His smooth voice sticks in my head as Tonic, and I leave the rebellion. They live in meager houses far outside the city limits, what used to be the slums of our city. To be honest, it was not a part of the city that I frequented. I wonder what happened to its inhabitants but then I figure they must be part of the rebellion or run out by the lycan horde, I come to the halting conclusion that I truly don't know much about what has happened to my people.

"I don't like that elf." Tonic grumbles, his pace slow as we walk together. 

I glance toward him, pulling my lips into a thin line. "Quite biased of you, don't you think?"

Tonic scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest with a heavy air of disapproval. "It has nothing to do with him being an elf and everything to do with the fact that he's clearly hiding something. Where are the people who lived in those homes?"

 My book hums in my page keeper. It seems happy to have me back, and I'm thrilled that it was not destroyed. I really wasn't sure what would have happened if that had been the case. It was something I had handwritten in school; it wasn't as if I could just conjure another one. I'd been so focused on that I hadn't wanted to ask him too many questions.  

Yet, I had been thinking the same thing. 

"We need to figure that out," I respond, keeping my voice firm, and decided. "That area did have a heavy population, I just assumed that..."

Tonic gives me a hard look, and all at once I feel ashamed. "I told you. We did not harm the city if we didn't have to. We would never have slaughtered a whole neighborhood. If you ask me.. he knew too much."

I tilt my head once more, watching the sky, wondering what it was about these people that made me question everything. I'd been so willing to let things go, to allow it to be someone else's problem. We had shared the same thoughts, and yet it was the barbarian who voiced his concern. 

"Thank you for going with me, Tonic. You could have.. done a lot of different things, and yet you chose to help me. Thank you." 

His dark eyes lock on mine, and I realize we are no longer walking. He looks like he doesn't know what to say, and honestly, neither do I. We're wary of each other, sharing a secret that could get us both in more trouble than I dared to fathom. He was sitting on the location of the enemy, and I was trusting him to keep that secret. 

"Are you going to tell Alpha what happened here?" He asks slowly. 

I frown in response, rubbing my biceps. "No." My voice is low, " Are you?"

"No." His tone is short; he looks at the ground in defeat, disappointed, and yet I find myself drowning in gratitude. Killing Tonic wasn't on the agenda, but at the risk of dozens of my people dying, I would have had to consider it. 

"Well, then that's settled. I'd like to keep visiting to keep an eye on Haryek; he might be useful, but I believe you're right; we can't quite trust him." 

Tonic flinches as if I've struck him. "The more we visit here, the more scent we will leave. If Alpha finds these people, rest assured, they will all be slaughtered."  He speaks the truth, no matter how much I fight it, it is the reality of my situation.

 I'm a captive here and I'm no longer in charge. I have to find a way to help my people, to bring the kingdoms together but not alert the lycan horde to where their targets are hiding. Alone they cannot defeat the Lycan army but united they very well could regain control. If I was looking for a chance to survive, this would be it. 

What if Haryek really was going to bring about change? I owed this to my people; for too long had they suffered at the hands of my father. I could take advantage of this situation, use it as an opportunity, and perhaps still do justice for my mother by siding with the rebellion and sentencing this lycan overlord to death. 

We walk in silence back towards the castle, for it seems we both have sussed out the other's intention. Tonic wanted to save lives, and I wanted to go a step further and join them. Mulling over what needs to be done in my head, and as much as I'm dreading it, the only thing to do is talk to Alpha. 

My stomach twists in knots once more as I think about the spanking, and how I reacted. He didn't want me to look at him, so making up ground would be the next obstacle. To be so furious with me as to not want to make eye contact, I can only assume that his patience had finally worn out. Yet, a part of me wished to find another way to trigger him, to encourage another act of punishment. 

Inwardly groaning at my own behavior, I tangled my fingers in my hair with a shutter. I'd been home for months after serving multiple men for three years, and I wasn't sure what to do with myself anymore. I needed to gain favor, and the way I typically did that was with my body, yet I broke into a cold sweat at the thought of stripping in any sort of way before anyone in the state I was in.

Maimed, broken, battered, no one would find a specimen like me attractive anymore. Still, there were parts of me that were feminine; maybe I could sway him in the way of my earliest master, who used me merely as an object. 

For my people, I could be an object again if it meant getting closer and gaining trust.  I needed to give him no reason to follow me, to allow me more leash to run to the city, and to do that, I needed his favor. 

 I notice Tonic has stopped, centered in the courtyard. Before me is a shorter man, the first short Lycan I have seen. He is a dark tan with jet-black curly hair, Spanish in origin, given his features. He approaches us, his golden eyes narrowed into slits, and his expression forming a scowl. Tonic swallows as he looks away, a harsh raspy growl rolls in the male's throat, and Tonic shrinks in submission. 

Kneeling, the man practically trembles, and I resist the urge to kick him. 

"You must be Beta." I don't know why I assume this but the way he walks around as if he owns the place fits the bill. I see that I'm correct for he smiles at me brightly.

"I am." He responds, dragging his tongue over his teeth. "You must be the prince- oh, right, you got demoted to a servant." He observes me, raking his eyes down my body. "How the mighty have fallen. Pretty little thing... too bad you're so fragile."

"Don't you have a job you should be attending?" I retort sharply, wrinkling my nose in disgust. 

"You're rather rude for how small you are." His tone is light, amused as he circles me in a slow strut, bumping me roughly with his shoulder in a way that nearly knocks me down. The brute strength of these creatures was unreal. 

"I've been told. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have my own matters to attend to." I walk past him but in a movement too quick for my human eyes, he has my throat in the vice grip of his hand. His fingers feel like iron cables. I gasp and clutch his wrist, but it is as if I'm fighting with stone.

His grasp threatens to crush the very life out of me. "There is order around here. I don't know what Alpha thinks he's up to, keeping you alive like this, but I don't like it. So how about you show a little respect and kneel at my fucking feet?" I gasp as I fight for air.

I might black out, the world grows dim around the edges, and I wonder how much of my throat is even left with the strength in which he grips me. On the verge of losing it, suddenly, I'm released and fall to my knees as I wheeze and cough, my lungs blazing.

I clutch my throat as if to remove invisible fingers, and Tonic is at my side.

"Heal yourself." He whispers and I look at him through watery eyes.

"I can't." I rasp. My throat feels like it's an inferno; its breath burns worse than the last, and it's as if I can't fill my lungs. 

I see the gray creature, and my heart is pounding as I flashback to my father. His faded image takes the place of Beta, but only Alpha doesn't attack him. "Having a little fun, Beta?" The wolf barks, teeth bared.

The black-haired man shows his teeth in an animalistic threat: "Your pet is out of line." His tone is harsh, and he snarls back in response as the wolf before him raises his hackles. These aren't humans—these are animals.

Alpha flashes his fangs, ears flat back against his skull. All kneel in respect for the Alpha, save for Beta, who stands tall as a statue. Tonic's face is buried in my shoulder, I'm bewildered by the fear these people have for this man who continued to show me nothing but mercy.

 Beta's body shakes and then distorts as the black wolf takes his place. I have never seen the change before, and it horrifies me as I watch his human form break and shudder to become this massive wolf. Only magic could force a human to do that. All at once, my stomach threatens to flip, and I cover my mouth. 

We did this to them, my people.. my father... did this to them. 

The black beast begins to lower his head, Alpha's muzzle is mere inches from his, pushing him lower until his head is practically in the dirt. He doesn't need to hold him there; the presence of the Alpha is enough to keep him pinned in the dirt where he belongs. "Next time, it's your ass, Beta." 

I see a glimmer in the black's eye as Alpha releases him. 

"Oh, so I get a turn? Make sure you give it to me like that wench from this morning." Beta sulks off, earning a look of disgust as the gray wolf turns to face us. 

 I want to put up a barrier between us. I don't want to be here, not with this thing; this animal who killed my whole family. He must sense it because as quickly as the wolf is there, Alpha is standing before us as a man- a completely naked man.

 I avert my eyes, and temporarily, my neck is forgotten. After this morning, I couldn't bear to look at him right now, and my mind couldn't break from the words of Beta. 

Wench? Was he talking about me? I was sure I didn't make a sound.

 He extends his hand to help me up.

 "Let me see." His voice is stern, and I flinch away from his prodding fingers, though he is surprisingly gentle for how large his hands are. Frowning, he curses under his breath, and I struggle to make out the language in which he speaks to himself.  "A little bruised. But you will be fine. Next time, how about you avoid Beta, yeah?"

 I take a step away from him; I don't need his bare body so close to mine

Tonic looks embarrassed; he should have stood up for me, but Alpha makes no note of it.

 "Any sign of the rebellion?" He is talking to Tonic now and the poor man answers in a half-hearted shrug. Hesitating, once more, the brute leader softens. Alpha rolls his eyes at the sullen male. "Don't let Beta get to you. His bark is worse than his bite. You know how he is, just try and keep this one alive a little while longer? We need him for now." 

Forcing a small smile, Tonic reluctantly nods, "A wench, hmm?"

Irritated, Alpha's expression hardens and Tonic lowers his gaze. "Man has needs, perhaps find yourself one. War is tough, maidens are as desperate as we are." Refusing to give me a second glance, he turns on his heel, moving back towards the castle, and I rake my eyes over his back as he leaves. 

A wench. After he spanked me, he went and found himself a woman to fornicate with. 

Tonic breathes a sigh of relief, and I rub my neck. "Does that happen often?" It stings to talk, but my voice slowly begins to return.

"What? The fighting? Yes, but mostly with Beta. They kind of have a rivalry going on." Tonic shrugs, and I decide I don't care enough to press. It seems that my home is now almost as dangerous as my school. 

Can I not go a single day without one of these beasts trying to shred me? I didn't ask for this, nor did I didn't want this. "Is Alpha a lover of many women?" I ask, dull, wondering how impossible my task might be.

Caught off guard, Tonic considers this, shrugging as if the topic was too risque for his virgin ears. "Alpha has had many women in his bed, more than I could name; even our mistress, when we were under ownership, favored him. I would say yes, he is a lover of.. many... women. But, as are most Lycan men. The wolf has..." Embarrassed, he sighs, shifting awkwardly as he scrubs the back of his neck. 

"The wolf is an animal, and animals have more basic urges. The closer we get to the wolf, the harder it is to control simplistic desires. I was told that back when the shift was controlled by the moon, the closer the full moon got, the harder was to control the... urge." Tonic concludes, shrugging half-heartedly. "I wouldn't know."

Another chink in the armor of Alpha, he was a whore. Though I was certainly the pot calling the kettle black, I had never had sex in my adulthood that wasn't in the means of exchange. Sex was not a pleasurable thing for me, it was merely a form of currency. 

"Can I have some alone time?" 

Tonic watches me carefully but then nods. Maybe he has things to do, or maybe I just gave him a heart attack because everyone seems so interested in me. He looks exhausted, so I'm happy to give my watchdog a break. 

I make my way into the castle and into my father's bedroom, where it seems I will be staying. I take my book and mumble a few words as I enter. A secret panel opens from the wardrobe, and I slide the book inside, along with the healing book, and then reseal it.

My mind wonders to my instructors- how I gained their favor. 

The only relationships I've ever had were in that school, besides one or two flings that never led to actual sex. I find my fingers trailing over my vest, outlining one of the many scars across my torso. I was a patchwork of scars, marks, and gouges from claws and fingers, using me for the only thing my body was good for. 

A man made for sinning, it was all I knew how to do.

Clutching my hand into a fist, I stand up and feel a little more confident about the path I will need to take to help my people. 

Dawning civilian clothes, I make my way to dinner only to spot Gena on the way. "Gena," I greet. She curtsies quickly, stuffing the rag she was using to clean into her apron.

"Your Highness."

"Are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?" I test the waters, uncertain if it was Gena who he'd lured to his bed.

She quickly shakes her head with a gentle smile, "No, M'lord. I'm fine; I hadn't even known he'd seen me. Next time I'll be more careful."

Raising my hand, I dismiss the thought. "There won't be a next time, but could you do something for me?" Nobody would notice a maid; nobody would think twice about her. "Could you keep tabs on Beta for me? Learn a bit more about him?" She parts her lips, but finally, she curtsies with a nod. She would not deny me. "Thank you, Gena.. and.. one more thing..."

"Your Highness?"

"Ask the maids who found it appropriate to... bed.. our resident warlord?"

_______________

 I sit with Tonic and notice a new man at the table. While he is not talking, I note that he looks embarrassed. His brown hair is short and shaggy, but he has kind, chocolate eyes. "That's Delta," Tonic introduces him. Delta smiles at me and then goes back to eating. "He's shy." 

I offer a small hello to the strangely named individual. Maybe it's because he's practically sitting at the children's table, considering I have so many babysitters. My gaze falls on Sota.

"So, who are you exactly?" I question, "I don't feel like we have been properly introduced." 

Ol' One Arm smirks at me. "I'm Sota. I'm the Alpha's advisor." He seems so nonchalant as if it was apparent.

"He is one of the last Old Bloods." Tonic adds. 

Sota wrinkles his nose. " M'not that old..." He grumbles and takes a bite of his food. 

"He is the only Alpha to surrender the position and live." Tonic looks mystified, but I feel like that should be a given. 

Why should you have to die if you give up the position willingly?

Sota sighs at my expression, "I'm sure you've noticed pack politics are complicated."

"Tonic has told me a little." I don't know how much I care to hear about why they kill each other. I only wished they'd do it quicker; there would be fewer of them. Sota glares at Tonic and then turns his attention back towards me.

"Well, then, I won't bore you. I'm glad he kept you. You will challenge him, and perhaps he might grow a spine and kill you himself. Alpha has always had an affliction when it comes to you mortals... Why don't you bring him some dinner? I think he's gone to the library. He hasn't eaten today, and he's cranky when he's hungry." 

I wait for the pun, but then I realize they are serious, and I sigh outwardly. I suppose I am his servant.