The Alpha of Dragons

I am thrown to the ground like the dog I am as my master presents his seven daughters of Nim to the seven brothers of Dorack. I don't dare lift my eyes as I sit on my knees next to the woman I tend to most, Clarian, the oldest daughter at twenty-three summers.

"Stay down dog!" I hear her father say to me. Her father is my master, a thin old man with a mean right kick. Suddenly I can hear a voice, a deep voice of a man which I assume is the oldest brother though I can't make out what he is saying. I sneak a peek, just a small one without lifting my head. He stands tall behind five other brothers and has seven wives around him already.

"Cut her ties" I hear the same man say, he is no longer speaking in his language.

"Her ties my Lord?" I hear my master say,

"Women before us must have their hair down, even if they are a dog."

The tie that keeps my hair in a rat bed above my head is quickly cut, and I flinch as my dark hair falls around me long, far longer than the prime daughters next to me.

"Forgive me for saying my Lord, but one of your brothers is missing," I hear my master say.

"I am here," I hear another voice, his like his brother is deep but stronger.

He stops, and his feet clad in brown boots are but a few inches away from me, and I wonder if he is going to kick me for being in his way. I try to hurry back without being too much of a notice when he crouches and grabs my hair. I freeze but dig my naked toes into the ground below me, and I don't dare lift my eyes. But to my utter shock, he starts playing with my long tresses. What the hell is he doing?

Maybe having long hair is an insult, perhaps he is about to cut it all off. I shudder because this makes me very sad I love my hair, it's all I got. The seven brides all had mid-length or short hair. Even though I will not be left here I fear we have insulted them by not cutting mine.

"Hand me a tie," He says, and I look down at his hands, he braided my hair. He quickly ties the end, takes out a knife, and slices through the bottom. I shriek and fall back clutching my long hair to me, he only took an inch off the end maybe but then I make an even bigger mistake, and I look up. He is big. Lean big muscles adorn every part of his body, and leather straps dig slightly into his skin. He is tan but what shocks me the most is his eyes, they are bright blue. He is beautiful for a brute. I can't take my eyes away from him.

"How dare you dog!" My master's foot meets with my back, and I fall forward and catch myself on my wrist, and damn does it hurt. I'm already covered in dirt and sweat, what's a little more?

I whimper, and he stands "Enough, I alarmed her," The bute says then walks away to line up with his brothers.

"Will, you not inspect?" My master asked, forgetting me at the moment but I know I am going to pay for what I have done later.

"Yes," The oldest said, "Let's see them."

I look away and huff to myself as the daughters of Nim drop their silk dresses for these men. I glance at their feet because that is all I can do. The middle brother moves to a sister "I'll take this plump one!"

I want to smirk, go figure the curvey one got picked first. All those years they slapped the girl's hand away from extra food and for what? She got selected first.

"I take it she has been deflowered and well-prepared for my cock?" The brother asked. I blush. I know I'm nineteen, but a man has never touched me, and I have never seen one naked, so his words make me blush, and I am glad for the mud on my face.

"She has," My master states firmly. The brother drags the daughter away into a tent, and a few seconds later you hear her scream.

"Well, it seems she was not prepared enough," I can practically feel the eldest brother's smirk as he speaks. I had heard that these men were very well-bred, meaning they had big manhoods. Once long ago they were shapeshifters, but they can no longer do that, and I have no clue as to what animal they are.

Most masters get paid for their daughters, not this time. My master paid to have the brothers take his daughters because if one of them could bear a child, the family would then be set for life which didn't make any sense to me in the least. I know these men are one of the longest surviving bloodlines, but they can't shift, and there seems to be an issue when it comes to breeding. I wanted to scoff, a balance of nature I'd say but I'm not allowed to voice my opinion for I am nothing more than a dog to these people.

One by one the brothers chose till only the daughter I serve most is left, and the man who braided my hair comes forward and looks at her. She has blond hair and blue eyes, the fairest of them all. Most of the women of Nim have red hair though some are born with golden locks. Those women are known as a prize in Nim.

Apparently not here.

"Stay tonight and travel tomorrow for I have not made my decision on this one yet."

I hear a gasp from others, but Clarian holds her head high.

"Just take her brother, you only have one wife," His older brother smiles, "In fact, you have more whores than wives!" His brother adds.

"Very well my Lord we shall camp tonight, if this daughter does not please you I shall take her back with me." My master states calmly though I can tell he is pissed. It would be a giant insult.

The brute of a man starts to walk away. "And clean her up; even a dog should be clean in my sight."

I am led to the water close by, and I stare at it. It's dark. My clothes are nasty I know, but they didn't offer me anything else. I stick my hands into the water and watch as dirt fades away and clean skin comes back. I am amazed. It has been some time since iv been clean. I like being clean, but sometimes the mud on my skin feels good. I am lost in my thoughts when suddenly I find myself falling forward because someone has pushed me, well more like kicked me softly.

I can't swim. I was never taught.

I thrash around then stop, what good will it do me anyway? But thankfully I am pulled up by my shirt, and I can't help but look to see who has done this to me. It's him. The same man who braided my hair. I cough and gasp for air as my master comes running.

"My Lord! Has this dog disturbed you?!"

The man still has his large hand fisted in my shirt which is nothing more than rags.

"I told you to clean her!" He then looks around, "Jeromy!"

A younger guy comes running. I know he is not a brother. He is young and way smaller.

"Bring me soap and clothes." The brute tells him.

"Yes, my Lord."

The brute then looks back at my master "Leave us."

"Yes, my Lord!" I watch as the thin old man runs away.

The brute moves me back and pushes me to my butt on the ground. I look down and then something is thrown at me. I'm startled but pick it up. It's called soap. It's new and rare, and females apparently love it. I sniff at it and curl my nose. It smells like too many flowers.

He snatches it from me, and another is given to me. I sniff it and find it has no smell, I like this one, so I look up and hope the brute doesn't kick me.

"Bathe."

I blink, look down then back up. It's just him and me again.

"Girl I have taken many women, trust me your body will do nothing for me."

I, of course, wasn't worried about what my body could or could not do for him. I bit my lip, do I dare speak? I don't have to; he starts moving around me, turning his back to me. I peel off the clothes and bathe my body clean, scrubbing, I should please him in this way after all dogs are not often offered such things. I find a cloth that I assume is to dry off with and then I put on the clothes he has offered me. It's a tan skirt, long and soft, and then a wool-like vest top with rope tie. It's what his servants wear. It's clean but ugh the shirt is not as smooth as my rags but who am I to complain?

It's then that I noticed that he built a fire and I am glued to the flames. He must notice. "Pet," He calls me and my eyes pull away to look at him "Come."

Like the dog I am I follow his command and walk closer.

"Sit."

I sit, and I watch the flames. I want to touch it. I begin to reach, and he grabs my hand "It will burn, have you not seen fire before Pet?"

I have seen it at a distance. I cock my head and then point far off.

"From afar?" He understands, Good.

"Do not touch it."

I nodded my head, yes, and then he stands, "Rest Pet tomorrow is a new day."

I nodded and curled on the ground, and I hear him sigh. I sit up quickly and bow my head; perhaps I did something wrong again, I forgot to bow, didn't I?

"You did nothing wrong, go to sleep."

He walks off, and I slowly lay back down. I quickly fall asleep, outside, under the trees, in the dirt as a good dog should. I also wake before everyone else just like the real dogs around the camp. I yawn and itch my arm, then my side. I don't think much of it until I am sitting next to Clarian and my master later in front of the eldest son. I scratch again and again. This top is itching like nuts.

"Does she have fleas?" The oldest asks, and I reframe from looking up.

"Stop that dog!" My master kicks me, and I can't help but whimper.

"Enough," It's his voice, the one I named Brute because I don't know his name.

"DaThoren," His older brother speaks "Playing in the woods again, how nice of you to join us, brother."

Ah, so that's the Brutes name.

He ignores them and takes out a knife and cuts the back of my vest top wide open. I catch the front before it falls.

"My Lord forgive me I had no idea she had been infected!" My master growled, and I know it was pointed anger at me. My back must be eaten up with something for them to say that but I don't feel sick, I feel itchy, and I want to roll in the mud.

"She is not infected you fool," DaThoren speaks, eh I liked calling him Brute, but I guess I'll have to use his name. "It is the vest; Jeromy!"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Bring me a cloth top."

Suddenly I feel a cool cloth on my back "Remove that and put this on" But I really want mud. I look around till I see a muddy puddle and I sniff.

"You want to be muddy?" DaThoren asks,

Clarain rings in, though she isn't supposed to, "What do you expect from a flea-bitten mutt, it's all she knows." He looks at her, and I put the top on quickly while no one is looking at me.

DaThoren stands fully. "If I keep this woman as my wife I get to keep the pet too."

"You, you want to keep my dog slave?" The master asks.

I'll show him a dog; I want to bite him now.

"She is amusing." DaThoren then turned to his older brother, "We could use a pet, eh brother?"

His brother laughs, "Leave it to you to like the pet more than the woman!" His laughs booms louder. Why he thinks it's funny I don't know.

"Do we have a deal?" DaThoren asks crossing his big strong arms.

My master huffs. I know he likes beating me but the promise of breeding him rich beats that I guess for he agrees to leave me. Now I have a new master.

"Go to my breeding tent," He tells his soon-to-be new wife, and she obeys with a bow.

All the brothers have speared their new wives. I know because I heard all their screams last night. Everyone but DaThoren of course.

"So Pet do you like to sleep outside?" He asks me. His brother shakes his head and takes his leave as does my old master. My eyes glide to him, honestly sleeping outside is all I have ever known.

"You can stay on the floor if you wish but you will sleep inside from now on, I would not want the wolves to eat you."

Somehow I don't think he means actual wolves; I gulp for either case.

"Go and make you a nest in my tent on the floor."

I nod and stand and start to make my way to the dark brown tent; it's the tent that holds the whores this much I know.

"Pet," He calls, and I stop and look back,

"Wrong tent."

I lift an eyebrow and then turn to look at the white tent, the one that holds his two wives. Perhaps he wants me to tend to them as I had with the daughter of Nim. I began to move that way.

"Pet," He says again, and I huff and turn with a glare. I know he is going to beat me for that, but I can't worry about that now. But to my shock, he grins wide. Who knew that a brute could be handsome? He has a strong jaw and a little hair on it and dark hair to match on top of his head.

I snort as to put out my own fire of sass at his smug grin. I don't see why he finds me so amusing.

The people of Nim hardly even notice me other than to yell at me or to kick me. He points, "That way little Pet." My eyes follow and I know right away it is HIS tent. Can he do that?

"You will be my guard; you will watch over the woman I cast into my tent."

Well, that makes more sense I guess, but still. I nod and slowly make my way inside. Inside is basic but plentiful, and he has a lot of pelts and furs. Moments later the one known as Jeromy steps inside "These are for you to use" He hands me long cloths known as blankets. My eyes settle on a dark one with many dark colors. It's slightly thicker than the rest. I pull it from him and take it to an empty spot on the floor on the wall furthest from his bed. I lay it down, and then I do what any dog does, I sit down and wait.

I wait for an hour before Clarain the new wife comes to get me. "I want to bathe, and Lord husband has said you must go with me for protection." I want to roll my eyes because last time I checked she technically had not been made his wife.

But I follow her command because he did say I was to watch over them. She bathes and hums her sweet songs it is the one thing I like about her. I sit alert. What most of the men here do not know is I carry two daggers bound to each thigh. Not to harm anyone with but to protect with. It was part of my duty coming here, to protect the daughters of Nim. His second wife comes to join, her hair is red, straight, and long and she keeps to herself and does not speak to me or Clarian. She is far prettier than Clarian.

Suddenly I hear a crunch.

I stand and pull the daggers out. This person is not coming from our camp.

Clarain gasped and I growl low a warning.

But I hear the chuckle of a man and I know I'm probably no match. I quickly look back at both women and lift my chin, telling them to go. Clarian grabs her clothes and does just that while the other wife takes her time.

Suddenly the unknown man steps forward, and I bring up my daggers.

"What this?" He booms, "You think to harm me with those tiny things, foolish mutt."

He smiles, and I can see his canines. He is a Red Wolf, and I am screwed.

"Be a good dog and submit to me."

Fucking really, does everyone really see me like a fucking dog? Granted I do have sharp canines like him I am pretty sure I am neither a dog nor a wolf.

I growl all the same.

He lunges for me, and I slice. He gurgles, and a tingle goes up my spine.

"Pet!" I hear DaThoren call me and I look away which is stupid.

The blade the wolf has that I did not see comes up and slices my forearm. I screamed and fall to the ground.

DaThoren jumps over me and takes the wolf by the jaw, and I can hear the bones crunch and the quiet whimper of death he brings to the shapeshifter wolf.

He drops him to the ground, and I wail again, it fucking hurt.

He turns and crouches and brings my arm up to look at it, "Damn," He said, and I couldn't agree more.

I'm damaged now, even if I am a pet or dog or whatever. He picks me up which shocks me because now I am bleeding on him.

We make it back to camp, and he barks orders in his tongue that I can not understand but many of his men go flying off, I assume to be sure no other wolves are around.

An old woman comes out, where the hell did she come from?

"She will need stitching," He says, and I tense. No.

He walks into what I assume is her tent. She must be a medicine woman. He sits, then he turns me in his lap and puts my legs down till I am straddling him which is hard because he is broad and I am small, 110 wet maybe. I shiver, I have never been this close to a man and he is a married one, and I am nothing more than the dog.

He wraps my arms around his neck and holds them "Do it."

My fear almost makes me forget my place. I am a dog and I have no place to speak up or refuse. I am powerless under his strong hold.