Wolf Dominion Volume 2

I wander at night through my guest room, uninterrupted. It’s as nice as the main residence, just half in size.

A light knock interrupts my pacing. I stroll over and open the door to find a new face.

“My name is Seye,” the blonde petite woman speaks like a squeaky mouse, “I would like to speak with you?”

“Who are you,” I ask, deadpan.

“I am Third Sworn to Opular… a concubine,” she looks at the ground, her hand holding her arm tight in a nervous habit, squeezing the skin. I step aside and let her in, “…he wants you to be a part of his harem, he sent me. Perhaps hoping you’d try to kill me instead… and succeed…” what the hell was she talking about?

“Why would I kill you?” I ask, confused.

Seye looks at me with eyes that remind me of Fyre.

“To know he did it, he made me forget,” Seye walks in further, taking a seat on the floor. Well, that didn’t explain anything. She was an odd entity, this concubine. I wonder if he lobotomised his whores?

I stand above her for a bit, confused. I don’t want to talk too much to strangers, but then I notice the mark on her arm she is rubbing. A warrior’s scar near the elbow, from a battle? “What is that scarring from?” I ask.

“A lazer burn,” she squeaks out, and immediately changes the subject, “You should not accept any offering from Opular – he is mad. He will be your friend, your lover, your killer,” while she’s mumbling, the wolf pup yawns awake from a nap on the bed and immediately leaps down, running and jumping all over Seye, licking her face. She sneezes but laughs even as the pup keeps attacking her with kisses. She doesn’t seem to mind.

“I never planned on being a part of some harem,” I explain, “Can you tell me more about Opular?”

“Just that he is selfish and cruel to those closest to him – and kind to strangers,” Seye looks forlorn, she looks around and she makes a quick decision. Standing, she comes over to whisper in my ear, “Your Skye needs to be rescued desperately,” she pulls back to look at me, “…Opular will give you everything you ever want, Ryder…”

“Hmm?” I raise a brow.

“Check outside, but just watch,” Seye whispers cryptically, then turns to leave.

“What were you before you were a concubine?” I ask her before she escapes.

She turns around at the door to squeak out, “A psychic, it’s why I’m named after an eye. I am psy,” she is so proud of this.

“What do you see?” I ask, curious.

“Nothing anymore,” Seye looks down and walks out, shutting the door.

I follow her and stop the door from closing entirely with my boot.

Seye goes back into Opular’s residence, followed by two more concubines. They’re all different. While Seye is short and blonde, the other two are tall with long black hair. They’re all naked or covered in jewels, while Seye wears a silver translucent veil over her body and her hair. They look otherworldly, totally consumed in their practice of pleasure.

I have to stop the pup from escaping and I push him back with my other boot, about to close the door.

When I see one more thing.

The pup bites my ankle, naughty like his father, and I ignore him.

Tyra is suddenly walking down the corridor, her back to me as she’s alone, rushing in her quiet steps as she heads to the closet with the freshly cleaned floor. Hands shaking, she opens the cleaning closet in a panic.

A hand falls out.

Tyra almost screams, but muffles it with her hand over her mouth.

There’s a man in there.

He’s been clawing at his own wrists.

For a second I wonder if it’s the guard I killed, who somehow survived.

But this naked man is… someone else.

I watch as Tyra leans down and pulls him out.

I can’t believe my own eyes.

Skye is covered in caked blood, and he makes a low noise which is how I know he is alive. But he’s eyes are closed and Tyra is weeping at the mess.

“You idiot, you idiot, no,” Tyra takes off her detachable white skirt and wraps it around one hurt arm and then the other.

She starts to haul Skye towards her door, opposite her father.

I watch the whole time – not expecting Skye’s head to loll back and for his eyes to open directly on me.

I would say he is just as shocked to see me, as I am to see him.

I quickly put a finger to my lips silently, my eyes unblinking as he is taken.

As I close the door I hear a cute little worried whine behind me.

The beautiful baby wolf has raised a paw and his ears swivel, trying to pick up what’s wrong, as his nose sniffs the air of an injured Alpha.

I scoop up the pup and feel the heavy stench of danger closing in all around me.

I try to reason with what Seye said.

Opular will give me everything I want. Obviously to some kind of end.

But what will he do if I give him what he wants?

I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

I lay down in bed with the pup settling against my head along my hair, licking my forehead.

I had to start thinking seriously now.

Not like a fanatic. Hades was always right, always a few steps ahead of me.

But why did Hades not care about his own Dominion?

Because he knew something we didn’t.

Something he was hiding.

He called the Elders liars.

He was mysterious, protecting secrets.

Skye was a martyr, dying for lies.

He almost died just before. He was in a very bad way.

I had to save him.

I had to do something.

Breakfast

“I apologise Meri, Tyra,” for what I’m about to say, “Imperator,” I turn to their father, sitting to the right of me, while his daughters join us for breakfast, “I thought on what Seye said to me. I decided I’ll fuck you if you give me something, of which I’ll ask, after I’m done with you.”

I catch Opular off guard.

Lemeri tries to mask her disgust, while Tyra smirks as if it’s funny.

I see Seye with the other Sworn in the filtered morning sun behind the table in the open assembly area, where the breakfast was publically set up. The concubines are sun bathing on benches. Seye looks over at me with a curious head after hearing what I said.

“No. You can’t ask for the world,” Opular warns me, his blonde mane is tied back into one tail so he can eat cleanly.

“For a night with me, I only want one individual to return with me when I leave this place,” I give in a little bit.

Opular thinks it’s Skye.

They all do.

Tyra pales, glaring at her father as if to say no, “Why do you even entertain a nobody, father?” she laughs to herself.

Opular says nothing, but he eats his breakfast.

I follow suit.

Lemeri clacks her nails together, “…Ryder…” she whispers, “What are you planning?”

“You can have Skye now if you want him,” Opular interrupts. Tyra can’t control herself as she hisses out a breath of irritated air, and Opular takes it as a sign of disrespect, “Keep quiet!” Opular snarls at Tyra, unleashing a side I’ve never seen before; absolute and sudden rage. She winces and returns to a quiet obedience in her seat, while I see Lemeri trying to hide a snicker at her sister for being scolded so violently.

“No, I could not care less for a disgraced Alpha,” I lie but I lie well, I just hold onto hate in my heart as I say it, “I want one person, but I won’t say who. I’ll tell you after we finish.”

“I’m in no mood to bargain, and there is nothing I wish to bargain for,” Opular takes a sip of freshly brewed tea, surprising me, “You’re a guest, Ryder, this is not a political meeting.”

“A lonely crazy lunatic,” Lemeri murmurs, smiling softly at me, “You’re always welcome to visit.”

“You really think Wolf Dominion is dead?” I ask Opular and his daughters.

“I’m sure in your heart it still reigns,” Opular is not triggered, he looks at me kindly. Hmmm.

“…I’m going for a walk,” Tyra stands up, flustered by this whole morning so far. She didn’t know I would be back so soon again, I could tell by her whole demeanour since encountering me. Ever since she met me, I was sticking around too close for comfort.

Opular waves his eldest off, relieved she is departing.

Lemeri shuffles her butt and moves in closer to the table.

“Daddy?” Lemeri asks. Opular closes his eyes and pretends to care, at least that’s the impression I get, “Since these personal times are so rare, and I know you’re always busy but I never took the time to thank you, on the letters. While Ryder was with me, trapped here together under the Wolf law, I would check the mail and always get your letters. I read them over every night.”

“What letters?” Opular asks dismissively, while looking over his shoulder to his concubines and literally throwing them bread crumbs.

I watch as they move lightning fast in a scramble for them, including Seye.

What. The. Fuck. Were they not fed? I watch them with shock plainly written all over my face.

I focus back on Lemeri, who is looking deathly pale.

“…I’m not feeling so hungry anymore, I need to go…” she also stands.

Opular is glad she also leaves, and doesn’t farewell her.

Instead, Opular focuses on me.

“You’re cruel to your family,” I state, my mouth flattening.

“Of course I am, how else will they learn?” Opular is well rehearsed in saying this.

“I don’t get it. Either I’m crazy or…” I see Opular’s brow twitch, and his cruel but feminine mouth barely holds back a smirk, “Does everyone really think I’m that crazy?” I ask, “Do I come across as crazy?”

“You come across as naïve,” Opular chooses his words carefully, “Don’t look at me like I don’t feed them,” he speaks of his concubines, “Under a lion’s command you become enchanted to touch what I touch, to eat what I eat. It’s a lion’s way. Pride. A wolf is always hungry and too sensitive to power changes. A lion never steps down, and I’ll fight to the death to keep what’s mine,” Opular speaks in a way you might be hypnotised by. Soft and sure of himself. He’s staring at his servers, coming in to take away the plates. When they clear the table only then does he tell me, “You won’t be alone this week, I want you to spend it by my side. But leave to your room whenever you want,” Opular sounds reasonable.

“I’d like to see Skye,” I take my chances.

Opular smiles as if he’s had a victory.

Without saying a word, I know he’ll take me to him.

Skye’s POV

I didn’t want to die. But I wanted to make it look like I tried.

I had this last minute thought.

If I could… appear as if I’d lost basic cognitive sense, perhaps I could slip out from Tyra’s eye and escape.

I hoped they would label me insane, or at least, unstable.

As I lie in a hospital bed with a drip in my arm, I’m visited by nurses and doctors who speak to me, while I pretend to stare at the ceiling aimlessly.

I refuse to speak.

When I saw Ryder in the joining room to Opular’s, for the consort of an Imperator – something inside me finally ignited.

Ryder’s brown eyes and her shushing me, her hand so calm and steady – I knew she had taken pain and used it to steady her. I would follow in her footsteps.

She was trying. To save Wolf Dominion.

I would try too.

Spontaneously that morning, my door opens with the head nurse, directing in the Imperator.

He is followed by Ryder.

I don’t expect that, but I allow myself to look at her.

The Imperator stands back to watch as she comes straight to my side.

I stare at Opular and he’s watching me very carefully. I must be careful.

Ryder stares down at me. So close. For the first time in 3 months.

None of them talk.

I motion for her to come closer to me, with weak and brittle fingers.

Ryder hesitates, and looks to Opular for permission.

He nods, and Ryder leans down to put her ear near my mouth.

I test her.

“Kill me,” I whisper it, “You always wanted to. Now’s your chance.”

Ryder’s POV

Kill me.

Skye watches me with weakness fuelled by hurt, betrayal, passion and the fire of the Genesis sun. Is that what I used to look like?

I’m staring at myself. I almost lose my composure completely.

“What does he mean?” Opular suddenly interjects, his loud drawl completely drowning out the moment, “You hated Wolf Dominion so much you wanted to kill the Alpha at some point? I didn’t know this,” Opular asks, utterly surprised, edging up behind me.

I stare at Skye and realise he just gave me a key.

Whether he realised it or not.

A way into Opular’s grace.

All I had to do was follow through and kill Skye.

Then I might have a very good chance of restoring Wolf Dominion.

A very good chance, because I would gain Cat Dominion’s trust… even their loyalty.

But… no.

I couldn’t do it.

“A life suffering is better than a peaceful end for him,” I tell Opular, “…in return for what he did to me…”

“You were crucified in your own pack for being a Zyre, weren’t you?” Opular works it out.

“In truth, I didn’t even know I was a Zyre until I bonded with a Wolf beast.”

“Shame, shame on you, Skye,” Opular speaks over my shoulder, looking down at the distraught Alpha.

Skye looks at me only now, as tears fall out of his masculine eyes. So hollow.

Fuck.

I can’t look at him anymore.

I loved this man.

But he did do me wrong.

And I was so confused.

I was saying what I needed, but in playing an act for Opular – I was tearing myself apart.

I feel my heart unwinding.

I should never have asked to see Skye.

Feeling my throat closing off, I turn around abruptly and I rush out of the ward. Opular is quick to follow my gait.

Skye was so broken like me. I never thought he could fall. I never thought he would ever look like that, or sound like that, nor plead for death. Did he mean it or did he not? I don’t know!

I’m struggling to keep in a mountain of tears – from trauma and anguish and desperation to win.

I can’t see soon, the rising uncontrollable tears are clouding my vision. I start to lose my footing and direction. Before I knock into something, Opular slips a hand onto the small of my back, and that soon slithers around my waist and then pulls me right into his side. He’s so damn strong like a pillar of stone.

Opular switfly takes me into the private spa area down the nearest hallway, where I can hide in one of the many private rooms away from the public eye. I push my back against a wet stone wall and cry. The Imperator stands in front of me, so close as he assesses the situation.

Opular reaches up slow, but then grabs my neck hard and holds up my chin, forcing it high as my face started to droop to the ground to hide my eyes and the truth.

As Opular makes me look at him eye to eye, he scolds me, “I didn’t know you were weak just like him,” he challenges me, his nails clawing into my throat. I gasp in a desperate breath and he lets me breathe, but his golden eyes ravage through me, “Are you pathetic? Show me real strength.”

“N-no, no,” my tone is husky as I hiccup, and it sounds vulnerable.

“I’m not particularly fond of that word,” Opular growls out of the blue, edging in a little. I feel his heat coming in all around me and I feel overwhelmed.

“Get off me,” I try to shove him back, but now he’s slowly using his hand on my neck to push me off of him and to hold me up against the wall a bit tighter.

“Real and raw, this is the real you,” Opular speaks while I look at the floor, away from his judgement, “Weaker. Than me. You need to let go of everything holding you back, on the inside. I’ll hold you up.”

No.

Arrogant fuck. Fuck off! He makes me so mad.

Opular is restricting my breath with his tough grip again, trying to force an answer, and I’m just trying to breathe steady.

“Let me go!” I wheeze again and Opular finally backs off, unhanding me quickly, after pushing me so hard. He is annoyed I didn’t give in, but doesn’t push any further, “What the hell do you want from me?” I cry out, while holding my sore throat.

“I want to hear the truth,” Opular is calm, while I sound hysteric, “Are you really loyal to Wolf Dominion as you claim? Or are you just scared of death?”

Wolf Dominion was my family.

And without them –

“…I’m lonely…” I gasp it, it comes out of nowhere.

“Are you,” Opular doesn’t blink, he’s eating me alive. I feel so weak. I don’t feel like a Luna anymore. Not right now.

“Are you loyal to Alpha Skye?” Opular asks, changing the question.

“I think I hate him,” I whisper it.

“Why.”

“Because he enslaved me – treated me like nothing,” I rush it, almost like I’m going to faint if I don’t say it quick enough.

“Then why are you loyal,” Opular shoots out the questions fast, wanting the answers. No one had ever cared enough to ask me these things in such detail, caring for my opinion.

Some small part of me, the frantic part, starts to calm down. As I say, controlling my anxiety, “I-I’m a Shade, I accepted a new way, but I’m still… a Luna, I –” I suck in a breath, my rapid heart beat calms down next. I’m okay now. I worked it out, “That’s all.”

“It’s okay. Ryder. Hades and I have an alliance, and a friend of Hades is a friend of mine,” Opular blinks slow, “Do you feel a bit more enlightened, little wolf?” he asks, adoringly.

“I honestly… I honestly thought I loved him,” I add, feeling distraught thinking of Skye, “…it’s a thin line they all say…”

“You’re young, you’ve been moulded – you’re allowed to be yourself, whatever that is. Who are you?” Opular asks, “And what do you really want with me, Luna?”

“Peace,” I whisper.

“No wonder you’re mad,” Opular chuckles, smiling and gorgeous, “There is no such thing as peace,” he closes in again, utterly amused. I stare at those sharp long blue-white teeth. This time he brushes his finger tips gently over the bruises he put on my throat, “There are only two things on this planet. Dominion and submission, and if you don’t lead… you must submit,” Opular proposes that to me, and I know exactly what he’s talking about.

“I’d like to return to my guest room,” I blubber, “Please.”

And now I was asking him with a girly please.

This was not good.

He had a way about him, you ended up saying things before thinking.

No, I always said things before thinking.

But in this case… as Opular stands back and lets me run, I do feel like a fool.

A slightly excited, overwhelmed, emotional fool.

I’ve been played.

I know it.

And even though I know it – I want to play his game a bit more.

Opular reminds me of Skye.

But Opular gave me my son.

And Opular gave me a choice.

My only sudden pause is for Seye… and her words of warning.

He’ll give you everything you want, he’ll be your friend, your lover, your killer.

Her words haunt me… and so I choose to hold them close. I didn’t want to regret being forewarned. I had to keep my wits about me.

My heart beats, from slow to fast and in rebellion to my mind everytime I think about Opular seducing me further. I was interested.

But. Fuck you, I hate the muscle in my chest. To feel like shit was so damn dangerous. Sometimes, I wished I could rip my lonely heart right out and throw it into the sun.