Clay POV
The new day arrived too quickly, the night slipping away like a fleeting dream. I longed for it to never end, for the comfort it brought. Emma, with her addictive allure and flawless beauty, had awakened desires within me that I had never felt before. The intensity of my longing for her was overwhelming; I would willingly surrender myself to her completely.
As Emma left the room to dress, a sense of emptiness washed over me, leaving me feeling hollow. Her face, once filled with emotion the night before, now wore a mask I couldn't decipher. It seemed she was trying to hide her distress. Hours passed, and the door to my confined space finally opened. Hope surged within me, expecting to see Emma, but instead, Ryan and two other men entered.
"On your knees, Clay," he growled, his voice low and menacing. Reluctantly, I complied, feeling the rough ground beneath my knees. I knew I had to do this for Emma. My hands were tightly bound behind me, the coarse ropes digging into my skin, while a blindfold was forcefully placed over my eyes, enveloping me in darkness.
"You are lucky the princess has shown you such kindness, hunter," he sneered, his words dripping with malice. My heart pounded in my chest, its rhythmic thumping echoing in my ears. As expected, a gag was shoved into my mouth, silencing any protests or pleas. The taste of fabric and the feeling of constriction made it difficult to breathe or speak.
"The spell has been dropped. We can remove him," another voice chimed in. I was yanked up forcefully, my body jolting with the sudden movement. The sensation of rough hands gripping my arms made me wince, the pain shooting through my body like electric shocks.
After what felt like an eternity, I was roughly shoved into a vehicle. The metallic scent of the car mingled with the musty smell of old upholstery, assaulting my nose.
"Is this really necessary, Ryan? He has been complying," I heard Emma's voice, filled with concern and confusion, drifting in from outside the vehicle.
"He is a prisoner, Emma. We cannot reveal our location to him," Ryan's voice replied, its tone firm and resolute.
"Do you know Alpha Leon?" Ryan questioned her, curiosity lacing his words.
"Yes, I have heard of him," Emma answered.
"He resides in the werewolf realm, and his pack is not part of the kingdom. We have been working to maintain peace, but they have yet to fully accept the changes my family made."
"It would seem the one they used to cross into the werewolf realm was the Alpha's son's mate, as well as their pup," Ryan explained.
"Have they been freed?" Emma asked, her voice filled with genuine worry and compassion.
"They found her and the pup dead. The hunters killed them using their weapons. Alpha Leon discovered that we were the ones holding their leader captive. Now they are coming to seek justice in our pack lands. Emma, you may be the princess, but if you continue to protect Clay..." he started speaking, but she interrupted him.
"I know my position. I acknowledge that your pack captured the hunters. Clay's punishment will not change. I will make that clear to Alpha Leon. I will personally ensure that justice is served for his son's mate and pup against the true culprits," she said.
"But Clay was the leader, Emma. He could be lying to us. He might have been the one to kill them," Ryan said.
"It wasn't him, Ryan. I believe him. He would never harm a pup or an innocent female. I will take responsibility for him. He will be marked as my slave," she said.
As the car engine roared to life, a heavy silence engulfed the air, leaving only the faint hum of the vehicle. The ride was short, but the abrupt halt jolted me back to reality. I was forcefully dragged out of the car, my body tugged and pushed without any regard.
I was shoved into a room, the coldness of the floor seeping through my bindings, keeping me restrained. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each passing second dripping with anticipation. Finally, the creaking door broke the stillness, and I was yanked out once more.
"Your turn, hunter," a voice spoke. As I was ushered into the room, a cacophony of voices surrounded me, blending together into a symphony of anticipation. The restraints on my wrists dug into my skin, anchoring me to something sturdy, preventing any escape. With a sudden pull, the blindfold was stripped away, revealing a room filled with a multitude of figures.
Ryan stepped forward, his voice resonating through the room, "Clay, leader of the hunters who violated the sacred werewolf realm, leaving behind a trail of destruction and stolen secrets. Not only that, but innocent lives, including that of a she-wolf and her pup, were taken mercilessly to gain entry. As the leader, Clay bears the weight of their lives on his shoulders. While some demand his death, I propose a different punishment. Let him become the slave of the Lycan Princess, marked with a witch's spell that no human can disobey."
Another man rose from his seat, his growl filling the air, "He should be enslaved by our pack for stealing the life of our future luna and pup." The bitter taste of vengeance lingered in his words.
Emma's voice pierced through the tension. "I will ensure justice for your pack. I intend to use this hunter to uncover the true location of their headquarters. Keeping him as my slave grants me the power to reach the ones truly responsible." Her eyes locked with mine, silently pleading for me to understand.
A low rumble of warning escaped the enraged man, "If our pack does not receive the promised justice, we will sever all efforts made to establish peace with your kingdom. Princess, I hold you accountable. Fail to fulfill your promise, and we will come after not just the hunter, but you as well."
Struggling against my restraints, I yearned to protect her from harm. Her gaze, however, implored me to cease my resistance. Reluctantly, I acquiesced, knowing that my actions could have dire consequences for us both.
Ryan's voice broke the silence, finalizing the agreement, "It is settled. Clay shall be marked as a slave." Jennifer, entered the room, commanding Emma to step forward. With a swift motion, Jennifer sliced Emma's hand, crimson droplets cascading into a waiting bowl. She then approached me, a warning in her voice, " This will hurt." As she uttered foreign words, I steeled myself for the pain. With a practiced gesture, she poured Emma's blood over the gleaming blade, pressing it against my chest.
I was engulfed in agonizing pain, as if my body was being consumed by flames. The searing sensation ripped through me, causing me to let out a muffled cry of anguish due to the rope forcefully clenched between my teeth. It felt as though thorny tendrils were twisting inside me, while a metallic taste mixed with the scent of the rough rope filled my mouth, making it difficult to breathe. I hunched over, enduring the torment for what seemed like an eternity, before the intensity finally subsided. However, a lingering ache remained in my chest.
"He is now marked as your slave, Lycan Princess," Jennifer said in a stern voice.
"I order you to kneel and stay on your knees," Emma commanded. It felt like a boulder was weighing me down, forcing my body to kneel. The pain returned, reminding me that this was the mark of a slave. I couldn't disobey her command.
"From this day forward, you, Clay of the hunters, will follow all of my commands," Emma declared,
"I will bring him to my location where he will remain confined unless ordered to help," Emma continued. "He will be given no freedoms until justice has been served."
"He should not have the freedom to speak freely like the other slaves."Alpha, Leon interjected.
I noticed Emma's hand trembling slightly, betraying her emotions. "You are correct," she replied, her voice steady. "He will not be given any special treatment." Emma's gaze fell upon me. "Remove his gag," Emma commanded the guards, their footsteps echoing as they obeyed.
The silence was broken as the gag was taken off, allowing me to breathe freely again. But Emma quickly reminded me of my new reality. "Clay, you are not to speak unless given permission," she ordered, her voice firm. My throat felt constricted, as if a tight grip was squeezing it, rendering me speechless.
"Clay, you are to remain still," she instructed, her voice unwavering. My body felt frozen in place as my wrists were briefly untied, only to be restrained once more by a cold metal collar and new cuffs.
"Per the laws of my pack and many others, a slave must remain bound in their collar and cuffs when on pack lands," Ryan explained, his voice carrying the weight of tradition. "Clay, you have been given a life sentence to serve as a slave. You are now powerless, the mark on your body restricting you from escaping. You will serve all of the Lycan Princess's commands as punishment for the crimes committed.”
"Emma,it has been requested that you stay for a few hours so we may all discuss the current issue with the hunters." Ryan stated.
"Understood, I will," Emma replied.
Her eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and determination, momentarily locked onto mine. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as my vision was once again obscured.
"Stand," she commanded, and I reluctantly obeyed.
"You will stay in the van with a warrior until I am finished," she said softly. As I was led away, the guard's rough hands pushed me into the van, the metal door slamming shut with a resounding thud. The sound of chains rattling filled the air, another link securing my collar, keeping me restrained. Time passed slowly, the hours dragging by as I sat in darkness, the silence broken only by the faint sound of distant voices.
Finally, the stillness was shattered by a sudden commotion. The van jolted into motion, its engine rumbling to life. My voice remained trapped, my vocal cords refusing to cooperate, leaving me unable to speak. After a short drive the van came to a halt. "I will return tomorrow, Emma," Ryan's voice carried through the air, filled with authority. "He must go through the entire process to appease my pack and the others."
Led out of the van, I ascended a set of stairs, the steps creaking beneath my weight and entered a room. "Kneel on the floor," Emma's commanding voice surrounded me, and I obediently sank to my knees. Her hands touched my skin as she removed the blindfold, my eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the sudden brightness. The collar and cuffs were released, the cool metal no longer constricting my movements.
For a brief moment, Emma stepped away, returning with a healing balm. Its soothing scent filled the air as she tended to my wounds, her touch gentle. As her gaze met mine, I noticed a glimmer of a tear in her eyes. Instinctively, I reached out and brushed it away, the softness of her skin against my fingertips.
"The mark you have will be hidden," she spoke softly. "I have decided what to do moving forward. We will return to classes, but separately. The hunters do not know my identity yet. You will act as if you escaped and continue on as normal, even with Liz. However, we will establish a secure location to meet and for you to share all the information you gather. Get as much as you can and try to uncover the main base location. In classes, we are nothing more than acquaintances."
"No one but the select few who already know will know you are my mate," she declared.
"I apologize for the pain you endured today, Clay," she said softly, her voice filled with remorse. As she spoke, she brushed her finger against the spot on my skin where I knew I was marked.
"I have made a decision," she continued, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "In the precious moments we have together, I want to try and make this bond work."
“You can talk openly now,” she said.
I remained kneeling on the ground. I mustered a playful smirk, trying to ease the tension that lingered between us. "I take it you enjoyed last night then. So, I’m your s*x slave now?” I teasingly said.
Her eyes met mine, the depths of her gaze filled with longing and desire. "You are my mate," she replied. "It's only natural for us to crave each other. Our intimate connection helps heal."
With a slow, deliberate movement, she began to remove her clothing. I remained rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away from her.
"You are free to move now, Clay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. I stood up, my muscles tense with anticipation, and pulled her into my arms. Despite the events of the day, a fierce longing coursed through my veins. I craved her touch, her warmth.
If I am forced to endure days without her, pretending as if there is no connection between us, then I will ensure that the nights and moments we share are imprinted in her memory.
I lifted her into my arms and gently placed her on the bathroom counter. As I kneeled down, I pulled her legs over my shoulders spreading her legs. “Clay, what are you doing?” she asked, clearly surprised. “I’m pleasuring you, Emma, because I aim to satisfy you as your slave and mate,” I explained to her.