Bree couldn't even move her head, she was too exhausted. Her eyes could barely focus on the feet directly in front of her that barely came into view. There were large bare male feet, along with three smaller pairs of female's feet, wrapped in soft fur moccasins.
"There's that little slut. She thinks she's hot stuff just because she's a fertile bunny, but she doesn't look so great anymore. What's the point in the village spending so much time to get her to shift so quickly, if she's too ugly for anyone to want to breed her," said a female's voice that Bree didn't recognize.
"My mom told me that this dirty slut wants to breed all of the men in the entire village! I overheard her tell the other females that they should all be careful or they'll end up having to share their mates with a dirty whore. It'll be like in those rebel villages where guys kidnap and share females," said Vera, the strawberry blonde haired tiger girl who had targeted Bree on her first morning in the village.
"That's enough, Vera. There's no need to gossip about our mother. We will do what we must to preserve our clan with the dignity and grace befitting our Noble family," said another female voice.
"Yes, Hera," Vera said in a quiet and respectful voice.
"How's your leg doing?" Hera said in a slightly warmer tone.
"Better since Mother ordered Father to get Sam to heal me. Father didn't want to at first, because it meant that Sam would have to touch me. However, Mother wants me to pick up Sam as one of my mates. I don't really want to because he's so weak and pathetic, but at least he follows orders well and is useful. Mother is worried that he'll leave the village if he mates to someone else and she likes to use his healing power to keep herself looking young. She said that after I get older, I'll appreciate his ability more. Father wasn't going to relent to my request, but mom stepped in and used her 'Power of Submission' magic to make him relent. He crumpled down into a ball and started shivering. I can't wait to contract some mates of my own. First thing I'll do when I get Sam under my control and gain a territory of my own, is use my power of submission on him until he's a sniveling mess. He won't be my first mate though, that spot is reserved for my Zane! Now that's a male worth having! I can't wait to show him off to the other females once he's mine. They're going to be so jealous! The only one I can't figure out is that silly lioness shifter, Nakano. How can I steal the man she likes if I can't figure out who that is?" Vera said.
"I thought that Nakano was your friend?" said the other girl.
"Pfft! You shouldn't be so naive, Melosa. I act like her friend so that I can get a better angle on how to ensure that she doesn't try to fight my awesome big sister for her future title as the ruler of this territory. You know how those stinking loins are always trying to take over this clan. Technically males are always the clan heads, but everyone knows that females are above the males and the rulers of the territories that the different clans reside in. Obviously that only applies to females who take charge of their males and expand their territories. My Noble family is above the rest of the typical females. My great aunt being part of the local queen's court and all," said Vera.
Hera cleared her throat. "Although I appreciate your care, you will refrain from speaking so openly in the future."
"Yes, big sis," Vera said.
"You don't have to worry about me. I won't say a word. I'm always on your side no matter what," said Melosa quickly.
"I'm fully aware of that, which is why you're still breathing so comfortably," said Hera in an offhand way.
"I'm ready to have this dirty business done with," Hera said.
Hera flicked her wrist and then a gray smoke flowed out of her palm, wrapping around Bree's face, and slipped down into her throat. She tried to let out a scream, but no sound came out.
"Dolon, grab this disgusting creature and follow me. Follow my orders perfectly and I'll allow you to become one of my contracted mates. I might even allow you to get an egg from me if I feel particularly generous and pleased," Hera said.
Bree felt large male arms wrap around her forearms and lift her off of the dirt. She saw a wide expanse of chest, but didn't see anyone's face.
"Not like that. I refuse to watch you embrace another female if you still intend to be my mate. I won't have her scent on you. Use her hair," Hera said.
Bree felt herself being lowered back to the ground and then felt her hair being grabbed. At first there was a slight pressure at her scalp, and then her skin was on fire. Her head pounded and tears poured out from her eyes as she started being dragged through the forest by her hair and her lips popped open in a silent scream. She again tried to move her body, but it would not cooperate with her at all. She closed her eyes tightly and bit her lips closed while twigs and thorns scraped across her skin and stabbed her.
They walked for what seemed like hours before they came to another small clearing and Bree breathed in a sigh of relief. She opened her eyes after she realized that she was no longer being stabbed. Instantly fear filled her as she saw a still pond right below her face.
"Cleanse her," Hera said in a cold voice.
"W...what do you mean?" Dolon said.
"Are you questioning me? Do you want to become my mate or do you want to be kicked out of the clan and become a wandering mate-less rogue?" said Hera.
"...I want to become your mate," Dolon said in a quiet and fear filled voice. He didn't seem sure of the words coming out from his mouth, but still he said them anyway.
"Good boy. Now lower that disgusting things head into the water without any more delay," said Hera.
"Y...yes," Dolon said.
Bree watched with wide fear filled eyes as her face lowered to the water's surface. Right before the water touched the tip of her nose, she took a deep breath and held it.
Icy water touched the tip of her nose. She felt a moment of panic as freezing water covered her nose and started to burn. She almost gasped from the shock of the cold, but held her air in with determination. Then she felt the icy water slide up the sides of her face and swirl into her ears. It clawed around her head until the last of her scalp was in its grasp and her world was reduced to an airless darkness full of pain and fear.