Several weeks passed, or at least that's what Kira and Akela estimated.

They spent their time crying over the loss of both their parents. Grieving together and strengthening each other across the bars of their separate cages.

Outside, through a small window, they could hear the sounds of Deltas training from first morning light until nightfall.
They knew when the Alpha was out there as every thud of impact and every groan from a fighting Delta was met with applause and falsely enthusiastic cheering.
Whatever he was doing, his reign seemed to be built on a foundation of violence.
It seemed their captor was invincible and a regular mode of punishment for laziness or disobedience was to be set upon by four or more of his fellow Deltas and made to fight until the other four had enough.

A bowl of dog food was thrown in at them once a day and while it wasn't the fresh meat they had grown up on, it was nutrition.

"What do you think he wants?" Kira asked one day as the sounds of running fighters thundered outside to the hollered orderes from an Alpha urging them to run faster.

"I'd rather not think about it," Akela replied with a shudder just as a young delta opened the door and went straight to Kira's cage, unlocking it.

"Time for a bath!" he ordered, dragging Kira forcefully by her arm, leaving Akela behind in the darkness and loneliness, fearing for her sister's life.

Several hours passed, Akela tried reaching into the twin link, but Kira blocked her at every attempt, until a few hours later, Akela somehow knew Kira was crying. Not from pain but from shame and humiliation.

No long after, Kira was thrown back into her cage, smelling of expensive soap and shampoo. She collapsed on the floor in a heap, crying in heaving sobs. Strong Kira, who would let nobody take advantage of her was broken.

"What happened?" Akela asked.

Kira sat up and wiped her tears, shaking her head as she looked at Akela.

"Oh, Akela!" She sobbed.

"What happened?" Akela repeated, dreading the answer.

"He's looking for a mate... A fertile mate... The first of us to bear a pup... will be his Luna," Kira sobbed.

Akela gasped in shock. That was why Kira had felt pain!

Kira shifted and curled up in a corner. All Akela's attempts at consoling was refused, until the next evening when the same young Delta came again and started opening Akela's cage.
Akela looked at him curiously. There was something familiar about him. The dirty blonde hair was cut short but she somehow knew he had a cowslick on the left side of his forehead. He looked familiar. As if she had met him before.

"No! Don't take Aki! Please! Take me again... I can handle it! Akela doesn't have to!" Kira begged, shaking the bars of her cage, ignoring the burns on her skin.

The delta shook his head.

"I have orders. Every second day..." he said careful not to show any weakness.
His light grey eyes, however could not hide the discomfort he felt about doing this job.

"He won't know! We're identical! Please! Akela is innocent!" Kira cried.

"I can't!" the delta said desperately as he dragged Akela by her arm.

"Aki! Drink the wine... Drink all the wine! Let your wolf out. Drink until you puke!" Kira called after her as the door closed between them and Akela was led up along a few corridors before being literally thrown into a bathroom with a stern order to clean her filthy rogue body and dress in the clothes ready for her.

Akela was shaking with fear, which even the hot water of the shower could not alleviate. She knew what Kira had been through. And now it was her turn.

"Drink the wine. Drink the wine," she repeated.

She dressed in the knee-length red dress laid out for her and left the bathroom a lot cleaner than she had been entering it. Outside was an older, much more fierce looking delta who obviously had no time or sympathy for her cause.

"Stop crying you dumb girl! Just give him a pup!" the delta muttered as she sniffed away a fresh set of tears.

Akela was led into a dining room, laid out for two, to see Alpha Preston in a suit and tie. He was older than her father and wore an ice cold look of pure power. Akela shuddered in fear and sat in the seat indicated to her.

Alpha Preston sat opposite and studied her carefully. His hands were scarred and somehow, the fierce look in his eyes revealed that he knew what fresh blood tasted like and he was not afraid to taste it again.

"So. I guess your sister has explained why you're here, but I will repeat it to make it perfectly clear," he said and signalled the servants to pour the drinks. 

It was a bit weird how the whole pack seemed to be all male. Not once had Akela sensed another female. And all the males were in uniforms, as if they were an army, ready to attack.

Akela sipped her wine, scrunching her nose at the unusual flavour, but took another sip anyway. Kira's judgement was usually good. Alpha Preston nodded in approval.

"Years ago, my mate was lost to me. She was taken, stolen by one of my most trusted men before I could mark her. I therefore have no Luna, no pups, no heir. The offer is therefore to make either you or your sister my Luna, depending on which one of you can provide a pup first," he said in a businesslike tone.

Akela looked at his self satisfied grin and involuntarily flinched. He actually thought he was doing them a favour.

"There will therefore be an alternating routine, where either you or your sister share a meal, then a bed, with me, until one of you bears a living, male heir. The one to provide the heir will be rewarded with my mark and the title of Luna Queen," He smiled in a sickly sweet way.

It looked as if he had only read about smiles in books, but never actually tried it himself.

"And the one who doesn't?" Akela asked.

"Well..." he smirked and shifted his napkin to allow a plate of food to be placed in front of him. A large rare steak.

"The one not suitable to be my Luna, will be given her freedom... If the Deltas see fit to let her go... There aren't any females in the barracks... too... distracting," He grinned, cutting a chunk of his food, allowing the dark pink meat to oooze fresh juices onto his plate.

Akela knew her face revealed her confusion.

"My pack are all male Delta fighters. Trained from birth to defend me and my territory," he explained while chewing.

"The surrounding packs provide the required Delta recruits in exchange for my protection," he continued with a grin.

Akela tried to process the information.

"Protection? From what?" She asked.

"From stronger packs. Packs with trained fighters. I mean. What defence is there in a bunch of old farmers and women if, say, a strong Alpha with a trained army should decide to seize their territory and resources," Alpha Preston smirked.

A cold shiver ran along Akela's spine.

"Why? Why us? Why Kira and me?" Akela asked.

"Because I am generous enough to give a rogue girl a chance to become the most important Luna of the north," he grinned without humour while cutting another chunk of steak.

"Can you not wait until one of us comes in heat?" Akela asked in an attempt to be smart and polite while ignoring her own steak.
It looked more like an infected wound than food with the sickening feeling in her gut. This Alpha was completely free of any sympathy.

"Good question," Preston replied with another of those weird smiles.

"But where would the fun be in that? Doing it my way, means I am kept happy. Every night if I want. You want me happy don't you?" he asked, his drawn on smile looking like it could turn nasty.

"I want my sister to be happy," Akela replied.

He laughed with a booming, loud laughter void of any actual humour.

"Ah... You are precious. That is the exact same thing your sister said... And your mother," he laughed.

"Please. I'll do what you ask. Just... let Kira go?" Akela asked, tears filling her eyes.

"You are predictable!" he grinned and cut another chunk off his steak.

"But the answer is no! How am I to ensure I get my heir if I don't have any leverage?" he chuckled.

Akela looked at her own food with distaste and took another sip of the acidic wine.

"Now... eat your food. We don't want our pup to be weak do we?" he smirked.

Akela drained her glass and was relieved to see it refilled immediately. She tipped the glass into her mouth and swallowed it, hoping it would dull her enough to endure the next part of his plan.

"What if I don't want to share your bed?" Akela asked bravely.

"Why on earth would you not?" He frowned in return.

Akela swallowed another mouthful of wine.

"Consider this. You do it willingly, or my Deltas are happy to hold you down. You reject me, and your sister takes your turn. If she refuses, you will be brought to me instead," Alpha Preston smirked victoriously.

Akela felt her hope fail her. A swift look around the room revealed stone faced Delta fighters and a few footmen, there to serve food. All with their attention to the Alpha. All except the young blonde Delta who had followed her up from the cage. He was looking at the wall opposite with a stony face.

She turned to look at the Alpha again.

"Please at least tell me you'll be gentle..." she said, refusing to feel the desolation coursing through her.

The Alpha looked like he was gloating.

"Yes. The other one mentioned you were pure... She begged me to leave you untouched," he smiled.

Akela felt a cold bead of sweat roll down her spine at the hungry look in his eyes.

"I think... I will indulge you. For now," he said with a nod.

"Thank you," Akela replied, feeling the absurdity of thanking him for her own body.

"I'm not a bad man, Akela. I just like things my way. Let me know when you have had enough lonely nights in the basement knowing your sister is doing your duty up here," he said and stood from his seat.

"Take her down," he ordered and two Deltas grabbed her and threw her back into her cage.
One look at Kira and Akela burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry!" She sobbed.

"What happened?" Kira asked in fear.

"He said he'd wait to take my virginity... but he'll take you instead..." Akela cried.

"Don't worry, Aki. I can handle it. It's just sex," Kira reassured but Akela saw the heavy sadness in her sister.

"I can't... I can't let him hurt you!" Akela whispered.

"No. Aki. It's best if he just does me. No point in both of us..." Kira replied weakly.

"I'm so sorry, Kira," Akela whispered again.

"No. Don't be. You dream of your romantic first time with roses and your true mate. I really don't think I have a mate, so I might as well be this guy's Luna. Right?" Kira huffed.

"I can't let you do it alone, Ki. I love you," Akela replied softly.

"I love you too, Akela. We're all we have," Kira smiled.

They sat in silence for a while, both tied in the twin bond, feeling each other's grief while drawing strength from being together.

"Remember when mum and dad tried for another baby? Mum did something to bring her heat on," Kira asked.

"Yeah. She prayed to the moon and she ate that herb," Akela nodded.

"I'll get the herb. And I'll get pregnant and you won't have to do anything. And when the pup is born. You run! You run south. And find the Cizinec heir and live safe!" Kira planned while gritting her teeth.

"I won't leave you," Akela said.

"You have to. You've got to save yourself!" Kira said firmly.

"And if I get pregnant... you run to the Shadow mountain too, right?" Akela asked.

"Yep. To the Cizinec heir as far away from this lunatic as possible," Kira nodded.