Chapter 4 New faces, Old tensions

Ruelle's pov

I woke up feeling energetic. Not to my full potential, but I could finally feel Vixin's presence around me.

I slowly got up, and I noticed I had no chains in my legs and hands, but something was different.

I looked at my wrist. I could feel a slight pain, but I could not pinpoint what was going on.

"You are awake."

I turned to see Konan, sitting on a chair with a glass of wine.

My face had a scowl on it. "What did you do?"

He did not answer my question, "You are quite strong, little girl."

"I'm not little." I snapped at him.

"I see..."

"Now, what did you do?" I asked again.

"I had mercy on you..." He sipped the drink from the glass in his hands and stood up, "Be grateful."

My eyebrows raised in anger as my mind thought of things that were done to me.

"Mercy?" I repeated, "what kind of mercy is this?"

Konan's cold stare washed over me, as he walked over to me, "The one that keeps you alive, girl."

I shivered as he continued walking towards me. "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

Konan's eyes locked into mine, "you would find out soon enough." His voice had some sort of anticipation to it.

Suddenly, I felt a little sensation on my arm and I looked at it to see a little device attached to my arm.

"What is this for?" I said as I tried to pull it out, but was only met with pain.

Konan gripped my wrist hard. "Don't touch it," he said with a cold voice, "That's a tracker and let's say something to motivate you."

I felt a surge of fear as I realized the implications. "What does it do?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Konan's smile grew wider. "It ensures your compliance," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "And if you try to escape, let's just say it will be very... unpleasant."

As he spoke, the device on my wrist began to beep, and I felt a searing pain shoot through my arm. I gasped, my eyes widening in shock.

Konan's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I think you'll find that you'll be very cooperative," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation.

And with that, all I felt next was pain.

I was stronger than he anticipated though.

He watched as I writhed in pain, my body convulsing from the shock of the tracker. I tried to fight the pain. My defiance was amusing to him, but it didn't last long.

"Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, swirling the dark liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip.

He stared at me like I was a reminder of what he was... of what I would soon become.

The tracker wasn't just for location. No, it was far more than that. It was a leash. A way to break me.

"Alpha," a man called from the doorway.

He didn't turn. "Speak, Tarek." He kept his gaze on me the entire time.

"The Elders of the pack are demanding answers. They want to know why you've brought the Shadow wolf into pack lands."

A low growl rumbled in his chest. "Tell them it's none of their concern."

"But-"

Konan turned his head just enough to pin Tarek with a glare. "Unless they wish to challenge me directly, they will stay out of my affairs."

Tarek swallowed hard before bowing his head. "Yes, Alpha."

As he retreated, Konan turned his attention back to me. I was almost unconscious, and about to pass out on the bed. My breathing was shallow, my skin pale from the wolfsbane still coursing through my veins.

But I was alive.

And that was all that mattered.

For now.

************************************

Three Hours Later

Konan stood at the edge of the forest, the moon casting long shadows across his shadow on the ground. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but beneath it all, I could smell him.

Divine.

I had woken up again, and this time, I was trying to run. I wasn't waiting around to be used as a slave for entertainment.

I headed straight for the window. I didn't have a plan-no idea where I was going, and I didn't care. I just knew I had to leave. Peering out the window again, I saw Konan with his back turned. Perfect. I climbed out and took off, sprinting towards the woods.

Suddenly, the tracker in my arm pulsed, sending another wave of agony through my system. My scream echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of my body hitting the ground.

Konan stepped towards me, his boots crunching over dead leaves as he approached.

I was on my knees, clutching my wrist, my entire body trembling.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" he asked, tilting his head.

My head snapped up, my golden eyes blazing with fury. "Go to hell."

He smirked. "Already there, darling."

Before I could react, he grabbed me by the throat, and yanked me up to my feet. I gasped, my nails digging into his wrist, but he didn't flinch.

"You belong to me now," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear. "And if you try to run again, I'll make sure the pain lasts hours."

My breath hitched, but I didn't speak.

He released me, watching as I stumbled back, my chest heaving. What an asshole.

"Now," he said, straightening his jacket. "We have a meeting to attend."

My eyes widened. "What meeting?"

He grinned, his sharp canines glinting in the moonlight.

"The one where you meet your new pack."

As he led me to his pack's gathering place, I couldn't help but struggle to keep up with him. My eyes darted back and forth, taking in my surroundings, searching for an opportunity to escape. But I couldn't find one.

Not here. Not in his zone.

We arrived at the gathering place, and I could feel his pack's eyes on us. They were scared and I could sense it.

I smiled to myself, enjoying the power dynamics at play. They were afraid of me. Perfect.

"Let's get one thing straight," Konan said to me, his voice low and commanding. "You will behave yourself, and you will follow the rules. Any disobedience will be met with swift punishment."

I looked up at him, my eyes flashing with defiance, but I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "I understand."

He chuckled, amused by my attempt to submit. "Good," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm glad we understand each other."

As we walked into the gathering place, the pack's murmurs died down, and they turned to look at us. My eyes scanned the crowd, my gaze lingering on each face. I stared each of them down, refusing to back down.