl on the love seat with Luna's head rested on her lap as she stroked the orange cat's fur. The cat could be bringing her some sort of comfort but I noticed her hand tremble as she played with Luna's fur. It felt sick that I enjoyed her discomfort. It made me feel this weird kind of happiness.

"Olamide," I called.

She looked up, startled. The fear in her eyes pulled at me.  I wanted nothing but to lock the door, throw around the room like the personal toy she was, and ravage her in places she never knew existed but instead, I rolled the cart in, letting it come to stop next to her.

"Are you hungry?" I asked the obvious question. I could sense it from a mile away but there was just something about debasing her. Imagine having to beg for your next meal.

Her gaze drifted to the floor as she resisted the urge to look into my eyes while she acknowledged her status. "Y-yes, Alpha."

There was a hesitance in her reply. But it wasn't because of the debasing title I had forced on her. The look in her eyes confirmed the secrets her heart had already spilled. She was afraid of what she might have to do to earn her next food. My wolf sent a delightful wicked idea but it was a shame I had to brush it off if I wished for her to remain sane. I reached over and brushed a stray tear off her cheek, placing a plate of spaghetti on her lap. Luna jumped to the floor at her feet and hissed at me. Maybe I imagined it. Perhaps I wanted someone to disapprove of my actions because no one did. It was weird that this fluffy ball of sass would be my moral compass.

I sat across from her with a plate of my own, watching her hesitantly pick up a fork and dig into the spaghetti I spent a good time in the kitchen making. Heaven knew what kind of fears she held. I couldn’t promise her that a few of the fears that rummaged past her mind wouldn’t come to pass. She was a complete vanilla, every part of it was going to terrify her especially the night of Lupercalia.  On some level, that seemed to excite me more.

"You will share this room with me for the time being," I said, right before I pointed to the far end of the room. "The closet over there is empty, so you can use it for your stuff once they get here. It shouldn’t be long now." I surmised.

Olamide’s hand shook as she raised the fork to her lips and swallowed the spicy pasta hindering the urge to choke as the food went the wrong way. It was like she was doing everything in her power not to offend me and I had to admit, it was a smart move on her part.

"Are you listening to me?" I demanded, wondering how far I could push her before she snapped.

She looked up, her face alert like a rabbit about to be pounced upon. "Y-yes, Alpha."

I smiled at the realization that she was aptly learning to chip that title in each time she addressed me. She was so sweet. Given her attempt at fighting both me and my brother, I was surprised when so little had resulted in absolute obedience. I had expected attitude and mouthiness at least, but she was surprising me albeit out of pure terror.

"You just want to stay safe, don’t you? That’s why you’re being so agreeable right?" I probed, munching a forkful of spaghetti richly coated in hot sauce.

"Yes, Alpha. I don’t you to hurt me." She confessed. "I will try my best to do everything you want."

I tried not to let her pleading to affect me. It made me feel like I was a monster for doing this. "Do you find me attractive?" I probed further.

She choked again. "Please don’t make me answer that."

"Why? Is it because you are afraid it will make to make you mad?"

She looked down at her hands but she didn't answer. Her mind said what I needed to hear but it was not enough if it was not coming from her lips.

"A yes or no would be fine. I promise I will not hurt you."

"No!" She dealt a finishing blow.