Chapter 2
Txälina
I walked into my small room, silently hating it here. Escaping is hard with the number of warriors guarding the place. It's not about running, because I couldn't. I could get caught and turned into a breeder.
It's good here. But to just be treated right for once, to have free will of my own... that's all I'm asking for.
I don't have the strength to defend myself. I'm forced to drink wolfsbane every full moon, just in case my wolf decides to come back.
I sat on my small bed, hearing the sound of whip striking a female and her loud cries filling the room.
"Yes! Yes! Yes my Lord!"
My eyes squeezed shut, and I quickly rose, pouring myself some wine. I tried to shut myself off from the moaning and cries coming from the room, but the female is shouting too much. She's in pain.
I gulped the wine down.
I wondered how my life will end.
The only difference between me and the woman in the other room is that Kaluen hasn't given in to the men wanting me as a breeder, yet.
When I was young, I remember asking my mother why the males were never with us. Why they looked at us with disgust. I was young then, curious, and full of questions.
Until my mother died, and Kaluen took me in.
Then I grew up, and my daydreams changed. I realized the only time the females were treated well was when the King's arrival was announced. We'd be taken to Alpha Wyränkla's house, sat in his dining hall, and dine with the King. And after the King was gone, Alpha Wyränkla would pounce on us, calling us slaves and rats.
Every full moon, Säli females beg Säli to help us, but we receive nothing. You might think I hate her for it, but that's not the case. Because every time I look at her, she gives me a reason to live another day. A reason not to end it all. I look at her and it's like i see my mother staring back at me.
I drink more wine until I'm drunk, then I curled myself on the bed, and sleep took me.
...
At night, I'm woken to the screaming of two females. It never ends, the torture.
I peeled open my eyes and rubbed the grogginess from my vision. As I sat up, I felt a little dizzy. I had drank more than two bottles of wine before I slept. My head felt tender.
A loud bang hit the door, and it opened, revealing Kaluen's guard, Akläna.
"About time you woke up, slave," he said.
I wanted to tell him to shut up, but I grumbled something under my breath instead and stood. He's around my age, with brown skin and short brown hair.
"Kaluen wants you prepared for the arrival of the guest.'
I nodded, waiting for him to leave, but he didn't leave.
I rose a brow, signalling for him to go.
"One day," he said with a smirk, "I'll have a taste of that pussy of yours."
"You're disgusting," i spat. Pig.
"And what about you?" he asked. "You are only useful for one thing, and it's between your legs."
I frowned, narrowing my eyes.
"Kaluen's guards these days are full of idiots."
He frowned, stepping closer.
"Careful. You don't want me hitting that pretty face of yours, bitch," he said. He knows he's not allowed to hit me. If he dares, that would make Kaluen angry and do something bad to him.
"Get dressed and come down for dinner now."
Once he's gone, I sighed and headed to the bathroom. I'm not new to the words the guards say to me every day;
Cunt. Slave. Rat. Creature. Bitch. Whore. Breeder.
Tonight, the water is cold as I poured it over my head. I stepped out, thinking about what to wear. Since Mätxin is coming, Kaluen wanted me to dress in something that'll impress him. That means something sexy, something that shows more skin.
But I don't have to worry about that. I have plenty of those clothes in my wardrobe. It's all Kaluen wants me for anyway.
Once I'm dressed in a nice gown, I left my room and headed to the dining room. I walked downstairs, leading into the spacious dining room. The table is long enough to accommodate more than ten people. Kaluen likes to treat himself like a King.
The dining table is adorned with different food that can feed an entire pack. From steamed vegetables to roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, lamb, beef, and assortment of desserts.
As always, there's wine, red and strong, spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and slices of orange.
My stomach churned at the sight of food, and I wondered when I last ate anything this good. Kaluen inviting me to dinner is only because he's expecting Mätxin.
I finished climbing the stairs, and my eyes immediately find Kaluen at the end of the table. He's dressed in a dark blue tunic, his brown hair looking wet, hair braided with silver thread. I sat down, the scent of the food drifting to my nostrils.
My brother's breedmate, Täneli, is seated on his right. With every passing day, she's getting thinner and sicker. Kaluen claimed her during the last three full moons because he plans to plant his seed in her so she can carry his offspring. But he doesn't even feed her well enough to make her healthy enough to bear his cubs. She's beautiful, with short afro hair, caramel skin, and golden eyes like the rest of us. She wears heavy makeup, and I know it's to hide the bruise on her face.
Beta Mätxin is seated on Kaluen's left.
The moment I sat, his eyes are on me.
"Ah, look who's here," Kaluen flashed me a wicked grin. I don't know what he's planning, but I know it's something bad.
I wanted to throw the bread knife at his eyes, but instead, I ran my fingers through my hair seductively, because that's what Kaluen wanted me to do. That's the reason I'm here. To pull the attention of his friend.
"Mmm," Mätxin smiled. "I enjoy staring at that pretty face of your slave sister. She gets more beautiful every time I visit."
I frowned at the term, but I remind myself, it's nothing new.
Säli women are slaves to the men.
I know I should be used to it by now, because it's what the men usually call us instead of using our names. But it still irritates me. It still makes me want to stab someone.
I controlled my anger and move my hand from my hair to my collarbone while staring at Mätxin.
"Beautiful," Kaluen scoffed.
"Tell me, Kal… why haven't you let anyone claimed her yet? She's ripe for breeding and i bet she'd make a good whore in bed."
Kaluen smiled. "What do you think?"
"What I think is… I want her as my whore. I'll pay you a good amount for her."
I turned to Kaluen. He's always rejected the offers of men who want me as their breeder or whore. Reason? I don't know. But he's clearly possessive of me. He makes me give his guests a good show but won't give in to their demands. I don't have to worry about Mätxin's words, because I know Kaluen would obviously reject his offer.
Mätxin stopped eating, and so does Kaluen.
"What do you say, Kal? Name your price for that little bitch."
"Mmm," Kaluen smilesd "Money? Have you forgotten, I'm the next wealthiest male in this pack after the Alpha?"
The way Kaluen spoke made my stomach twisted. It's as if he wanted something else. Something more, before he'll give in. Bile rose in my throat. I hope Kaluen rejects it.
I stopped making any seductive movements and just stared at the both of them.
"Then what do you need? Name it."
Kaluen leaned back, smile curling on his lips.
"You can have her as you want. Whore. Breeder. Whatever. But you'll do me a favour, make me the commander of the warriors at the training camp."
Mätxin's eyes widened slightly, but then he waves Kaluen off and laughed.
"Really? Is that all?"
"What do you think?"
"I'll give you something even more than that," Mätxin said, turning around to check the doors, which are locked. He knows he can say anything around the women because we don't have the power to use his words against him.
"What?" Kaluen's eyes flash like a child who just saw a new toy beautiful toy.
"I will make you Beta of Säli pack."
My eyes widened, because we already have a Beta which is Mätxin. If he's offering that title to Kaluen, it can only mean two things. He's planning to step down from his Beta position or he's planning to claim the position from his brother, Alpha Wyränkla. And knowing what kind of person Mätxin is, he's far too greedy to step down.