Matheo gasped as his head was pulled out of the freezing water, his cheeks red from the cold ice that had touched his skin.
His whole body trembled, fear and cold mixing together, this man was insane!
He had been playing with him like a toy, pludging his head in a bucket of iced water before pulling it out before he drowns.
"You're so much fun to play with little wolf." The man said as he smiled, his sharp crooked teeth sending a disgusting shiver down his spine, Matheo knew he was going to suffer as long as this man was around.
"Why are you doing this? I'm not even with your son!" Matheo yelled as his wrist started to bleed, the shakles already digging into his skin from the moisture and constant friction.
"Well, for one. I do enjoy watching you squirm and scream, it's quite amusing. Secondly, I know my boy has been touched by you, your smell was on him." The man said energetically before his tone dropped to a cold icy one, glaring at Matheo before plunging his head back into the water.
His body jerked as he desperately trashed around, the cold freezing his eyeballs and burning his skin, he hated every second of it, he wanted it to stop.
"You know..." The man said as he pulled Matheo out, smirking as water gushed out of his throat, coughing as the man held him up above the water.
"What!? You... Asshole." Matheo coughed out, giving him a weakened glare, only making him smirk even wider, Matheo only now realized that this man was truelly cruel.
"You're kind of cute, I get where my son gets his attraction. You have nice curves, your eyelashes are long and curled, even your lips are plump. Not a surprise really, betas and omegas are for breeding afterall." The man said as he gripped Matheo's jaw, digging his fingers into his cheeks, coming closer to the boy before Matheo violently headbutted him.
The strike was hard, it made both their foreheads bleed, it clearly took the man by surprise as he let him go, Matheo's vision wavered as he roughly hit the ground his body colliding with the bucket, making it fall to the side and spill its content.
"Damn... So feisty. You don't want me to touch you, but you let my son do it?"
"I thought you were homophobic, what's this sudden fucking change?" Matheo growled out as he groaned, his head throbbing from the impact, he was so confused as to what was happening.
"I'm not homophobic, I just didn't want him to become a mistake like me." The man said as he stood up, an angry expression on his face before he bent down, gripping Matheo's hair to lift him up.
"Ah! You bitch!" Matheo yelled as he tried to get on his knees, hoping the pain could be stopped if he could stand on them, he didn't expect what the man asked him next however.
"What did you two do..? Why is my son so obsessed with you that he was willing to obey me for your life?" The man asked, Matheo's cheek growing red as memories of that morning flashed through his mind, his eyes tearing up before he shook his head, spitting in the man's face.
"Go to hell!" Matheo yelled before the man dropped him, rolling his eyes as he pulled out an handkerchief, wiping his face clean of Matheo's saliva, he gently folded it before stuffing it into his pocket.
"You will speak eventually, even if I have to rape it out of you." The man said before walking out, leaving Matheo in shock, laying on the cold ground.
This was worse than he imagined, he almost wished this was simple homophobia, but instead, the man didn't want his son to be gay... Like he was himself.
"Fuck! I need to get out of here..." Matheo cried out as he twisted himself around, looking at his tied up legs, he hated that the man had restrained him so much, there was no way he could shift either, his bones couldn't break properly with the shackles clutching his arms so close to his back.
This situation felt almost hopeless, his only real chance of making it out of here would be for someone to notice his disappearance and report it, then he would be searched for.
"Like that's going to happen... Narcia is too busy being Liam's newly marked mate... Tammy doesn't really care... Half the pack sees me as worthless... The other half doesnt even know I exist... And Devan— Devan..." Matheo cried out as his heart squeezed, closing his eyes to remember the face of the man he was in love with, would he ever get to even see him again?
The door opened suddenly, the large beast from the day before walking in, this time there was a small frail girl with it, wobbling in before she was thrown into the room, tied up the same way he was, it was shocking to get to see someone again after being locked in this cell.
"There, companion." The beast growled out before locking the door, the little girl seemed no older than 16 if not younger, it worried Matheo.
"Hey... Hey it's okay. You're okay." Matheo said as she trembled, her mouth bleeding from the wet cloth that had been gagged into her mouth, her skin clearly lacerated by it.
Matheo slowly started to crawl, trying to make his way to her, his neck quickly being pulled violently back by the chain, making him him groan as he hit the ground, there was no way he could make it to her, she was also unable to move her arms, but unlike him, she wasn't chained to the floor.
"Come closer, I can help you." He said softly as she shook her head vigorously, her whole body trembling as Matheo sighed.
"I'm a prisoner too... Just like you. If you come over here, I can try to pull your gag out of your mouth." Matheo said as the girl looked down at her lap, nodding before making her way to him, her eyes puffy and red from crying.
Matheo pushed himself up, getting on his knees as she leaned forward, sniffling and trembling as he opened his mouth, bitting the material and pulling on it repeatedly, eventually snapping it out of her mouth, nearly falling when it did.
"There you go... That must be better." Matheo said with a soft smile, making the lady nod and blush a bit.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure... What's your name?"
"Angelica. And you?"
"Matheo." He said as she nodded in acknowledgement, looking around the room, her eyes being a beautiful fiery orange and yellow, making him sigh.
"You're a phoenix... Aren't you?" Matheo asked as she stiffened, looking at him with terror before he made his eyes glow, making her sigh in relief, knowing only canine shifters could make their eyes glow.
"You're a wolf. Thank god..." She sighed out as she relaxed, sitting on the floor as she smiled at him a bit, looking at his state.
"You seem relieved that I'm a wolf."
"I am, you're loyal creatures that follow the divine guidings of the moon Goddess. I have no problems with wolves, they are usually good people." She said as she wiggled her hands, trying to break herself free of the shackles that held her.
"You're fighting in vain, those are pure steal, they aren't hollow. Nothing but a saw can break through those..." Matheo said as she saddened, abandoning any attempt of trying to snap them.
"How long have you been stuck here?"
"This is my second day trapped in this fucking hole." Matheo said a he managed to lay on his side, relaxing his arms that lay behind his back, he feared they would most likely never fully recover from this.
"I can't imagine how badly these must hurt..." She said as she nudged towards his back, making him growl, he hated how right she was, these shackles were killing him.
"I just hope this can be over soon... Also, I mean no offense offense, but I'm glad I'm at least not alone anymore." He said as her face softened, smiling a bit at him with a shake of her head.
"None taken, I'm glad to meet you Matheo. I hope we can get out of here and get to know each other in a more natural way." She said as Matheo nodded, smiling back at her.
This wasn't so bad anymore, now that he had a friend.
-
"You are certain that this is what you want Narcia?" The lady asked as she sighed, looking to the man that stood besides her, a gulp leaving her throat before she nodded.
"Alright... When will the ceremony be?"
"We will mate in a wee—"
"Tonight." Silviano said as Narcia's eyes widened, giving him a glare before he growled at her, making her gasp.
"Silviano, watch yourself. You're overstepping your bounds—"
"I am your alpha. YOU are overstepping your ground, woman." He hissed out to her, making her growl as she took a step closer before the woman besides them cleared her throat.
"The mating will be tonight. Prepare everything, I shall be crowned alpha right along with it." He said as he turned around and walked off, Narcia quickly after him with a shocked face, how could he dare do this, he had no say in when they would mate or when he could claim the right to rule.
"Silviano Dergrins! Stop this instant!" She yelled at him, his pace abruptly coming to a stop before he turned around and gripped her throat, his eyes glowing in anger with a deep rumble.
"This is your last warning Narcy, you either behave like a good little girl and let the man decide, as it should be, or you get yourself beaten up before the big ceremony. Your choice, love." He said as he thightly squeezed her throat, making her growl as she gripped his wrist.
"Sil—"
But her words were cut off with a slap, lifting her up by her thoat, face immediately turning red as she gasped, trying to catch her breath from both shock and suffocation.
"I am serious, this was my last warning." He said before she nodded rapidly, her eyes trembling as he put her down and let her neck go.
"I apologize."
"Good, I look forward to seeing that naked body of yours tonight." He said with a lick of his lips, passing his fingers along his hand mark on her neck.
"I will cover it."
"Such a good girl, remembering the routine well I see." Silviano said as he kissed her cheek, reminding her of all those times she had worn foundation to hide her bruises from him.
Silviano walked away with a smile, the birds she had been hearing sing now silent as death, her eyes full of tears as she held her throat gently, rubbing the sore area.
This was what she was going to be forever stuck with?
Her eyes widened even further as she realized he would be trying to impregnate her tonight, disgust coming onto her features before her hand quickly covered her mouth as she pictured him beating her up before her kids eyes.
"Oh Goddess... What have I done to deserve this?" She cried out as she crouched down, hugging her legs as tightly as she could, wishing the nightmare could end.
The thought of him penatrating her made her body shiver in an awful way, she couldn't take the thought of being knotted by him, to be touched or kissed, she'd rather die.
She stopped shivering, lifting her head from her knees, a new idea growing into her mind, her final solution, her redemption.
"That's it... I don't have to be mated... I don't have to live with this... I don't have to live!" She exclaimed in happiness, standing up with hope as she smiled, knowing how to end the terror.
"I just have to end it all before—"
"My lady! My lady!" A little girl yelled while running her way, making Narcia's face fall what did the world wanted to bestow on her even furthermore.
"What Gillie, I don't have the energy for bad news."
"Your mate is awake."
Her heart dropped at those words, Liam was awake? He was alright then? The relief of the news quickly chasing her suicidal thoughts away, being happy that he was alright.
Maybe she could still fix this, she could make him bite the one on her wrist, if she bit him back, the bond would seal forever, she would be freed!
"That is wonderful news! Bring me to him!" She said as the girl smiled and nodded, quickly turning around and guiding Narcia, her heart racing rapidly with hope and reassurance.
She was so glad Liam was okay, she had been so worried that he wouldn't wake up, she would have never been able to live with the lost, but he was okay, her mate was okay... Her lover was okay.
The march there felt so slow, like a never ending corridor, had the house always been so far? She climbed the steps by two, opening the door in a hurry while passing by Gillie, not even bothering to apologize for brushing past her.
"Liam!" She exclaimed as she walked into the house, her eyes immediately catching movement on the sofa, she ran over to him, smiling as his ears flickered while he sat up, his beautiful eyes looking at her with an emotion she had never seen before.
"Narcia..." He cooed softly, his tail slowly swaying from left to right, it made her heart pick up the pace, she wished she could kiss him, thank him for not leaving her behind in this cruel world.
"Liam... I'm so glad you're okay." She said as he smiled a bit, stretching his neck with a small crack, he seemed much more colorful then when she had last seen him.
"I'm glad you're also okay, you have no idea how much it hurt to see you like that..." Liam said as Narcia melted inside, gently taking a hold of his hand to show her appreciation.
"Thank you. Oh, I almost forgot. While you were asleep... My mother woke up, would you like to go see her when you feel better?"
"I'd love t—"
"What the hell is this!?" Silviano's voice echoed throughout the house as he slammed the front door open, making Narcia jump a bit in surprise.
Had he no respect for the wounded that rested here?
"Silviano. Be quiet, there are people resting here—"
"You better shut your mouth woman, I do not need to be quiet. What the fuck are you doing with this waste of space?" Silviano yelled as he pointed to Liam, the fox's ears leaning backwards in agression as he gripped the sofa thightly, his tail wipping around agressively.
"Who the fuck are YOU to speak to her like that!?" Liam yelled back, standing up suddenly, his posture wavering a bit as he had only woken up a few hours ago.
Narcia bit her lip as she stood to stabilize Liam, this was not the time for them to argue, especially if she hoped to get Liam to agree in being marked by her, she also absolutely couldn't stand the thought of him hurt, he deserved better than that.
"You seem to have forgotten your place, fox. You are worthless to me, to anyone, I am Narcia's man and you will have to accept it! She will be my woman tonight, I will mate her and make her my Luna." Silviano said as Liam's face lost all it's color, his ears falling down as his tail completely stopped in its course.
Disbelief was plastered all over his face before he turned to face Narcia.
"That's not true... Right?"