Chapter 4 She is so young

From my father's description, the texture and scent would be different during these three days -sweet, not salty, and silky smooth, not sticky. We'd rub it in like some supernatural magical lotion and let it dry.

Outside the cabin, the mated pairs would feast and dance, day and night, excitement building, looking forward to the final night when we would emerge. And when we came out, we'd literally be swarmed, the females to her and the males to me, eager to transfer our combined essence of love-making from our skin to theirs. And the more they gathered, the better chance they had of conceiving, so it usually became quite physical.

When we had transferred all we could from our skin to theirs, the mated pairs would break away and copulate. Hell, most of them probably wouldn't even make it home before they coupled together. Sometimes in fur. Sometimes in skin. Or a combination of both.

The scent of our sex would be so thick in the air by that point, it would drive their primal natures wild. Inhibitions stripped away. Privacy no longer a concern. There would be no shyness or awkwardness. Just a single-minded drive to procreate. Wherever and however they could.

I sighed heavily and sat down in the chair next to him, pouring myself a glass of whiskey.

I wasn't particularly looking forward to my males rubbing themselves against me to collect the tangible essence of our love-making off my skin, but there was no other way. In the past, Alphas and their mates had tried containing the liquid on small towels, to be given out to the mated pairs, but it didn't work. The magic could only be maintained on our living flesh. And I would never deprive them of this opportunity for pups. Nor would I allow my Luna to deprive them either.

However, none of that mattered until I could get my hands on the elusive little mouse.

She couldn't have gotten far. I returned to my feet, glass in hand, with a renewed sense of purpose. There was no time to waste. I needed to get to work. And I knew just where I would start.

My father glanced up and raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Going to the dungeon?"

I threw back the rest of the drink, letting it burn and warm my stomach. "Yes, do you want to join me?"

He shook his head and took another slow sip. "Not tonight, son."

I walked out without another word, leaving him alone to his thoughts. I was eager to begin the work I enjoyed.

Let's see which wolves would break first.

Making my way down two flights of stairs, I unlocked the heavy silver-reinforced door and pushed it aside. Our dungeon wasn't really a dungeon, per se, just a cement, steel-clad underground bunker with several, fun and unique torture devices.

I stopped and tilted my head, eyeing the violent machines that could twist and break either a Wolf or human in so many inventive ways. My lips curled into a sly grin. Maybe it was a dungeon, by definition, after all.

Turning toward our guests, I found two males and one female, all naked and chained to the wall with their arms over their heads, wrists burning from the attached silver clamps.

The spoils of war.

Already, my enforcers had shown them a good time. Bloody and bruised, deep claw marks, oozing thick crimson liquid, trailed down their bodies. Chunks of flesh were missing, courtesy of my wolves fangs, and spat out on the ground around us. It was quite a gory picture.

I doubted I'd have to do very much to get what I wanted.

I approached the female first. Head bent forward, matted and dirty hair hanging in her face, her chest heaved as she tried to breathe through the pain of her wounds.

With a finger under her jaw, I lifted her chin. "Look at me."

Her head came up, her surprisingly blue eyes snapping to meet mine. Even in her agony, it was clear-she was not broken. She glared at me defiantly, chin raised, hands clenched into fists, trying to prepare her body for whatever I inflicted next.

I spoke softly and calmly, "Where is she? The Alpha's daughter..." I stopped. And glanced over at Dagger, my general in charge of the enforcers and our army. "Please tell me you've at least determined her name."

He gave me a wicked grin that would have his own mother cringing in fear. The motherfucker wasn't quite right in the head. He liked their pain. Got off on it. But I didn't care. It made him ruthless and effective.

He was covered in blood, none of it his own. He ran a callused hand through his barely-there brown hair, kept so short, it looked more like fuzz on his scalp than actual hair. Beady black eyes gleamed. "Name's Hycinth. Fifteen. Unshifted."

Fifteen? Shit. She was young.

I turned back to the female who was still glaring at me with a death stare, and politely continued my earlier sentence, "Yes, the Alpha's daughter, Hycinth. Where can I find her?"

"I'll never tell you anything that helps you find that little girl!"

I nodded slowly and then stepped closer. Letting out a claw, I ran it along the side of her breast down to her abdomen, a gleaming red streak of blood following my path. She flinched but didn't back down.

"I'm sure you've heard what happens to pretty little shewolves who end up in my dungeon. They become a treat for every unmated male who would like to practice his skills...or enjoy his fetishes. And when the males are done taking turns with you, their wolves will begin. Unfortunately, they are not quite so delicate with soft skin and flesh. It can get quite messy. But, no matter. You'll heal quickly and be ready to do it all over again."

There was actually no legitimate threat to my words. I would never allow any of my wolves to force a female. But she didn't know that. And I knew we had a reputation for violence. It wouldn't be a big leap for people who liked to gossip to embellish the details.

Her stricken expression revealed she believed every word I said. But her response shocked the fuck out of me. Blue eyes bore into mine as she snarled fiercely, "I'll fuck you, your men, their wolves...and even the dogs before I tell you a damn thing!" She spoke with a passion that burned, hidden, but close enough to the surface to feel the heat.

My eyebrows rose in surprise. I studied her expression. I was good at determining which ones would break and which ones wouldn't. She was serious. She would rather degrade herself to the basest level, give her body to be used in unimaginable ways, than ever be disloyal.

"You're an honorable Wolf," I murmured softly. "I wish circumstances were different, and I could trust you to join my pack. You'd be an incredible asset, value beyond any definable monetary worth."

Her expression shifted to confusion. Now she just looked lost. The fiery shewolf could handle my anger, but she didn't know what to do with my praise.

I continued sadly, "But we both know I can't trust you because your loyalties could never be swayed. You have my respect and will be buried with honor." Before she could say anything further, I released a knife from my sleeve and drove it into her heart.

Her eyes widened in shock for just an instant, before she slumped forward, dead.