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Lily narrowed her eyes, then growled in frustration, attempting to break free from the restraints, exerting every ounce of her strength.
Yet, she looked pitiful in her efforts, akin to a trapped insect in a spider's web.
The iron cuffs on her wrists and ankles remained steadfast, securely holding her in the same vulnerable position. Her body floated helplessly in the air, a sad and feeble figure.
"Incredible," Xander murmured in a mix of admiration and amusement. "You've exhibited remarkable restraint thus far. Despite my provocations and deliberate attempts to rile you, you've maintained complete silence. You're acutely aware of the severe consequences that would befall you if you were to utter even a single word in my presence."
The stakes were clear, even if left unspoken. In the realm of Xander's intimate encounters, the rules were uncompromising.
A pet who dared to utter a single syllable during their liaisons would meet swift and dire consequences, regardless of any prior status as a cherished companion.
Xander's indifference to the customary status of a pet was evident. In these moments of profound intimacy, their voice, their opinion, their desires held no place.
They existed only to fulfill Xander's desires, to serve his pleasure, and to silently endure the intricate dance of pleasure and pain that he orchestrated.
It was a pact of submission, a covenant of silence, and a testament to their unwavering obedience. In this realm, their voice was stilled, their individuality erased, and their identity reduced to that of a compliant vessel for Xander's desires.
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"Could this be the result of an attack from another pack?" Draven inquired, his expression darkening as he continued walking through the chaotic scene.
Galen, his brows furrowed with concern, nodded thoughtfully. "It's hard to say for sure, Draven. We've had some conflicts with few other packs recently. It's possible."
The question that gnawed at them was which pack could have orchestrated such an assault in the Alpha's absence. They looked around, trying to piece together the puzzle.
Had Nightshade become so vulnerable that even the residence of its leader could be thrown into disarray?
"Judging by the nature of the chaos, it didn't seem to involve a group," Draven observed, his keen eyes scanning for clues. "However, it doesn't rule out the possibility of a covert attack by another pack."
As they reached the heart of the residence, Draven explained further, "Our Nightshade territory has a two-tiered guard system: the outer and inner defenses. The outer guard ring encircles our residence, while the inner defenses are specific to each household."
Galen nodded, absorbing the information. "It was evident that the outer defenses had held firm upon their return, suggesting that the problem lay somewhere between these two layers."
"It could have been an internal issue within Moonshadow or a security flaw within Nightshade itself," Galen speculated silently.
However, considering recent tensions with other werewolf packs, a sudden attack was certainly not out of the question. Furthermore, the leader's house concealed many closely guarded secrets.
Xander listened attentively to the theories put forth by his trusted companions. His fingers gently grazed the vacant chain, recognizing the familiar scent that lingered.
It was unmistakably similar to his own scent, so much so that no one could tell the difference.
"To ascertain the identity of the attacker definitively, a more thorough investigation is required..." Draven began.
But before Draven could finish his sentence, Brian, the leader of the guards, approached with visible exhaustion and severe wounds that prevented him from regenerating torn flesh and dripping blood.
"Alpha, this is all the doing of..." Brian's voice trailed off when he noticed Xander raising his hand, indicating that he already knew.
"Stop right there, Brian. I know," Xander whispered ominously. His eyes gleamed with a cruel smile playing upon his lips. "This is the work of young Alpha Arion, isn't it?"
Brian appeared lost for words but eventually nodded with uncertainty.
Galen and Draven exchanged perplexed glances, unable to fully grasp the situation.
Xander, with a hint of frustration in his eyes, wiped the droplets of blood from the floor and then casually licked them.
The blood was eerily similar to his own, confirming Arion's audacious act of spiriting away his beloved pet.
Xander had meticulously planned a different kind of game for Lily, one that involved leaving her hungry and thirsty all day, making her beg for his attention.
"Ah!" Xander let out an exasperated sigh, realizing that his carefully devised plan had unraveled.
His subordinates wore expressions of curiosity tinged with concern as they observed their Alpha. Nonetheless, they understood the need to restore order to their pack's residence and began the task of cleaning up the aftermath of Arion's intrusion.
Little did anyone expect that Xander's own flesh and blood had matured to the point of overpowering several of the subordinates left behind to steal Lily and fend off the entire pack at their mansion.
"Young Alpha Arion? How can that be possible?! Why would he attack us just to steal a pet?!" Draven whispered urgently to Brian and Galen, his disbelief evident.
Brian's gaze lowered, his voice tinged with resignation. "Indeed, it was Young Alpha Arion who orchestrated this."
Draven's eyes widened in disbelief. "Alpha young Arion managed to defeat all of you?"
Brian nodded solemnly, his expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration, acknowledging that Arion's prowess had taken them by surprise.
Although they were not Xander's primary guards, they represented Nightshade's elite forces. If Young Alpha Arion could triumph over them, his abilities were unquestionable, and Xander had to acknowledge that fact.
As Xander grappled with these complex emotions, he found himself torn between his fatherly pride in Arion's exceptional abilities and his apprehension about Arion's recent actions. It wasn't an easy situation to navigate.
Arion still had to remain as Alpha young.
Indeed, Arion was his son, and under normal circumstances, Xander would have taken immense pride in his remarkable strength and skill.
The Moonshadow bloodline had clearly passed on its potent attributes to the next generation. Yet, despite the pride he felt for his son's abilities, Arion's unanticipated actions had left Xander deeply concerned about the potential consequences.